In 1778 English explorer Captain James Cook became the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands. He arrived during a period of political turmoil, and some scholars believe that a misunderstanding about the native religion cost him his life. When Cook came ashore, the people thought that he was the god Lono. They escorted him to their temple, where he took part in their rituals, unaware that doing so confirmed their beliefs that he was Lono. The Hawaiians believed that Lono would ritually “die” and then leave them. Cook left, but soon returned, which confused the islanders. Anxious to make sure that Lono died as he was supposed to, the Hawaiians killed Cook.
The Pacific, he used a vine to cover the bare land and provide shade. The vine spread, and parts of it decayed and became full of maggots. Tangaloa took the maggots and shaped them into humans. When he gave them a heart and soul, they came to life. In Maori myth, several of the gods—especially Tane-mahuta, Tangaroa, and Rongo-ma-tane (the god of cultivated crops)—played an active role in creating lands, plants, and humans. According to some legends, all living creatures, including humans, emerged from Tangaroa’s vast body.
In another myth, the god Tane went searching for a wife. He united with several different beings and produced mountains, rivers, and other living and nonliving things. Tane longed for a partner with a human shape, however, so he formed a woman out ofsand and breathed life into her. This woman’s name was Hine-hauone (Earth-formed Maiden), and she had a daughter named Hine-titama (Dawn Maiden). Tane later took the girl—who did not know he was her father—as his wife, and they had many children. When Hine-titama discovered Tane’s identity, she fled to the underworld, or land of the dead, dragging her children after her. The relationship between Tane and his daughter resulted in the arrival of death for humans.
A Hawaiian myth tells how Kane longed for a companion in his own image. His mother, Papatuanuku (pronounced pah-pah-too-ah-NOO-koo), told him to make a likeness of himself from clay and to embrace it. When he did as she suggested, the clay figure came to life and became the first woman.
Numerous myths explain the origin of various plant foods and other items of value. According to some stories, humans had to steal food from the gods or trick them into giving up certain foods. In other stories, the gods felt sorry for humans and generously gave food to them. A number of myths also explain that foods were the offspring of a particular god or grew from part of the body of a god.
The yam, or sweet potato, is one of the basic food crops of Polynesia. A number of myths explain the origin of this important food. One Maori (pronounced MAH-aw-ree) myth tells how the god Rongo-maui went to heaven to see his brother Wahnui (pronounced wah-NOO-ee), the guardian of the yam. Rongo-maui stole the yam, hid it in his clothing, and returned to earth. Soon after, his wife Pani became pregnant, and she later gave birth to a yam, the first on earth. Rongo-maui gave this food to humans.
Some Polynesian myths tell about characters who possessed extraordinary or supernatural powers and acted as miracle workers, mischief makers, or tricksters. The Hawaiians called these figures kapua (pronounced kah-POO-ah) and loved to hear about their many adventures. The kapua were often raised by grandparents who used magic to help them in their adventures. They generally grew up to be monstrous creatures who could change shape and perform great feats of strength. Among the more popular tales were those in which the kapua slayed monsters, rescued maidens, defeated rivals, and competed with the gods.
World History
