Court Lets Stand Ruling Opposed by Worshipers of Pele in Hawaii

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by native Hawaiians who say plans for developing geothermal energy in a volcanic area will violate their religious rights.

The court, without comment, let stand a ruling that the proposed development will not interfere unlawfully with access to sacred land by worshipers of the goddess Pele.

The native Hawaiians said that the development, “by turning a pristine, virgin rain forest into a spider web of pipelines, roads, geothermal wells and production plants . . . would by accepted religious doctrine destroy the goddess Pele.”

Pele was described as “the magma, the heat, the vapor, the steam and the cosmic creation which occur in volcanic eruptions. She is seen by Pele people in the lava, images of her standing erect, dancing and extending her arms with her hair flowing into the steam and clouds.”

At issue are more than 9,000 acres of land in an area called the Kilauea Middle East Rift Zone on the island of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in July that state officials did not infringe on the religious practices of the natives by setting aside the land for geothermal development.

The state court noted that the development site was moved about 5 to 10 miles from a location “where tradition suggests Pele resides.”