Some facts on Kilauea
• means 'spewing' or 'much spreading'
• one of the most active volcanos in the world
• has had 61 historical eruptions
• eruptions have been continuous since 1/3/83
• Kilauea takes up 13% of the Hawai'i the only it's on
• first eruption estimated around 300,000-600,000 years ago

Originally the caldera, a large, usually circular depression of a volcano caused when magma is withdrawn or erupted from a shallow underground magma reservoir, was named Kilauea, but over time the entire volcano was associated with the name. The caldera houses the crater Halema'uma'u (meaning house of ferns).

Pele resides in the Kilauea Caldera. She came from a large family of gods. She was ravished by Kama pua'a the pig god. She fought with her sister over the love of young chief, and her sister stalked her and smashed her bones at Kaiwi o Pele (the Bones of Pele.) After she pulled herself back together she went to the firepit at Kilauea to make a love nest for her and her lover. It is said, that later Kama pua'a built a house of ferns over the crater in the caldera to keep Pele inside, and to stop the eruptions of the volcano.
She was been portrayed as a restless wanderer. Also as a passionate, temperamental women. Pele can be filled with wrath, and also generous and fogiving. Those who offend are swiftly punished, and the lava from the volcano has also been known to spare the houses of those that still worship her. One must be weary of Pele's Curse while on the island. Death could come to anyone who disturbs her sacred volcano. Also, to not offend the Goddess no one will carry any pork over the volcano at night because she's still angry with Kama pua'a.
for more on Pele's legends check out Live Aloha!