Poliahu
Also known as: Poli'ahu, Cloaked-in-beauty
Mythological Narrative
The Hawaiian goddess of snow and ice, resident of Mauna Kea. Poliahu is Pele's rival, and their conflict represents the opposition of ice and fire on Hawaii's highest mountain.
Scholarly Commentary & Evolution
## Goddess of the Snow
Poliahu is the goddess of snow and ice, making her home on Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawaii. She represents a different kind of power than her rival Pele - cool, serene, and majestic rather than fiery and tempestuous.
### The Snow Maidens
Poliahu is one of four snow goddesses (sometimes called snow maidens) who dwell on the high peaks of Hawaii: Poliahu herself, Lilinoe (goddess of mist), Waiau (goddess of Lake Waiau on Mauna Kea), and Kahoupokane (goddess of hupu flowers). Together they represent the alpine environment of Hawaii's highest mountains.
### Rivalry with Pele
Poliahu and Pele are eternal rivals. In many stories, they compete for the same lovers, with disastrous results. In one famous tale, they competed in holua sledding, with Pele's fires battling Poliahu's snow for dominance of the mountain slopes.
### Cool Beauty
Poliahu is described as beautiful beyond mortal description, dressed in shimmering white kapa cloth like snow. Unlike the tempestuous Pele, Poliahu is calm and regal.
Cross-Pantheon Parallels & Archetypes
Academic Discussion & Critique
Exchange peer-reviewed hypotheses, comparative Indo-European etymologies, and archaeological field interpretations regarding Poliahu.
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