Illustrates Manuela Costa
Edition Felipe van Deursen
Filled with elements of nature, especially the sea, since the region is made up of islands. The archipelagos were inhabited little by little, around 4,000 years ago. Therefore, many legends have some local differences. The god of the seas, for example, is called Kanaloa in Hawaii and Tangaloa in Samoa and Tonga. Ancient Polynesians believed in deities and a supernatural power called mana, found in people, trees, rocks and places. Doing well at a difficult task meant having a lot of mana. A place with a lot of mana was called tabu (“sacred place”) – the term became international and ended up even in our dictionary.
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The Embrace of Creation
Father and mother created the world together
Capacity
There are variations between peoples, but the legend of the Maoris, from New Zealand, is the most widespread. Rangi, the “sky father” and Papa, “earth mother”, supreme gods, were intertwined in an embrace. Within the darkness between their bodies, all forms of life emerged, as well as forests, rivers, mountains, etc. Other gods were also born in this darkness. Dissatisfied, they plotted to break out of confinement
Divorce
Tane, god of the forest, suggested separating his parents so that the gods would gain space. All but Tawhiri, ruler of the winds, agreed to the plan. They tried several times to break the great embrace, but only Tane accomplished the task. The deity forced his head against Papa and his feet against Rangi, pushing mother to earth and father to heaven.
Tears and rain
The embrace broken, the space between Rangi and Papa filled with light. Gods and other beings dispersed. But the deities didn’t know what to do with freedom. They got into a fight, which brought problems from weeds to storms. Heartbroken at being separated from his beloved, Rangi wept and flooded the Earth, sparing only the Polynesian islands.
Rangi and Papa
Arose from Te Po (night) and Te Kore (emptiness), which existed in chaos
Tane
God of the forest, he had the idea of separating his parents, Rangi and Papa. Many tried, but only he achieved the feat.
maui
Trickster demigod, is the most famous figure in the Polynesian pantheon. Small and strong, he had several magical powers, such as slowing down the passage of the Sun across the sky. Named one of the islands of Hawaii
Hina
The Moon Goddess personifies fertility. In some legends she is Maui’s wife, and in others her older sister. She also appears as Tane’s wife, whom she abandoned to live on the Moon.
tawhiri
He did not agree with the separation of his parents and took out his anger with winds and storms on the Earth, destroying forests, seas and fields
Tangaroa
God of the seas. He quarreled with Tane, and therefore the sinking of wooden canoes is attributed to his anger.
Skin
Goddess of fire, her violent figure is associated with volcanoes, common in Hawaii. Many legends speak of its unpredictable temper and explosive nature.
Menehunes
Small and invisible, they resemble the elves of European folklore. They live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands.
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SOURCES Book Hawaiian Mythologyby Martha Beckwith, and Polynesian Mythology, by George Grey; The Myth Encyclopedia website