Residents of Volcano, Hawai'i! In the second week of March, 2024, someone came into our Volcano Post Office and demanded that the beautiful image of Madame Pele, so long proudly displayed on the north wall, be removed from public sight. The reason? "Because it's pagan". When personnel acquiesced to their demands and put up a picture of lava instead, the complainer demanded that one come down as well because they could "still see her face in the lava."

This is ridiculously outrageous.  We do not live in the Middle Ages anymore where offended people of a dominant religion get to decide what people see or don't see, in a public place. Madame Pele is a cultural icon, not a "religious" one because there is no singular and official religion of Pele. Also, this is Volcano, Hawai'i, with her domain about a mile south in the amazing Kilauea Caldera. What does this say about respect for the local culture, for the Kanaka Maoli, their culture and history? What does this say about tolerance, free speech and freedom of religion?

And worse, what does this say about a postal system that allows one single person to decide what the public can see or not see in one of their offices?

Let's act now before yet another slap in the face of Hawaiian culture is brushed away and forgotten.  We fully, enthusiastically and unwaveringly demand:

1. The return of Pele's image to the Volcano Post Office
2. A promise from the Post Office that, in the future they will honor the will of the community instead of the hateful fears of one person.
3. A statement from the USPS that there will be no tolerance for censorship of imagery based on religious, cultural, ethnic or racial hatred at their facilities.