5.7.2015    [Keoua trembled]

Keoua trembled when

the earth exploded

knowing in his soul

that Pele had

rejected him.

the road to his sacrifice

was only a foregone,

foretold,

last step.

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*In 1790 Keoua was the last chieftain to seriously challenge Kamehameha for the rule of the Hawaiian islands kingdom. He withdrew his troops when, after camping near Kilauea caldera, the volcano erupted, destroying one of his three divisions and terrifying the others. Later, Kamehameha tricked him into coming to a meeting to bless a new temple, whereupon he was summarily executed as the first sacrifice.

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