Displacing place: ‘translating’ Pele in cyberspace

This study reveals how the spiritual symbolism of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, has been misappropriated by non-Indigenous groups through cyberspace, particularly for New Age spiritual practices and tourism. The research demonstrates that online platforms, often tied to settler colonialism, displace traditional Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) spiritual practices, contributing to Indigenous erasure while reinforcing colonial agendas. The study examines how this digital appropriation of Pele supports broader settler colonial projects on the ground, raising ethical concerns about cultural displacement and the ethics of place. It highlights the tension between Indigenous reverence for sacred sites like Kīlauea and their commodification as global tourist attractions.

ho‘omanawanui, k. (2013). Displacing place: ‘translating’ Pele in cyberspace. Settler Colonial Studies, 3(3-04), 395–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/2201473x.2013.810703