Cutting yourself could result in a serious staph infection if it is not cleaned properly. Taking Lava Rocks and Sand Home With You. Two Things I'd Improve In Maui - Kelley Rene, 7 Festivals From Around The World To Add To Your Bucket List, 21 Female Travel Bloggers Share Their Best Travel Tips, 7 Things You Need To Know Before Moving to Portland, Oregon, Hawaii Staycation with L’Oreal Lash Paradise Luggage, Tips For Visiting Giethoorn: The Dutch Village Without Roads, Fuji Rock Music Festival: A Beginner’s Guide To Japan’s Largest Music Event. The locals call the outcrop Pu’u Keka’a. I’d never had of this before so I feel lucky to have read this post. There are those who dispute whether this is actually a Hawaiian legend or whether it’s just a creative technique to keep people from taking lava rocks from the park (which is illegal), and the “legend” itself has even been attributed to a particular park historian. Please do not take live coral or shells from the reef. Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources allows you to collect seashells for personal use but not for resale. Well, if they start experiencing bad luck, they can send the rock back to Hawaii. [ It's a jungle out there... ] Flashback, [See that line where the sky meets the sea? Nor can I say whether it’s Pele or paranoia that drives thousands of people to mail purloined rocks and sand back to the islands every year. We returned all the items back to Honolulu. ↠ Just a girl who got tired of the 9 to 5 ✈︎ Travel Blogger, Digital Marketer + Content Creator ☼ Kona #Hawaii ☟ #TravelBlog: Everyday Runaway. TSA just confiscated some small black stones I was bringing back from Maui today. ecology and conservation are a different issue from the luck. Pele has long been revered as the island matriarch and it is through her creative and protective power that the curse of Pele was said to have been born. “Please take this sand and put it back somewhere on your island. I took a baggy of black sand, from the black sand beach, along with coral and vilcanic rock from a beach.. It's actually against the law to remove objects from a … Lol. These things are considered to be unlucky and may cause the person bad luck. You will often see it cut into a … Whether the curse has an ancient origin or a modern one, many have come to respect it thanks to the cascade of bad luck that descends upon those who take … Whether the legend’s genesis is ancient or modern, it all comes back to respecting the land and the old adage of leaving a place the way you found it — rocks, sand, and all. You also can't taken any lava rock, coral etc. According to the Division of Land and Natural Resources, taking small amounts of sand, dead coral, rocks or other marine deposits for personal, noncommercial use is allowed. She was right! And perhaps, to one person, taking a jar of sand or handful of rocks may not seem like a big deal. Can a rock or sand souvenir really bring misfortune to the unsuspecting tourist who casually pockets it from a Hawaiian beach or park? However, taking a souvenir such as lava rocks, sand and other natural elements off of the island is believed to bring bad luck. 6. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We don’t believe to god o bad luck . HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For decades, visitor industry officials say tourists have been illegally taking pieces of Hawaii home with them -- in the form of rocks, sand, even coral. Pele's curse says that any visitor who takes rock or sand away from the Hawaii islands will suffer … You may believe this, or you may not, there is no scientific proof, but many people believe that lava rocks that have wrongfully been taken from Hawaii should be returned by the person who took them. Waving to the dolphins at a sea life park. Everyday Runaway is a travel (and wine, and food, and lifestyle) blog aimed at inspiring a community of "runaways" to escape the monotony of everyday life through travel and quality experiences. We took home some Lava (enclosed) for souvenirs. The legend is that if you take Black Sand from the beach in Hawaii the Gods of the Hawaiian people will bestow bad luck on you until you return it. Also taking home rocks from Hawaii is believed to be bad luck. Here’s How To Choose! Don't Take The Lava Rock Home With You. I took a heart shaped piece of coral from the big island and was in the icu for four days immediately after my return for kidney failure. Coral on the beach is like shells - OK to pick up and take with you. No one ever mentions locals taking the glass/shells/lava/sand for home decor, but they do and that has contributed to the problem just as much as greedy tourists. In Hawaii, no celebration's ... And it's bad luck to give a tied lei to a pregnant woman, ... Black coral is technically an animal, but it's often used to make jewelry. It's actually against the law to remove objects from a … Remember that it is always best to know what to do and what not to do in Hawaii. Even if it’s not true, I wouldn’t dare take any sand or rocks from Hawaii out of respect. Whether or not you believe in bad luck, below are a few reasons why you may want to think twice before taking some sand (or rocks) home with you as a souvenir. While you may think grabbing a lava rock or filling a small tube with sand is an awesome souvenir, it is extremely bad luck to do so. If they cannot find their way, lost souls attach themselves to rocks. Born and raised in Idaho, I spent the last several years climbing the career ladder in Portland, Oregon before quitting my job and "running away" to live the digital nomad life in Hawaii. However, Hawaii plays host to over seven MILLION visitors per year. Thanks for stopping by! Do you think that the coral could be part of the curse? We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I don’t want to find out… great read! tina marie | Mar 14, 2008 1:55PM. Spend some money for decent souvenirs to give your loved ones. There’s no harm in sending it back just to be safe? However, if all 9 million visitors arrived with that mentality and left with a jar of sand (or, in total, 9 million jars of sand) it would, in fact, have an impact on the island and its beautiful natural resources. Well darn I wanted to take some sand to give to my daughter with a note that read “someday go back and return this” like a relive the moment. HAR 13-95-70 Rules pertaining to stony corals Unlawful to take, break or damage, any stony coral, including any reef or mushroom coral. Though Hawaii is safer than many other U.S. cities, ... Getting too close to the coral. Be aware of coral while enjoying Hawaii’s crystal clear water. This is Hawaii’s State Gem. Moreover, her revenge (like that of any woman scored) is not a mild-mannered one. I’m not sure if I believe there’s a “curse” per-say (but that’s just my personal skepticism! I know that taking sand is supposedly bad luck, but... Watch this Topic. The water near the beach is around 8 feet deep but deepens to around 25 feet around the point. Return Lava Rock to Hawaii! We know our pets aren’t human but, in some ways, we care for them (and even regard them) as if they were. For this reason, the building of structures on the island (Heiaus and such), were undertaken by specialists in that field, and Kahunas (or priests) who knew the correct protocol to remove and use only certain types of rocks. 10. It may seem enticing to take a souvenir home from Hawaii. are there any tours offered that include swimming with the dolphins? It is unlawful to take, break or damage, with any implement, any stony coral from the waters of Hawaii, including any reef or mushroom coral. Some believe that doing so is bad luck, and every year many boxes of lava rocks are returned to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from folks who believe that. (Bad things will start happening to you until you return it. Taking things from National Parks is against the law, so taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii’s volcanoes is illegal. Your email address will not be published. She was right! There are numerous stories equating Pele’s wrath to volcanic eruptions or calamitous lava flows. According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele lives in the volcano on the Big Island and is an extremely vengeful being. All Rights Reserved. After all, it was her fires that developed and redeveloped the island through volcanic activity. Wow! With the cameras rolling, Barry took a bad fall off his surfboard and had a near miss with a large piece of coral. so im from michigan, I went on a vacation with family from california when i was young, about 13. we went to Hawaii for my causins soccer tournament. Hawaii is struggling with the environmental impacts of over-tourism. I have visited Big island and Maui in Hawaii and loved its natural and pristine beauty! However you may want to find out what the rule is regarding this as you will pass through security. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Never be thrifty in buying souvenirs to the point of giving away black sand or lava rocks. Would the bad luck dissappear? Since Pele is (reportedly) zealously protective of her lands and her children. It's tempting to take home a small lava rock or a handful of black, green, red, or white sand, but don't do it. I don’t believe in curses at all (scientist here). Credit: CBS3 We did not know that was bad luck to take lava as a reminder of our trip. However, taking a souvenir such as lava rocks, sand and other natural elements off of the island is believed to bring bad luck. Me and my husband took a trip to Hawaii in Februar 2004 and had a wonderful time. Waving to the dolphins at a sea life park. Turn off your cell phones. There are those who dispute whether this is actually a Hawaiian legend or whether it’s just a creative technique to keep people from taking lava rocks from the park (which is illegal), and the “legend” itself has even been attributed to a particular park historian. Almost as if it’s a part of the family — and we must care for our family, in it’s many forms. To rocks but not for resale apologetic correspondence received by Hawaii volcano National park ( maybe. Is around 8 feet deep but deepens to around 25 feet around the point li, see. 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