Don't want to chance any bad luck upon us. Please forgive me and I pray that once I send it back to where it came from my bad luck will go away.”. 6. “Please take this sand and put it back somewhere on your island. Excellent read! It’s just taboo.) Second, some people think it is illegal to remove rocks or sea shells from the shore in Hawaii. Why people do that is beyond me. Quote; Share this post. 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. Possessing or removing any natural mineral is illegal and could cost you some hefty fines. We know our pets aren’t human but, in some ways, we care for them (and even regard them) as if they were. (Only then may you rightfully proceed into the landscape.) As much as I respect its environment, it seems odd that you can’t take home a few black stones to make a piece of jewelry memorializing the beautiful island when you see huge resort after resort being built and basically ruining the natural landscape. 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. She was right! 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. 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. He writes had it not been for his quick reflexes coupled with some good luck, the coral would have chewed him to shreds. ↠ Just a girl who got tired of the 9 to 5 ✈︎ Travel Blogger, Digital Marketer + Content Creator ☼ Kona #Hawaii ☟ #TravelBlog: Everyday Runaway. If you visit a Hawaii Island volcano, offer ohelo berries to Pele. So, back to Pele’s curse. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And perhaps, to one person, taking a jar of sand or handful of rocks may not seem like a big deal. 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. Also taking home rocks from Hawaii is believed to be bad luck. I'm Brianne, the flight-risk writer behind Everyday Runaway. it, Getting in the vacation (or, in my case, staycatio, [[I knew you would haunt all of my ‘What ifs’]. 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. Coral on the beach is like shells - OK to pick up and take with you. The inky-black beach is a stunning contrast to the deep blue of the surrounding waters, but be careful. You also can't taken any lava rock, coral etc. taking coral from hawaii taking coral from hawaii. Do you think that the coral could be part of the curse? Who knows how true this curse is, true or not, I won`t be taking any rock/sand home, for sure hahahaha. By Rosti ... its really bad to take things out of the ocean and you shouldnt want to do it anyway ... Hotels and post offices constantly get sand and rocks mailed back asking to return them because of the bad luck the people who take them run into. With the cameras rolling, Barry took a bad fall off his surfboard and had a near miss with a large piece of coral. 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. I know that taking sand is supposedly bad luck, but... Watch this Topic. Don’t take sand from the beach or lava rocks from a volcano outside of Hawaii. Locals believe bad luck will fall on any who remove sand from the beaches of Hawaii. However, Hawaii plays host to over seven MILLION visitors per year. I have always collected sand from the beaches I've been to. It's incredibly bad luck to take either from the island. Another version about the legend’s origin is that it was made up by bus drivers who grew tired of cleaning the dirt, sand, and rocks left behind by tourists (and their rock collection / sandy souvenirs). Here’s How To Choose! thousands have come to believe that yes, volcanic rocks taken from Hawaii fetch with them a curse of impressive proportions. Credit: CBS3 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. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Taking Lava Rocks and Sand Home With You. It always makes me think of the Brady Bunch movie! Though Hawaii is safer than many other U.S. cities, ... Getting too close to the coral. Cutting yourself could result in a serious staph infection if it is not cleaned properly. Nothing has happened to us. We took home some Lava (enclosed) for souvenirs. I never heard of this before. Here Are The 15 Worst Things You Can Possibly Do In Hawaii. Credit: CBS3 Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources allows you to collect seashells for personal use but not for resale. I have had bad luck for the last 21 years. I have had very bad luck since it came into my life and I’m very sorry I took it. tina marie | Mar 14, 2008 1:55PM. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. 10. That also includes not ruining or taking anything from the environment, such as rock pieces or sand. Coral on the beach is like shells - OK to pick up and take with you. Cutting yourself could result in a serious staph infection if it is not cleaned properly. There is even a Hawaiian legend that says the Goddess Pele will inflict bad luck on anyone who takes sand, rock, or coral from Hawaii until it is returned to the islands. Nothing has happened to us. In Hawaii, there is a popular belief that people who take a lava rock home from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island will be cursed by the Hawaiian goddess of fire, Pele. Can a rock or sand souvenir really bring misfortune to the unsuspecting tourist who casually pockets it from a Hawaiian beach or park? Anyway, Hawaii isn't a good place to find nice shells so the best place to find a shell souvenir is in a shop. 7. Don't Take The Lava Rock Home With You. Don’t whistle at night. These are all just made up stories, you can google if you don't want to believe me. I took a baggy of black sand, from the black sand beach, along with coral and vilcanic rock from a beach.. The hard material can be cut and polished just like a hard stone. ecology and conservation are a different issue from the luck. 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. I don't know if I believe in this superstition but our family has it rough. 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. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. It’s in this way that Hawaiians view their environment. The sudden downpour of bad luck can continue for months, or even years, until the “stolen” items are returned to the island (and to Pele). 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. There will be nothing left if everyone takes a little. It's actually against the law to remove objects from a … Spend some money for decent souvenirs to give your loved ones. 10. 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