“Please take this sand and put it back somewhere on your island. I have had very bad luck since it came into my life and I’m very sorry I took it. Please forgive me and I pray that once I send it back to where it came from my bad luck will go away.”
This letter by Timothy Murray is among thousands of apologetic correspondence received by Hawaii Volcano National Park (and local post offices) annually. Packages returning rocks and sand, accompanied by letters telling of the misfortune and calamity they caused, flood Hawaiian mailboxes at a rate that would give pause to even the most skeptical among us.
Can a rock or sand souvenir really bring misfortune to the unsuspecting tourist who casually pockets it from a Hawaiian beach or park? While some scoff at the notion that bad luck can be blamed on a rock, others have come to believe that rocks and sand taken from Hawaii do, in fact, fetch with them a curse of epic proportion.
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.
Pele’s Curse
Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanos who, according to legend, resides in the crater of Kilauea on Hawaii Island (which, today, is Hawaii Volcano National Park). There are numerous stories equating Pele’s wrath to volcanic eruptions or calamitous lava flows. This visible and active power has resulted in respect (and even worship) for Pele to far outlive those of any other gods. After all, it was her fires that developed and redeveloped the island through volcanic activity.
Even today, native Hawaiians and new island residents, leave gifts of gin, berries and red flowers for Madame Pele to show respect and ensure good luck. (As the saying goes, “Pele will either embrace you, or spit you out… and you will know if you are meant to be here or not soon after you arrive.”)

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. Since Pele is (reportedly) zealously protective of her lands and her children.
According to legend, Pele views the lava rocks as her children, and when the rocks / her children (or anything else that belongs to her) get taken away, she is so angered she exacts terrible revenge on the thief. Moreover, her revenge (like that of any woman scored) is not a mild-mannered one.
This isn’t a spilled-your-coffee, lost-your-car-keys type of curse. The bad luck associated with Pele’s curse is more of the egregious variety: Pets dying (one of the more common reported calamities), relationships ending, loved ones suddenly falling ill, etc.
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).
(You can view a gallery of returned rock stories and photos here.)

Hawaiian Culture
You see, Hawaiians believe that everything has life force, or “Mana”, and that certain spirits or life forces can inhabit inanimate objects. In fact, many of the Hawaiian words regarding stones are anthropomorphic (attributing human characteristics to a non-human being or thing). This is comparable to how, in Western culture, we see certain “human” traits in our animals. We know our pets aren’t human but, in some ways, we care for them (and even regard them) as if they were.
It’s in this way that Hawaiians view their environment. It feeds them, provides for them, and is a part of them. They belong to it and vice-versa. Almost as if it’s a part of the family — and we must care for our family, in it’s many forms.
Therefore, all rocks in Hawaii are considered sacred. For this reason, the building of structures on the island (Heiaus and such), were undertaken by specialists in that field, and Kahunas (or priests) who knew the correct protocol to remove and use only certain types of rocks.
So, back to Pele’s curse. Whether you believe it or not, the foundation of that story is true in the sense that Hawaiians have long considered it unlucky or ill-advised to disturb/remove rocks from a place unless certain protocol is followed or ceremonies are performed or someone skilled (like a Kahuna) does it for you.
Cursed or Credulous?
While some swear by Pele’s curse, others believe the legend is of twentieth century origin — invented by park rangers who were fed up with watching an increasing amount of visitors take rocks (and other pieces of the island) home with them.
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).
Whether the legend’s genesis is ancient or modern, it all comes back to respecting the land and the old adage of leaving a place the way you found it — rocks, sand, and all.
My Two Cents
While there’s no denying the mana of Hawaii (the islands’ creative and restorative “energy” — for lack of a better word — has always been evident to me), I don’t presume to know how far that energy extends and what misfortune may or may not await those who disrupt the islands’ delicate ecosystem (even if as minutely as by taking sand or rocks).
Nor can I say whether it’s Pele or paranoia that drives thousands of people to mail purloined rocks and sand back to the islands every year.
However, what I do know is that the state of Hawaii receives 9 million visitors annually. And perhaps, to one person, taking a jar of sand or handful of rocks may not seem like a big deal. However, if all 9 million visitors arrived with that mentality and left with a jar of sand (or, in total, 9 million jars of sand) it would, in fact, have an impact on the island and its beautiful natural resources.
So, whether out of respect for the island or fear of Madame Pele, please leave the rocks and sand (and plants, and animals, and anything else) alone for future generations to enjoy. And when you leave, please only take with you memories and photos (and maybe a souvenir keychain or coffee).

Interesting. Never heard about this curse. 😉 Even if it’s not true, I wouldn’t dare take any sand or rocks from Hawaii out of respect.
We was on Honolulu couple years ago and we bring at home some rocks and coral and that year was really bad for my family one of our daughter has bad accident and more bad things happen to us. We returned all the items back to Honolulu. We don’t believe to god o bad luck . We come back more times to Honolulu but we don’t bring at home any more souvenirs.
Its true ive lost everything
Wow – this is so interesting. I never heard of this before. I’ve been to Hawaii many years ago, but never took any sand or rocks or anything. This is good to know – now there’s more of a reason to not take from a land that’s not yours!
Kasey
http://www.theStyleWright.com
This is really interesting, I don`t know much about Hawaiian culture and had no idea about this respect they have toward rocks. Who knows how true this curse is, true or not, I won`t be taking any rock/sand home, for sure hahahaha
I don’t believe in curses at all (scientist here). However, what I strongly feel about is preserving the environment and leaving no carbon foot print behind. That also includes not ruining or taking anything from the environment, such as rock pieces or sand. Why people do that is beyond me. We should respect nature and never ever remove anything from the island that was not ours to begin with. I have visited Big island and Maui in Hawaii and loved its natural and pristine beauty! Loved the feel of the sand against my fingers and took home lots of memories. I wish more people indulged in responsible tourism!
I mean, I knew you shouldn’t take home sands and rocks, but I didn’t know there were so many legends and curses related to this! That’s so interesting. And that’s hilarious that the Volcano Park gets so many letters like that, haha.
I’ve never heard of Pele’s curse, while no one knows if it’s true or not… I will definitely never take any sand for Hawaii. I don’t want to find out… great read!
Loved this article! You should never take sand or rocks from a destination because it can disrupt an ecosystem but the curse is a fun twist!
I’m not sure if I believe there’s a “curse” per-say (but that’s just my personal skepticism! But! I do believe in negative karma and I can totally agree you shouldn’t take sand or rocks from Hawaii – or anywhere in the world for that matter. As travelers we owe it to the Earth to preserve it – not hurt it!
Love this! I know about the curse from all my time as a kid on the Big Islands. It always makes me think of the Brady Bunch movie! haha
Wow this was such an interesting read. I’d never had of this before so I feel lucky to have read this post. Thank you
What an interesting sacred spot in Hawaii. Curse or no curse, it is still a practice I still believe in the old saying “take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.” Great post!
Wow! This is the first time I am hearing about this and your post is so informative, Brianne! Excellent read!
I took a heart shaped piece of coral from the big island and was in the icu for four days immediately after my return for kidney failure. I don’t care if it’s real or coincidence but I’m not into it ????
My sister did this and her husband had bypass and died of cancer…coincidence? No, but she thinks it is just nonsense…I hope she returns the sand before something happens to her girls or her.
what about buying gifts online, are those also considered taking?
You create your own luck. No one ever mentions locals taking the glass/shells/lava/sand for home decor, but they do and that has contributed to the problem just as much as greedy tourists.
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. Dashed that idea. 🙁
I heard about this legend from my Husband before we married but didn’t actually believe it at the time. I took a rock on my honeymoon. I’ve since divorced my soulmate with great regret. I’m sending it back Monday morning. I pray it brings him back.
I hope that worked for you!! Update.? 💕
What if you take some sand from one island and leave it on another? (About 4oz total). Asking because I found out about this after I left one island and went to another but still have the sand. I just want to be respectful. Is it ok if I leave it on the beach before I leave?
We received a piece of coral that a friend poached from the Hawiian coast, over a decade ago. Since then my husband’s health has steadily declined; we have had financial woes of all kinds; and even more bad luck. Do you think that the coral could be part of the curse?
There’s no harm in sending it back just to be safe? Lol.
i was on the big island a few days ago and took a rock not knowing about this, i became sick about 5 hours after taking it and still am. now im worried and really need to get that rock back.
TSA just confiscated some small black stones I was bringing back from Maui today. 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. Money speaks volumes.
i took some sand from the black beach and a black rock from one of the volcanoes im seeing some figure following me around its only been 2 days scence ive been back home and help would be great email [email protected] or text on Instagram @ md13_z thx – Troy