Native Hawaiians view their volcano myths as important and instructive and have passed them down through generations. But when white missionaries came to the islands in the 19th century, they dismissed such chants and stories as primitive narratives.

Not long after Hawai‘i was colonized, the modern academic discipline of geology developed, and Western scientists began chipping away at the islands’ old lava flows, studying rift zones and escaping gases. Through these and other methods, they “discovered” what had already been reported in the chants. (eos.org)

Painting, not poetry, is what helped excite volcanologist Katharine Cashman about teaming with Caroline Williams. Williams, who died in 2019, was an expert in Latin American history who had come across a painting depicting the 1773 eruption of Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. She shared the image with Cashman, who was intrigued by its depiction of mudflows that blocked a river. “It showed that the river was dry on one side and not on the other.” (eos.org)

New Zealand's White Island is otherworldly, an 800-acre fantasyland that has beckoned Hollywood filmmakers and everyday selfie-seekers alike. It is also an active volcano, a roiling catastrophe waiting to happen.

Skipper Paul Kingi killed the engines and slipped an anchor beneath the waves, bringing the boat to rest a hundred yards offshore. From here the tourists who'd paid for a half-day excursion to the volcano would be ferried on an inflatable dinghy. But first a few precautions: Tour guides began distributing hard hats and gas masks. White Island was a volcano, after all. As Hopkins stepped onto solid ground, he caught the whiff of sulfur dioxide and he sensed the faint rumble of vibrations from deep within the earth. (gq.com)

The cruise line offered three onshore activities for the next day: a visit to the Lord of the Rings' Hobbiton film set, a white-water rafting expedition, or a trip to White Island.

For years, Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines seemed disinclined to actively promote the volcano trips. But in recent years, Royal Caribbean had begun selling tickets on board its vessels to visit the volcano, encouraging passengers to take advantage of one of New Zealand's “epic” adventures. “Gas masks help you get near roaring steam vents, bubbling pits of mud, hot volcanic streams and the amazing lake of steaming acid,” the online promotion breathlessly promised. (gq.com)

In a nation that practically invented high-risk adventure travel—from bungee jumping off cliffs to hiking across crevasse-ridden glaciers—New Zealanders weren't ones to look askance at this sort of tour. Other volcanoes around the world had opened to tourists, but few were as accessible as White Island, where visitors are practically deposited at the crater.

In other words, exploring the oozing, steaming netherworld doesn't require an arduous climb up a mountain—it's as easy as stepping in and out of a boat. (gq.com)

Scientists warn New Zealand's devastating White Island volcano eruption could trigger deadly landslides and TSUNAMIS as they brand tourist trips there 'a disaster waiting to happen.' (dailymail.co.uk)

-The first story was the belief that Tongariro called on his ancestors for warmth and a fire  was started on Whakaari and brought warmth to him.

- In the second story, the sisters (or the gods) are the ones who sent the fire for warmth to Whakaari.  
          
- The third myth is that the island rose from the deep after the god Maui touched fire and was in great pain so he dived into the water to soothe his pain and then Whakaari arose.

- The fourth myth stated that Whakaari/White Island and Moutohora were peaking in the Huiarau range. They became jealous of each other and ran towards the sea.

Combining the contemporary idea of a circular economy with the worldviews preserved by indigenous people through generations could offer a path to a more prosperous global economy. (medium.com)