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Women's Dress Kale’a in Gold Ti Leaf & Emerald - Front View | Kahulaleʻa

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    • Home / All / Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua
    Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua
    Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua
    Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua
    Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua

    Dress Hi'ilei Sage He‘e Hōlua

    $120.00
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    Learn About the Print
    Chiefs of Puna and He‘e Hōlua
    The inspiration for this print began on a personal level. Last year my cousin, Ikaika Marzo, shared with me that he had been asked to serve as the 2026 Mō‘ī Kāne for the Merrie Monarch Festival court, and shortly after, my brother Koa Marzo was appointed as the Mō‘ī Kāne councilor. Their involvement led me to reflect more deeply on the legacy of the chiefs of Puna and sparked the idea of creating a Merrie Monarch print inspired by their stories.

    As I explored those mo‘olelo, one theme that repeatedly surfaced was He‘e Hōlua, the traditional sport of lava sledding. It was an activity practiced by the ali‘i, requiring immense skill and bravery as riders descended rocky lava slopes at high speeds on narrow sleds. Several chiefs of Puna are connected to stories of He‘e Hōlua, including Kahawali, Ahia, and Papalauahi.

    However, the story that resonated most strongly with me was that of Chief Kumukahi and his encounter with Pele. Kumukahi was known as a skilled athlete who excelled in He‘e Hōlua. In one account, Pele arrived in disguise and asked to join the races. When Kumukahi refused and ridiculed her request, she retaliated by unleashing a river of lava that chased him toward the sea. The movement of that lava is said to have formed the easternmost point of Hawai‘i Island, known today as Cape Kumukahi.

    This story connects personally to my own childhood memories. Growing up, my dad would sometimes take us on his day trips down to Pohoiki to visit his friends, and occasionally we would pass by the lighthouse at Cape Kumukahi. Because of those memories, the story of Kumukahi and Pele and that landscape is very vivid to me. 

    Through this print, I wanted to honor both the strength and daring of the chiefs of Puna and the powerful mo‘olelo connected to that place, while also acknowledging how those stories continue to live on through our landscapes, our families, and our cultural memory.

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