Peridot: Hawaiʻi's Volcanic Gemstone and "Pele's Tears"
Who is Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes?
Pele is the revered Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes — a figure of immense power, passion, and creative destruction. In ancient Hawaiian chants, she is known as "She-who-shapes-the-sacred-land," her temperament as dynamic and unpredictable as flowing lava itself. Traditional narratives tell of her passionate affairs, fierce rivalries with her siblings, and the many attempts by other deities to calm the storms and waves she commands — nearly always without success.
How has Pele shaped the Hawaiian Islands?
Pele's influence on Hawaiʻi is both destructive and generative. Since 1983, her volcano on the Big Island has claimed over 900 structures — and simultaneously gifted more than 1,400 acres of new land, continuously reshaping the island's southern coastline. The landscapes of Hawaiʻi stand as living evidence of her enduring power and generosity.
What is peridot and why is it called "Pele's tears"?
Peridot is a vibrant green gemstone forged deep within the earth's volcanic mantle and brought to the surface through eruptions — which is why it is traditionally known as Pele's tears in Hawaiian culture. One of the most striking examples of this connection is Papakōlea Beach on Hawaiʻi Island, one of only a handful of green sand beaches in the world, formed entirely from olivine (the mineral form of peridot) smoothed by centuries of ocean waves.
What are peridot's healing properties and meaning?
Peridot has been cherished for centuries for its spiritual and healing significance. It is widely believed to:
- Attract abundance and growth
- Peridot is associated with prosperity, new beginnings, and the expansion of opportunity — making it a meaningful gift for life milestones.
- Promote healing and renewal
- Long regarded as a stone of transformation, peridot is believed to support emotional healing and release of negative patterns.
- Enhance natural radiance
- Its distinctive green-gold hue is said to complement warm, sun-kissed skin tones beautifully — glowing in sunlight and shimmering beneath the stars.
Discover Peridot jewelry for yourself — exclusively designed and handcrafted in Hawaiʻi.