A man claims he has been haunted by a Hawaiian volcano goddess, after taking sand from the volcano.

   During a holiday to Big Island And Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Timothy Murray scooped up sand into a pop bottle.

   When he returned home to Port St. Lucie, Fla., Murray's good fortune had fled. His beloved pet died. The five-year relationship with the woman he was to marry fell apart. He began to drink heavily. Finally, FBI agents, who said they had been tracking him from Hawaii, arrested him in a computer copyright infringement case.

   He said: "My life literally fell apart. One minute you're working and you're law-abiding and you've got money in the bank. The next minute you are sitting in a federal penitentiary in Miami. I couldn't figure out what was happening or why.

   "Even the FBI agents said they never arrest people for what I did. They told me, 'You really must have pissed someone off.' After some research, I figured out who it was."

   He blames Pele, the volcano goddess who apparently punishes people who take anything belonging to her.

   He's now sent it back. In his note accompanying the sand, he wrote: "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 am very sorry I took it. Please forgive me and I pray that once I send it back where it comes from, my bad luck will go away."

   Thousands of pounds of such mail, often addressed to "Queen Pele," arrive here every year. The packages come from around the world, often filled with reports of misfortune and calamity. The correspondents plead for the offending item to be returned to Pele, so the "curse" will be lifted and they can have their lives back.

   Many native Hawaiians do not take Pele lightly, nor does the National Park Service, which allows locals access to park sites for religious observances. Pele practitioners leave flower leis, food wrapped in ti leaves and other offerings on the edge of volcanoes as a sign of respect. Rangers seldom interfere with the visits, which often include special hula dances and chanting.

   The island of Hawaii is entirely formed of volcanic rock, and living in harmony with all things natural--including rocks--is common sense to many raised on this island.

   "We believe that every rock has mana, or power," says Piilani Kaawaloa, who grew up nearby and serves as a cultural interpreter at the park. "We believe that every rock has its function and a name and a place it should be. Some are for building and some are for cooking. There are rocks that if you take them down by the water, they will attract fish."

   Park ranger Terry Reveira said: "As Hawaiians, we have been raised that when you are in nature, you ask permission to take something. That's true for rocks too. I've seen people take rocks from the park and I know the rocks don't want to go. On the way back to the car the people keep dropping the rocks on their feet."

   "These are unexplainable things. You may have your doubts about Pele, but let me tell you, when these things happen, you are willing to be on your knees in front of anyone or anything. You feel like, 'Get this stuff away from me!' Since I sent the sand back, I've started getting my life back. That's all I know."