“If you disrespect Pele, she will kill you,” warns Professor Kame’eleihiwa from the University of Hawaii. Timothy Murray probably wished he had known that before he relocated to Honolulu. In his own words, Timothy had “always had good luck.” That is, until he upset Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes.
One day, Timothy decided to visit the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Entranced by the black sand, he took some home in an empty water bottle. After that, things started to go downhill. The woman he had been dating for five years, and was about to propose to, suddenly dumped him. The FBI actually arrested him in a computer copyright infringement case (something that rarely ever happens). Oh, and his beloved pet died unexpectedly. But the curse hasn’t just affected Timothy Murray.
According to a Hawaiian legend, anyone who removes a piece of volcanic rock (or some volcanic sand) will incur the wrath of the goddess Pele. Supposedly, Pele is so angered when the rocks (which she sees as her children) are pocketed by ignorant tourists, that she exacts a terrible revenge on them in the form of a curse. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park receives a never-ending stream of packages containing rocks from guilty-minded individuals who are intent upon reversing a sudden deluge of bad luck. Many also include letters of apology, addressed to the Volcano Goddess herself, begging for the curse to be lifted