by @legends-of-maui

Legends of Ma-ui — Chronicle

Ordered by chapter. No event in this book could be dated from the text, so it is not dated — no anchor, no chronology; a date is never inferred. Time expressions are copied from the text as written. Every event links back to one sentence of the original.

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 📍 Places →

257 events · no event could be dated from the text

Undated

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the Hawaiian family chant, Akalana was Hina-a-ke-ahi's husband.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Akalana Hina

Akalana was the man; Hina-a-ke-ahi was the wife;

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
Maui First was born, according to the Hawaiian family chant.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui First

Maui First was born;

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
Maui-waena was born, according to the Hawaiian family chant.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui-waena

Then Maui-waena;

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
Maui Kiikii was born, according to the Hawaiian family chant.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui

Maui Kiikii was born;

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
Maui of the malo was born, according to the Hawaiian family chant.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui of the malo

Then Maui of the malo.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the Hervey Island legend, Ru married Bua-taranga.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Ru Bua-taranga

Ru, the supporter of the Heavens, married Bua-taranga, the guardian of the lower world.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the Hervey Island legend, Maui was the child of Ru and Bua-taranga.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui

Their one child was Maui.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui was born prematurely.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui

Maui was prematurely born,

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, his mother cast him into the sea after tying him in her hair.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

his mother, not caring to be troubled with him, cut off a lock of her hair, tied it around him and cast him into the sea.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, the god of the seas cared for and protected Maui.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui the god of the seas (Chapter I)

The god of the seas cared for and protected him.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, the god of the seas took Maui to his house and hung him in the roof to warm and cherish him.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

Maui the god of the seas (Chapter I)

He was carried to the god's house and hung up in the roof that he might feel the warm air of the fire, and be cherished into life.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui's mother recognized him as her son and took him into the family.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1 · 📍 [[the great House of Assembly]] · When he was old enough

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

Soon his mother called the children and found a strange child, who proved that he was her son, and was taken in as one of the family.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
Maui broke a pathway for the river after Hina called him.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2

Hina Maui

Hina called loudly to her powerful son Maui. He came quickly and found that a large and strong ridge of lava lay across the stream. One end rested against a small hill. Maui struck the rock on the other side of the hill and thus broke a new pathway for the river.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
Maui fought his two uncles and threw them down.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2

Maui Tall Post Short Post

They fought hard with Maui, and were thrown, and red water flowed freely from Maui's forehead.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui blocked the light to discover where his mother disappeared at dawn.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2 · one night

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

Maui remained awake one night, and when all were asleep, arose quietly and stopped up every crevice by which a ray of light could enter.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, his mother tore away what blocked the light and hurried away, distressed at her children's treatment.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2 · The morning

the New Zealand mother of Maui

The morning came and the sun mounted up--far up in the sky. At last his mother leaped up and tore away the things which shut out the light. "Oh, dear; oh, dear! She saw the sun high in the heavens; so she hurried away, crying at the thought of having been so badly treated by her own children."

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui watched his mother disappear into the earth and found the path to the under-world.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

Maui watched her as she pulled up a tuft of grass and disappeared in the earth, pulling the grass back to its place. Thus Maui found the path to the under-world.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui transformed into a pigeon, descended underground, and let his father's stone strike him before changing back into a man.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2

Maui the New Zealand father of Maui

He flew to the tree and threw down berries upon the people. They threw back stones. At last he permitted a stone from his father to strike him, and he fell to the ground. "They ran to catch him, but lo! the pigeon had turned into a man."

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui's father took him to be baptized, but incomplete prayers foretold danger to Maui.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2 · Then

Maui the New Zealand father of Maui

Then his father "took him to the water to be baptized" (possibly a modern addition to the legend). Prayers were offered and ceremonies passed through. But the prayers were incomplete and Maui's father knew that the gods would be angry and cause Maui's death, and all because in the hurried baptism a part of the prayers had been left unsaid.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui returned to the upper world and lived again with his brothers.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2 · Then

Maui

Then Maui returned to the upper world and lived again with his brothers.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2
In the Hervey Islands legend, during hide-and-seek, a sister hid Maui under dry sticks, where he shrank until he could not be found.

Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 2 · one day

Maui a sister (Chapter I)

Here a sister enters into the game and hides little Maui under a pile of dry sticks. His brothers could not find him, and the sister told them where to look. The sticks were carefully handled, but the child could not be found. He had shrunk himself so small that he was like an insect under some sticks and leaves.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1
Maui’s hook catches the land under the water and lifts it to the surface.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1 · 📍 [[Hawaii]]

Maui Alae

Caught is the land under the water, Floated up, up to the surface,

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1
Hina hides one of Alae’s wings and breaks the land under the water.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1

Hina Alae

But Hina hid a wing of the bird And broke the land under the water.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1
The fish snatch away and eat the bait.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1

Alae

Below, was the bait snatched away And eaten at once by the fishes,

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1
Maui the little, the mischievous one, slipped his hook toward the head of a fish caught by a brother and flipped it over into the canoe.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 1

Maui

Maui the little, the mischievous one, would slip his hook toward the head of the fish and flip it over into the canoe--causing his brother's line to slacken for a moment.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
His brothers threw Maui out of their canoe and made him swim back to the beach.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2

Maui

So they threw him off and made him swim back to the beach.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
Maui's magic hook drew land up from the sea, but it broke when one brother looked back.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kipahula]]

Maui

One brother did look back--the line slacked, snapped, and broke, and the land lay behind them in islands.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
Maui lifted a floating calabash into the canoe and found Hina of the sea inside.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hilo harbor]]

Maui Hina of the sea

He lifted it into the canoe, and behold! his beautiful sister Hina of the sea.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui's brothers repeatedly refused to let him join them.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2

Maui

In this legend Maui is represented as making his own hook and then pleading with his brothers to let him go with them once more. But they hardened their hearts against him, and refused again and again.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui disguised himself as an insect and secretly boarded his brothers' canoe.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2

Maui

Sir George Gray says that the New Zealand Maui went out to the canoe and concealed himself as an insect in the bottom of the boat so that when the early morning light crept over the waters and his brothers pushed the canoe into the surf they could not see him.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui emerged from among the fish in the canoe.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2 · on the morning of the next day

Maui

They fished all day and all night and on the morning of the next day, out from among the fish in the bottom of the boat came their troublesome brother.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui struck his nose and used the clotted blood to bait his hook.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 2

Maui

The New Zealand legend says that he struck his nose a mighty blow until the blood gushed forth. When this blood became clotted, he fastened it upon his hook and let it down into the deep sea.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui pulled a great island up from the sea while fishing.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3

Maui

Out of the great seas the black, ragged head of a large island was rising like a fish--it seemed to be chasing them through the boiling surf.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui’s brothers cut the island, and its gashes became mountains and valleys.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3

Maui

The island came up more and more from the waters--but the deep gashes made by Maui's brothers did not heal--they became the mountains and valleys stretching from sea to sea.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui made a magic hook from his great ancestress’s jawbone and fished up Ao-tea-roa.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

From the dead side he took the jaw bone, made a magic hook, and went fishing. When he let the hook down into the sea, he called: "Take my bait. O Depths! Confused you are. O Depths! And coming upward." Thus he pulled up Ao-tea-roa--one of the large islands of New Zealand.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui set the other large island on fire and left it burning.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

He took fire in his hands and was burned. He leaped into the sea, dived deep, came up with the other large island on his shoulders. This island he set on fire and left it always burning.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Great Hina of the Night destroyed Maui.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]] · while he was seeking immortality

Maui Hine-nui-te-po

Some New Zealand natives say that he fished up the island on which dwelt "Great Hina of the Night," who finally destroyed Maui while he was seeking immortality.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3
In one legend, Maui fished up the large island of the Tongas, praised as Tangaroa-meha’s beloved grandchild.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3

Maui Kanaloa

One legend says that Maui fished up apparently from New Zealand the large island of the Tongas. He used this chant: "O Tonga-nui! Why art Thou Sulkily biting, biting below? Beneath the earth The power is felt, The foam is seen, Coming. O thou loved grandchild Of Tangaroa-meha."

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4
Maui used the Alae belonging to Hina-akeahi as bait for his hook.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4

Maui Hina

Then drawing the magic hook, he baited it with the Alae or sacred mud hen belonging to his Mother Hina.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4
Hina-akeahi tried to rescue her sacred bird, but its wing was torn off.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4

Hina

But Hina the mother saw the struggle of her sacred bird and hastened to the rescue. She caught a wing of the bird, but could not pull the Alae from the sacred hook. The wing was torn off.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4
Peapea broke the fish-hook of Maui.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4

Peapea

Peapea, a brother of Kaahumanu, took the hook and broke it.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4
Kaahumanu soothed Kamehameha after Peapea broke the hook.

Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 4

Kaahumanu

Kaahumanu, however, soothed the King, and he passed the matter over.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the Hawaiian legend, the woman gave Maui a drink, and he lifted the heavens to their present place.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1 · After a long time

Maui the woman (Chapter III)

After a long time, according to the Hawaiian legends, a man, supposed to be Maui, came to a woman and said: "Give me a drink from your gourd calabash, and I will push the heavens higher." The woman handed the gourd to him. When he had taken a deep draught, he braced himself against the clouds and lifted them to the height of the trees. Again he hoisted the sky and carried it to the tops of the mountains; then with great exertion he thrust it upwards once more, and pressed it to the place it now occupies.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the Hawaiian legend, Maui caught the man who ridiculed him and changed him into a great black rock.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1 · When the clouds rested on the tops of the mountains

Maui the man (Chapter III)

When the clouds rested on the tops of the mountains, Maui turned to punish his critic. The man had fled to the other side of the island. Maui rapidly pursued and finally caught him on the sea coast, not many miles north of the town now known as Lahaina. After a brief struggle the man was changed, according to the story, into a great black rock, which can be seen by any traveler who desires to localize the legends of Hawaii.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the Samoan story, a man lifted the sky to its proper place, and a woman rewarded him with a drink.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1

a man of the Samoan story a woman of the Samoan story

A woman rewarded a man who lifted the sky to its proper place by giving him a drink of water from her cocoanut shell.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Rongo, Tangaroa, Haumia Tiki-tiki, and Tu failed to lift the sky, but Tane raised it.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1

Rongo Kanaloa Haumia Tiki-tiki Tu Kane

Rongo (Hawaiian god Lono) the "father of food plants," attempted to lift the sky, but could not tear it from the earth. Then Tangaroa (Kanaloa), the "father of fish and reptiles," failed. Haumia Tiki-tiki (Maui Kiikii), the "father of wild food plants," could not raise the clouds. Then Tu (Hawaiian Ku), the "father of fierce men," struggled in vain. But Tane (Hawaiian Kane), the "father of giant forests," pushed and lifted until he thrust the sky far up above him.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Tane's lifting of the sky revealed the human beings concealed and crushed beneath the clouds.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1 · Then

Kane

Then they discovered their descendants--the multitude of human beings who had been living on the earth concealed and crushed by the clouds.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Tawhiri waged war against his brothers and drove them and their descendants into hiding.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1 · Afterwards

Tawhiri Rongo Kanaloa Haumia Tiki-tiki Tu Kane

Afterwards the last son, Tawhiri (father of storms), was angry and waged war against his brothers. He hid in the sheltered hollows of the great skies. There he begot his vast brood of winds and storms with which he finally drove all his brothers and their descendants into hiding places on land and sea.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Manihiki legend, Maui and Ru raised heaven away from earth.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Manihiki]]

Maui Ru

Then they lifted again, bracing themselves with hands and knees against the earth. They crowded it and bent it upward. They were able to stand with the sky resting on their shoulders. They heaved against the bending mass, and it receded rapidly. They quickly put the palms of their hands under it; then the tips of their fingers, and it retreated farther and farther. At last, "drawing themselves out to gigantic proportions, they pushed the entire heavens up to the very lofty position which they have ever since occupied."

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Manihiki legend, Maui and Ru smoothed the sky with stone tools.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Manihiki]]

Maui Ru

They determined to smooth the sky before they finished their task, so they took large stone adzes and chipped off the rough protuberances and ridges, until by and by the great arch was cut out and smoothed off.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Hervey Island legend, Ru raised the sky on stakes so people could stand and walk freely.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Island]]

Ru

So he planted stakes of different kinds of trees. These were strong enough to hold the sky so far above the earth "that men could stand erect and walk about without inconvenience."

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Hervey Islands legend, Ru threw Maui high into the air, but Maui returned unharmed as a bird.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Islands]]

Maui Ru

Ru quickly seized him and "threw him to a great height." But Maui changed himself to a bird and sank back to earth unharmed.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Hervey Islands legend, Maui lifted Ru and the sky so high that the sky could not return.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Islands]]

Maui Ru

Another lift and he hurled them both to such a height that the sky could not come back.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2
In the Hervey Islands legend, Ru died and his bones fell to earth.

Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Islands]] · after a time

Ru

Ru died after a time. "His body rotted away and his bones, of vast proportions, came tumbling down from time to time, and were shivered on the earth into countless fragments."

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Tongan legend, Vatea and Tongaiti quarreled over the child, each claiming it as his own.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Vatea Tongaiti [[the child (Chapter IV)]]

Vatea (Wakea) and their ancestor Tongaiti quarreled concerning a child--each claiming it as his own.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Tongan legend, Vatea and Tongaiti struggled over the child and cut it in two.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Vatea Tongaiti [[the child (Chapter IV)]]

In the struggle the child was cut in two.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Tongan legend, Vatea rolled his half of the child into a ball and threw it into the heavens, where it became the sun.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Vatea [[the child (Chapter IV)]] the sun

Vatea squeezed and rolled the part he secured into a ball and threw it away, far up into the heavens, where it became the sun.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Tongan legend, Tongaiti made his half of the child into a ball, which became the moon.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Tongaiti [[the child (Chapter IV)]] the moon

At last he took the flesh which lay on the ground and made it into a ball.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Society Islands legend, a demon in the west ate the sun, causing night, then released it.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1 · 📍 [[Society Islands]]

a demon in the west (Chapter IV) the sun

The legends of the Society Islands say that a demon in the west became angry with the sun and in his rage ate it up, causing night. In the same way a demon from the east would devour the moon, but for some reason these angry ones could not destroy their captives and were compelled to open their mouths and let the bright balls come forth once more.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
In the Society Islands legend, a demon from the east tried to devour the moon, but released it.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1 · 📍 [[Society Islands]]

a demon from the east (Chapter IV) the moon

In the same way a demon from the east would devour the moon, but for some reason these angry ones could not destroy their captives and were compelled to open their mouths and let the bright balls come forth once more.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
Maui threw the heavens into place and fastened them so they could not fall.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Maui

After Maui had succeeded in throwing the heavens into their place, and fastening them so that they could not fall, he learned that he had opened a way for the sun-god to come up from the lower world and rapidly run across the blue vault.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1
Maui planned to capture the sun and punish him for neglecting mankind.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 1

Maui the sun

Maui planned to capture the sun and punish him for thinking so little about the welfare of mankind.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2
Maui caught the sun with ropes, tied them to a tree, and struck and wounded him with a magic stone axe.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2

Maui the sun

When the sun saw that his sixteen long legs were held fast in the ropes, he began to go back down the mountain side into the sea. Then Maui tied the ropes fast to the tree and pulled until the body of the sun came up again. Brave Maui caught his magic stone club or axe, and began to strike and wound the sun, until he cried: "Give me my life."

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2
Maui and the sun agreed on a regular motion, with longer days and alternating fast and slow journeys.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2 · After they had conversed a while

Maui the sun

After they had conversed a while, they agreed that there should be a regular motion in the journey of the sun. There should be longer days, and yet half the time he might go quickly as in the winter time, but the other half he must move slowly as in summer.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2
In another legend, Maui agreed to let the sun continue its course, and the sun went more slowly.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2 · from that day

Maui the sun

So the agreement was made, and Maui permitted the sun to pursue his course, and from that day he went more slowly.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2
Maui chased Moemoe and slew him, changing his body into a long rock.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 2 · 📍 [[Lahaina]]

Maui Moemoe

There on the seashore near the large black rock of the legend of Maui lifting the sky he found Moemoe. Then they left the seashore and the contest raged up hill and down until Maui slew the man and "changed the body into a long rock, which is there to this day, by the side of the road going past Black Rock."

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Muri gave Maui the magic jaw-bone.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 3 · 📍 [[the underworld]] · One day

Maui Muri

Then Muri, the old chiefess, gave him the magic bone and he returned to his brothers, who were still living on the earth.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui and his brothers snared the sun, beat him, and released him weakened and moving slowly.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 3 · At last

Maui the sun

Then forth rushed that bold hero Maui with his enchanted weapon. The sun screamed aloud and roared. Maui struck him fiercely with many blows. They held him for a long time. At last they let him go, and then weak from wounds the sun crept very slowly and feebly along his course.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, Maui snared the sun and made him promise to travel more slowly.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4

Maui the sun

Then Maui caught the last noose and threw it around the neck of the sun, and fastened the rope to a spur of rock. The sun struggled until nearly strangled to death and then gave up, promising Maui that he would go as slowly as was desired.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4
In the Society Islands legend, Maui used Inaika's hair to snare the sun, who promised to cross the sky more slowly.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4

Maui Ina-ika the sun

Then Maui thought of his sister's hair, the sister Inaika, whom he cruelly treated in later years. Her hair was long and beautiful. He cut off some of it and made a strong rope. With this he lassoed or rather snared the sun, and caught him around the throat. The sun quickly promised to be more thoughtful of the needs of men and go at a more reasonable pace across the sky.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4
In the Samoan legend, a woman living with the sun bore Child of the Sun.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4 · for a time

the woman (Chapter IV) the sun Child of the Sun

A Samoan legend says that a woman living for a time with the sun bore a child who had the name "Child of the Sun."

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4
In the Samoan legend, the woman snared the sun and made him give her a basket of blessings for the child's marriage.

Chapter IV · Maui Snaring the Sun · Part 4

the woman (Chapter IV) the sun Child of the Sun

She wanted gifts for the child's marriage, so she took a long vine, climbed a tree, made the vine into a noose, lassoed the sun, and made him give her a basket of blessings.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 1
Maui took fire away from Mafuia.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 1

Maui Mahuika

The usual legend makes Maui the one who takes fire away from Mafuia.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Hina wanted fish, so Maui went fishing with his brothers.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kaupo]] · One morning early

Hina Maui

Hina, Maui's mother, wanted fish. One morning early Maui saw that the great storm waves of the sea had died down and the fishing grounds could be easily reached.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui saw a fire burning on the mountain while fishing.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kaupo]]

Maui

When they were far from shore they began to fish. But Maui, looking landward, saw a fire on the mountain side.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui ran up the mountain to obtain fire but found the birds had flown away.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · 📍 [[Haleakala]]

Maui

When they came to land, Maui leaped out and ran up the mountain side to get the fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui concealed himself, seized the old Alae, and held her prisoner.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · Finally

Maui the old Alae

Maui was impatient--and just as the old Alae began to select sticks with which to make the flames he leaped swiftly out and caught her and held her prisoner.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
The old Alae warned Maui that killing her would destroy the secret of fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2

Maui the old Alae

But the Alae cried out: "If you are the death of me--my secret will perish also--and you cannot have fire."

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui promised to spare the old Alae if she revealed how to make fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2

Maui the old Alae

Maui then promised to spare her life if she would tell him what to do.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
After repeated attempts, Maui discovered how to make fire by rubbing sticks together.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · At last

Maui the old Alae

At last Maui found fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui rubbed the fire stick on the old Alae's head, stripping feathers until her flesh showed.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2

Maui the old Alae

He took a fire stick and rubbed the top of the head of his prisoner until the feathers fell off and the raw flesh appeared.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui pursued the two Alae brothers to learn their secret of making fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2 · 📍 [[Pohaku-nui]]

Maui elder Alae younger Alae

Here Maui planned to learn the secret of fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2
Maui told Hina he would follow the birds until he learned how to make fire, and she encouraged him.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 2

Maui Hina

Maui told his mother he would follow them until he learned the secret of fire. His mother encouraged him because he was very strong and very swift.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
Hina taught Maui how to recognize the fire-maker.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3

Hina Maui

Maui's mother Hina had taught him how to know the fire-maker.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
Maui seized Alae-iki while trying to capture the fire-maker.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[Waianae]]

Maui Alae-iki

At Waianae he leaped suddenly among the birds. They scattered the fire, and the younger bird tried to snatch his banana from the coals and flee, but Maui seized him and began to twist his neck.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
Alae-iki revealed the wood in which fire dwelt and taught Maui how to find it.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3

Maui Alae-iki

Then he was so angry that he nearly rubbed the head of the bird off--and the bird, fearing for its life, told the truth and taught Maui how to find the wood in which fire dwelt.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Ina promised to help Maui find fire and sent him to Tangaroa.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the Society Islands]]

Hina Maui

A legend of the Society Islands is somewhat similar. Ina (Hina) promised to aid Maui in finding fire for the islanders. She sent him into the under-world to find Tangaroa (Kanaloa).

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Tangaroa gave Maui a lighted stick, but Maui extinguished it and returned repeatedly for fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui Kanaloa

Maui asked him for fire to take up to men. The god gave him a lighted stick and sent him away. But Maui put the fire out and went back again after fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Tangaroa taught Maui fire-making with the white duck's help.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Kanaloa the white duck (Chapter V) Maui

He called a white duck to aid him. Then, taking two sticks of dry wood, he gave the under one to the bird and rapidly moved the upper stick across the under until fire came.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Maui burned black spots behind the white duck's eyes with a charred stick.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui the white duck (Chapter V)

Maui seized the upper stick, after it had been charred in the flame, and burned the head of the bird back of each eye.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Maui struck Tangaroa down and carried away the art of making fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui Kanaloa

Then arose a quarrel between Tangaroa and Maui--but Maui struck down the god, and, thinking he had killed him, carried away the art of making fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Society Islands legend, Maui restored Tangaroa's spirit to his body.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the fire fountain]]

Maui Kanaloa

Maui hastened back to the fire fountain and made the spirit return to the body

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Samoan story, Mafuie gave Maui fire to carry to his father.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui Mahuika

The boy determined to get some fire--he went to the place from which the smoke arose and there found the god, and asked him for fire. Mafuie gave him fire to carry to his father.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3
In the Samoan story, Mafuie blew out the fire and scattered the oven stones, and Maui became angry and confronted him.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3 · 📍 [[the under-world]] · Just as everything was ready

Maui Mahuika

Just as everything was ready an earthquake god came up and blew the fire out and scattered the stones of the oven. Then Ti'iti'i was angry and began to talk to Mafuie.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Samoan story, Ti'iti'i broke off one of Mafuie's arms.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[the under-world]] · At last

Maui Mahuika

At last Ti'iti'i seized one of the arms of Mafuie and broke it off.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Samoan story, Ti'iti'i demanded a reward to spare Mafuie's remaining arm, and Mafuie offered him one hundred wives.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4

Maui Mahuika

Ti'iti'i listened to the plea and demanded a reward if he should spare the left arm. Mafuie offered Ti'iti'i one hundred wives.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Samoan story, Ti'iti'i accepted Mafuie's offer to teach him the secret of finding fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[the upper-world]]

Maui Mahuika

Then the god offered to teach him the secret of fire finding to take to the upper-world. The boy agreed to accept the fire secret

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, Maui followed his mother through the black rock into the under-world.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[Hawaiki]] · After a time

Maui Bua-taranga

Maui planned to follow her, but first studied the forms of birds that he might assume the body of the strongest and most enduring. After a time he took the shape of a pigeon and, flying to the black rock, passed through the door and flew down the long dark passage-way.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, the god of fire offered Maui fire in exchange for being tossed into the sky.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4

Maui the god of fire (Chapter V)

The fire god agreed to give Maui fire if he would permit himself to be tossed into the sky by the god's strong arms.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, Maui agreed to the tossing contest on condition that he could toss the god afterward.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4

Maui the god of fire (Chapter V)

Maui agreed on condition that he should have the right to toss the fire god afterwards.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, Maui tossed the fire god repeatedly until the god yielded and promised him whatever he demanded.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · Suddenly

Maui the god of fire (Chapter V)

Suddenly he tossed the god upward and caught him as he fell--again and again--until the bruised and dizzy god cried enough, and agreed to give the victor whatever he demanded.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Hervey Islands legend, the god taught Maui how to make fire by rubbing sticks together.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4

Maui the god of fire (Chapter V)

Maui asked for the secret of fire producing. The god taught him how to rub the dry sticks of certain kinds of trees together, and, by friction, produce fire

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Society Islands legend, Mau-ika taught Maui how to make fire and gave him coals.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[Avaiki (Hawaiki)]]

Maui Mahuika

Mau-ika taught Maui the kinds of wood into which when fire went out on the earth a fire goddess had thrown sparks in order to preserve fire. Among these were the "au" (Hawaiian hau), or "the lemon hibiscus"--the "argenta," the "fig" and the "banyan." She taught him also how to make fire by swift motion when rubbing the sticks of these trees. She also gave him coals for his present need.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Society Islands legend, Maui set the banyan house on fire and fled toward the upper-world.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4

Maui Mahuika

But Maui was viciously mischievous and set the banyan house on fire, then mounted his pigeon and fled toward the upper-world.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Tokelau Islands legend, after Talanga threatened her, Mafuika taught him how to make fire and cook food.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[the lower world]]

Akalana Mahuika

She refused either to give fire or to teach how to make it. Talanga threatened to kill her, and finally persuaded her to teach how to make fire in any place he might dwell--and the proper trees to use, the fire-yielding trees. She also taught him how to cook food--and also the kind of fish he should cook, and the kinds which should be eaten raw.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4
In the Savage Island legend, Maui followed his father into the fire-land and stole the secret of fire.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 4 · 📍 [[the fire-land beneath]] · one day

Maui the Savage Island father of Maui

The lad followed his father one day and saw him pull up a bunch of reeds and go down into the fire-land beneath. Maui hastened down to see what his father was doing. Soon he saw his opportunity to steal the secret of fire. Then he caught some fire

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the Savage Island legend, Maui set fire to the bushes as his father pursued him, and the flames swept into the upper-world.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5 · 📍 [[the black cave]]

the Savage Island father of Maui Maui

The father hastened after his son and was almost ready to lay hands upon him, when Maui set fire to the bushes. The flames spread rapidly, catching the underbrush and the trees on all sides and burst out in the face of the pursuer.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the New Zealand legends, Maui's mother sent him to Mahuika to get fire after he put out his people's fires.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

The New Zealand legends picture Maui as putting out, in one night, all the fires of his people. This was serious mischief, and Maui's mother decided that he should go to the under-world and see his ancestress, Mahuika, the guardian of fire, and get new fire to repair the injury he had wrought.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the New Zealand legend, Maui repeatedly tricked Mahuika into giving him fire, then extinguished it.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5 · 📍 [[the house of Mahuika]]

Maui Mahuika

As soon as he had gone back to a place where there was water, he put the fire out and returned to Mahuika, asking another gift, which he destroyed. This he did for both hands and feet until only one nail remained.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the New Zealand legend, Mahuika threw her last burning nail down, releasing fire that spread everywhere.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5

Maui Mahuika

Then Mahuika became angry and threw the last finger nail on the ground. Fire poured out and laid hold of everything.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the New Zealand legend, Maui called for rain, which checked the fire and drove Mahuika away, nearly drowned.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5

Maui Mahuika

Maui, about to perish, called on the gods for rain. Then floods of water fell and the fire was checked. The great rain fell on Mahuika and she fled, almost drowned.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5
In the New Zealand legend, as she fled, Mahuika saved fire by throwing sparks into trees.

Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 5

Mahuika

But in order to save fire for the use of men, as she fled she threw sparks into different kinds of trees where the rain could not reach them, so that when fire was needed it might be brought into the world again by rubbing together the fire sticks.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui obtained fire from his ancestress.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1 · 📍 [[the New Zealand under-world]]

Maui Mahuika

His ancestress from whom he obtained fire recognized him as the man called "the deceitful Maui."

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In a New Zealand fire legend, Maui fled to the under-world as a bird and then appeared as a man.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1 · 📍 [[the under-world]]

Maui

One of the New Zealand fire legends while recording his flight to the under-world and his appearance as a bird, says: "The men tried to spear him, and to catch him in nets. At last they cried out, 'Maybe you are the man whose fame is great in the upper-world.' At once he leaped to the ground and appeared in the form of a man."

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui secretly improved his brothers’ eel baskets, trapping the eels securely.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1

Maui

Maui improved the basket by secretly making an inside partition as well as a cover, and the eels were securely trapped.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui cursed and bewildered One of the family, then changed him into a dog.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1

Maui One of the family (Chapter VI)

Then Maui became angry and chanted a curse over him and bewildered him, then changed him into a dog.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In the Manahiki Islanders’ legend, Maui made the moon, but could not get good light from it.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1

Maui

The Manahiki Islanders have the legend that Maui made the moon, but could not get good light from it.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In a New Zealand legend, Maui was one of the gods who created man and woman.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1

Maui

There is a New Zealand legend in which Maui is made one of three gods who first created man and then woman from one of the man's ribs.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In Hilo stories, Maui made bridges, pools, and channels in the river with his staff.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1 · 📍 [[Hilo]]

Maui

With this he punched holes through the lava, making natural bridges and boiling pools, and new channels for its sometimes obstructed waters, so that the people could go up or down the river more easily.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In a New Zealand story, Maui’s enchanted reeds broke his mother’s house, making her recognize him as one of her children.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1 · As children

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

They took the stems of long, heavy reeds and threw them at each other, but Maui's reeds were charmed into stronger and harder fibre so that he broke his mother's house and made her recognize him as one of her children.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1
In a New Zealand story, Maui returned home after the gods took him away at birth, but his mother ignored him.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 1

Maui the New Zealand mother of Maui

He had been taken away as soon as he was born by the gods to whom he was related. When he found his way back home his mother paid no attention to him.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2
Maui killed his two children to make powerful fish hooks.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2

Maui Maui's two children

It is also said that in order to have powerful hooks for every-day fishing he killed two of his children.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2
Maui threw his children’s right eyes into the sky, where they became stars.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2

Maui Maui's two children

Their right eyes he threw up into the sky to become stars. One became the morning and the other the evening star.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2
Maui captured many eels while fishing with his brothers, whose bait the eels escaped.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 2

Maui

The stupid brothers did not fasten the ends of the string. Therefore the eels easily slipped the bait off and escaped. But Maui made the ends of his string fast, and captured many eels.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui learned to fashion stone implements from fragments of a stone block.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

In New Zealand it was said Maui found a large, fine-grained stone block, broke it in pieces, and from the fragments learned how to fashion stone implements.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui caught and confined the winds, except for the west wind.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

Maui caught and held all the winds save the west wind. He put each wind into a cave, so that it might not blow.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui took fire in his hands, was badly burned, and plunged into the sea.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

He evidently did not know much about fire, for he took it in his hands. He was badly burned and rushed into the sea.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui emerged from the sea carrying an island on his shoulders, and set it on fire where he held it.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

Down he dived under the cooling waters and came up with one of the New Zealand islands on his shoulders. But his hands were still burning, so wherever he held the island it was set on fire.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui tried to teach the people, became angry, and tried to block the sun from them.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

He tried to teach them, but they did not learn as he thought they should. He quickly became angry and said, "It is a waste of light for the sun to shine on such stupid people." So he tried to hold his hands between them and the sun, but the rays of the sun were too many and too strong; therefore, he could not shut them out.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui made the moon dark for part of each month to trouble the people.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

Then he tried the moon and managed to make it dark a part of the time each month. In this way he made a little trouble for the stupid people.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maru sent a snowstorm over Maui's field, blighting Maui's crops.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui Maru

Maru sent a snowstorm over Maui's field. (It would seem as if this might be a Polynesian memory of a cold land where their ancestors knew the cold winter, or a lesson learned from the snow-caps of high mountains.) At any rate, the snow blighted Maui's crops.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui prayed for rain to destroy Maru's fields in retaliation.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui Maru

Maui retaliated by praying for rain to destroy Maru's fields.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Maui lay in wait for Maru, killed him, and went away to the earth.

Chapter VI · Maui the Skillful · Part 3 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui Maru

But Maui was implacable and lay in wait for his foster brother, who was in the habit of carrying fruit and grass as an offering to the gods of a temple situated on the summit of a hill. Here Maui killed Maru and then went away to the earth.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui secured Hina-a-te-lepo as his wife.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1

Maui Hina-a-te-lepo

Maui sought Hina-a-te-lepo, "daughter of the swamp," and secured her as his wife.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Tuna-roa struck Hina-a-te-lepo and knocked her into the water.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · One day

Hina-a-te-lepo Kuna

While she was standing on the bank, Tuna-roa, "the long eel," saw her. He swam up to the bank and suddenly struck her and knocked her into the water and covered her with slime from the blow given by his tail.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Tuna-roa again overthrew Hina-a-te-lepo and befouled her with slime.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · the next day

Hina-a-te-lepo Kuna

But the next day, while getting water, she was again overthrown and befouled by the slime of Tuna-roa.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Hina-a-te-lepo reported Tuna-roa's attacks to Maui.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · Then

Hina-a-te-lepo Maui

Then Hina became angry and reported the trouble to Maui.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In some New Zealand legends, Maui killed Tuna-roa, a chief, with a stone axe.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · 📍 [[the stream]]

Maui Kuna

Some of the New Zealand legends as collected by White, state that Tuna-roa was a very smooth skinned chief, who lived on the opposite bank of the stream, and, seeing Hina, had insulted her. When Maui saw this chief, he caught two pieces of wood over which he was accustomed to slide his canoe into the sea. These he carried to the stream and laid them from bank to bank as a bridge over which he might entice Tuna-roa to cross. Maui took his stone axe, Ma-Tori-Tori, "the severer," and concealed himself near the bank of the river. When "the long eel" had crossed the stream, Maui rushed out and killed him with a mighty blow of the stone axe, cutting the head from the body.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In another New Zealand legend, Tuna-roa had caught and devoured two of Maui's children.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · Meanwhile

Kuna Maui

Meanwhile, in addition to the insult given to Hina, Tuna-roa had caught and devoured two of Maui's children, which made Maui more determined to kill him.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1
In another legend, Maui's ditch carried Tuna-roa into a waiting net.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 1 · Soon

Maui Kuna

Soon the flood came and the overflowing waters rushed down the sacred ditch. The walls of the deep pool gave way and "the long eel" was carried down the trench into the waiting net. Then there was commotion. Tuna-roa was struggling for freedom.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui killed Tuna-roa and cut his body into pieces.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2

Maui Kuna

Hurrying to the net, he struck Tuna-roa a terrible blow, and cut off the head. With a few more blows, he cut the body in pieces.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui’s offspring became safe from being killed and multiplied.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · After the death of Tuna-roa

Maui

After the death of Tuna-roa the offspring of Maui were in no danger of being killed and soon multiplied into a large family.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui lured Tuna-roa to the logs and killed him with his axe.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui Hina-a-te-lepo Kuna

Maui sprang out from his hiding place and killed Tuna-roa with his axe, and cut him in pieces.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui taught people the chants used when catching eels.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[New Zealand]]

Maui

Eel traps were made, and Maui taught the people the proper chants or incantations to use when catching eels.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the Samoan story, Sina kept a captured eel as a pet, but it grew large and attacked her.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[Samoa]]

Sina the eel (Chapter VII)

She captured a small eel and kept it as a pet. It grew large and strong and finally attacked and bit her.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the Samoan story, Sina’s father raised mountains between her and the pursuing eel.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[Samoa]]

her father (Chapter VII) Sina the eel (Chapter VII)

Her father came to her assistance and raised high mountains between the eel and herself.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the Samoan story, Sina’s mother raised another series of mountains to stop the eel.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[Samoa]]

her mother (Chapter VII) Sina the eel (Chapter VII)

Her mother raised a new series of mountains.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the Samoan story, the chief poisoned the eel with awa, and the eel died.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[Samoa]]

the chief (Chapter VII) the eel (Chapter VII)

He prepared awa, a stupefying drink, and put poison in it. When the eel came along the chief asked him to drink. He took the awa and prepared to follow Sina. When he came to the place where she was the pains of death had already seized him.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2
In the Samoan story, Sina buried the eel’s head by her home, where a cocoanut tree eventually grew.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 2 · 📍 [[Samoa]]

Sina the eel (Chapter VII)

While dying he begged her to bury his head by her home. This she did, and in time a plant new to the islands sprang up. It became a tree, and finally produced a cocoanut, whose two eyes could continually look into the face of Sina.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
In the Fiji legend, Roko broke through the coral caves and awoke Tuna.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[coral caves]]

Roko Kuna

Inside he found cave after cave of coral, and broke his way through until at last he awoke Tuna.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
In the Fiji legend, Roko fought Tuna and killed him.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[coral caves]]

Roko Kuna

Tuna leaped upon Roko and bit him. Then came the mighty battle of the coral caves. Roko broke Tuna into several pieces--and the red blood poured in boiling bubbles upward through the clear ocean waters, and the boatmen cried: "The blood is red--the blood is red--Tuna is dead by the hand of Roko."

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
Kuna-moo attacked Hina and dammed the river to drown her in her cave.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[Rainbow Falls]]

Kuna Hina

He attacked Hina and threw a dam across the river below Rainbow Falls, intending to drown Hina in her cave.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
Maui cut a new channel for the river, and Hina remained unharmed.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[Rainbow Falls]]

Hina Maui

Maui came quickly and with mighty blows cut out a new channel for the river--the path it follows to this day. The waters sank and Hina remained unharmed in her cave.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
Maui poured hot water into the river, flooding Kuna-moo's home.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[Wai-kuna]]

Maui Kuna

Maui went above Kuna's home and poured hot water into the river. This part of the myth could easily have arisen from a lava outburst on the side of the volcano above the river. The hot water swept in a flood over Kuna's home.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
Kuna-moo jumped from the boiling pools into the river, then leaped to the bank after being scalded.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[Wai-kuna]]

Kuna

Kuna jumped from the boiling pools over a series of small falls near his home into the river below. Here the hot water again scalded him and in pain he leaped from the river to the bank

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3
Maui killed Kuna-moo by beating him with a club.

Chapter VII · Maui and Tuna · Part 3 · 📍 [[Wailuku]]

Maui Kuna

where Maui killed him by beating him with a club.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Hina-uri married Ira-waru.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Hina-uri Ira-waru

Maui's sister Hina-uri married Ira-waru, who was willing to work with his skillful brother-in-law.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Maui transformed Ira-waru into a dog after he copied Maui's eel basket.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1 · after a time

Maui Ira-waru

Ira-waru immediately made a basket like Maui. Then Maui became angry and uttered incantations over Ira-waru. The man dropped on the ground and became a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the New Zealand legend, Hina-uri learned Maui had transformed her husband into a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Maui Hina-uri Ira-waru

Maui did not deny the exercise of his power, but taught his sister a chant and sent her out to the level country. There she uttered her chant and a strange dog with long hair came to her, barking and leaping around her. Then she knew what Maui had done.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the Tahu and Hau tribes' New Zealand story, Maui transformed Ira-waru into a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Maui Ira-waru

Then by incantations he made the sleep very deep and prolonged. Meanwhile he pulled the ears and arms and limbs until they were properly lengthened. He drew out the under jaw until it had the form of a dog's mouth. He stretched the end of the backbone into a tail, and then wakened Ira-waru and drove him back when he tried to follow the path to the settlement.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the Tahu and Hau tribes' New Zealand story, Hina-uri recognized her husband as a dog and reproached Maui.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Hina-uri Ira-waru Maui

Hina-uri went out and called her husband. He came to her, leaping and barking. She decided that this was her husband, and in her agony reproached Maui and wandered away.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the Rua-nui story, Maui transformed Ira-waru into a dog after using him as a roller to drag the canoe.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Maui Ira-waru

When he was lying helpless under the canoe, Maui changed him into a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1
In the Arawa legends, Maui crushed Ira-waru and transformed him into a dog after Ira-waru caught a fish.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

Maui Ira-waru

Ira-waru did so and Maui leaped on the outrigger and weighed it heavily down and crushed Ira-waru prostrate on the beach. Maui trod on him and pulled his backbone long like a tail and changed him into a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Maui punished Ira-waru by transforming him into a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2 · At last

Maui Ira-waru

While Ira-waru slept Maui trod on his backbone and lengthened it and changed the arms and limbs into the legs of a dog.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Hina-uri threw herself into the sea, intending to drown herself.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2

Hina-uri

Then Hina-uri threw herself into the sea and was borne on the waves many moons, at last drifting to shore, to be found by two fishermen.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, two fishermen revived Hina-uri after finding her at sea.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2 · at last

Hina-uri

They carried the body off to the fire and warmed it back to life. They brushed off the sea moss and sea weeds and rubbed her until she awoke.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Tini-rau took Hina-uri away to make her one of his wives.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2 · Soon

Tini-rau Hina-uri

He came and took her away to make her one of his wives.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Tini-rau's other wives drove Hina-uri away from the chief's houses.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2

Hina-uri

But the other wives were jealous and drove Hina-uri away from the chief's houses.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Rupe launched his canoe and searched the coasts for his missing sister.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2 · 📍 [[Ao-tea-roa]] · then

Rupe

He sought for her throughout the land and then launched his canoe upon the blue waters surrounding Ao-tea-roa (The Great White Land; the ancient native New Zealand) and searched the coasts.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2
In the New Zealand legend, Rupe sailed away from Ao-tea-roa in search of his sister.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 2

Rupe

Thus he passed out of sight of Ao-tea-roa, away from his brothers, and out of the reach of all tricks and incantations of Maui, the mischievous.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Tini-rau and Hina lived away from the chief’s village until their son was born.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · until their little boy was born

Tini-rau Hina-uri

Tini-rau and Hina lived away from the village of the chief until their little boy was born.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Hina’s chant caused sufficient food to fall before them.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · when they needed food

Hina-uri

But Hina chanted: "Let it down, let it down, Descend, oh! descend--" and sufficient food fell before them.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Hina’s incantation provided clothing when theirs wore out.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · After a time

Hina-uri

After a time their frail clothing wore out, and the cold chilled them, then Hina again uttered the incantation and clothing was provided for their need.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Hina killed the two wives who attacked her.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · finally

Hina-uri

They tried to throw enchantments around her to kill her. Then one of them made a blow at her with a weapon, but she turned it aside and killed her enemy with the obsidian knife. Then the other wife made an attack, and again the obsidian knife brought death.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In another legend, Hina killed the two women who came to kill her.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · when they heard of the birth of her boy

Hina-uri

Another legend says that the two women came to kill Hina when they heard of the birth of her boy. For a time she was greatly terrified. Then she saw that they were coming from different directions. She attacked the nearest one with a stone and killed her. The body burst open, and was seen to be full of green stone. Then she killed the second wife in the same way, and found more green stones.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Tini-rau and Hina lived happily together before he began neglecting and abusing her.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · For a time

Tini-rau Hina-uri

For a time the chief and Hina lived happily together. Then he began to neglect her and abuse her, until she cried aloud for her brother--

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In the New Zealand legend, Rupe carried his sister and her child away beneath his wings.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3

Rupe Hina-uri

He folded the mother and her boy under his wings and flew away with them.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3
In some legends, Tini-rau caught the child and cared for him as he grew.

Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 3 · until he grew to be a strong young lad

Tini-rau

Tini-rau caught the child and carefully cared for him until he grew to be a strong young lad.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui made the birds reveal themselves to the people.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · At one time

Maui

So he made the birds reveal themselves perched in the trees or flying in the air.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui made a large kite and launched it toward the clouds.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · after repeated experiments

Maui

Maui, after repeated experiments, made a large kite for himself. It was much larger than any house of his time or generation. He twisted a long line from the strong fibers of the native plant known as the olona. He endowed both kite and string with marvelous powers and launched the kite up toward the clouds.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui called for the priest to release the winds and blow them toward Hilo.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · 📍 [[Waipio valley]]

Maui

Maui called for the priest who had charge of the winds to open his calabash and let them come up to Hilo and blow along the Wailuku river.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui called the winds of Hilo to hasten and come to him.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · 📍 [[Hilo Bay]]

Maui

With a tumultuous rush the strong winds turned toward the mountains. They forced their way along the gorges and palisades of the Wailuku river. They leaped into the heavens, making a fierce attack upon the monster which Maui had sent into the sky. The kite struggled as it was pushed upward by the hands of the fierce winds, but Maui rejoiced. His heart was uplifted by the joy of the conflict in which his strength to hold was pitted against the power of the winds to tear away. And again he shouted toward the sea-- "O winds, the winds of Hilo, Come to the mountains, come."

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui's mother prepared the strong kapa used to make his kite.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying

Hina

The kite had been made of the strongest kapa (paper cloth) which Maui's mother could prepare.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui's kite line broke, and the kite was tossed to Ka-u.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · 📍 [[Ka-u]] · At last

Maui

The cord was drawn out until the kite was far above the mountains. At last it broke and the kite was tossed over the craters of the volcanoes to the land of the district of Ka-u on the other side of the island.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui leaped over the mountains to retrieve his kite.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · 📍 [[Ka-u]] · Then

Maui

Then Maui was angry and hastily leaped over the mountains, which are nearly fourteen thousand feet in altitude. In a half dozen strides he had crossed the fifty or sixty miles from his home to the place where the kite lay.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying
Maui died.

Chapter IX · Maui's Kite-Flying · 📍 [[Wailuku river]] · Time passed

Maui

Time passed, and even the demi-god died.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui and Hina arrived from foreign lands and dwelt in Kane-ana.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1 · 📍 [[Kane-ana (Kane's cave), Waianae, Oahu]]

Maui Hina (grandmother of Maui)

This history of Maui and his grandmother Hina begins with their arrival from foreign lands. They dwelt in Kane-ana (Kane's cave), Waianae, Oahu.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui and the two gods agreed to a digging contest, but Maui escaped to the other side of the island.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1 · 📍 [[Kaha-luu]]

Maui Kane Kanaloa

They agreed, and began to dig and throw up the dirt. Then Maui dug three times and tossed up some of the hills of that place. Kane and Kanaloa saw that Maui was digging very fast, so they put forth very great strength and threw the dirt into a hill. Meanwhile Maui ran away to the other side of the island.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui caught Ka-Alae-huapi, threatened to kill it, then released it after it warned him about finding fire.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1

Maui Ka-Alae-huapi

Maui watched again and saw fire. When he went up the birds saw him coming and scattered the fire, carrying the ashes into the water; but he leaped and caught the little Alae. "Ah!" he said, "I will kill you, because you do not let me have fire." The bird replied, "If you kill me you cannot find fire."

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui caught Ka-Alae-huapi again, learned how to make fire, and marked the bird's head with the fire stick.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1 · 📍 [[Halawa]] · After a while

Maui Ka-Alae-huapi

After a while he saw the fire burning and ran swiftly. The birds saw him and cried, "The cooking is over. Here comes the swift grandchild of Hina." They scattered the fire, threw the ashes away and flew into the water. But again Maui caught the Alae and began to kill it, saying: "You gave me a plant full of water from which to get fire." The bird said, "If I die you can never find fire. I will give you the secret of fire. Take a branch of that dry tree and rub." Maui held the bird fast in one hand while he rubbed with the other until smoke and fire came out. Then he took the fire stick and rubbed the head of the bird, making a place where red and white feathers have grown ever since.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui taught Hina how to make fire with fire sticks and coconut fibre.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1

Maui Hina (grandmother of Maui)

He returned to Hina and taught her how to make fire, using the two fire sticks and how to twist coconut fibre to catch the fire when it had been kindled in wood.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui caught and broke one of the sun's legs, and the sun agreed to move more slowly.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1 · 📍 [[Hele-a-ka-la]] · When the sun began to rise

Maui the sun

Soon the shining legs of the sun came up the hillside. He saw Maui and began to run swiftly, but Maui reached out and caught one of the legs, saying: "O sun, I will kill you. You are a mischief maker. You make trouble for Hina by going so fast." Then he broke the shining leg of the sun. The sufferer said, "I will change my way and go slowly--six months slow and six months faster."

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui proposed drawing the islands together into one land.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1

Maui Hina (grandmother of Maui)

Maui suggested to Hina that he had better try to draw the islands together, uniting them in one land.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1
Maui was directed to go to Ponaha-ke-one and find Ka-uniho-kahi.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1 · 📍 [[Ponaha-ke-one]]

Maui

The Alae told him they must go to Ponaha-ke-one (a fishing place outside of Pearl Harbor) and find Ka-uniho-kahi, "the one toothed," who held the land under the sea.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
While Maui pulled up the land, his brothers looked back, breaking the charm, and the raised islands sank back.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2

Maui Rupe Maui-hope Maui-waena

The brothers looked back and cried, "There is plenty of land behind us." The charm was broken. The hook came out of "the one toothed," and the raised islands sank back into their place.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Pea-pea-maka-walu seized Maui's wife and carried her away over the sea.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2

Maui Pea-pea-maka-walu

He looked inland and saw his wife, Kumu-lama, seized and carried away by Pea-pea-maka-walu, "Pea-pea the eight-eyed."

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Maui's grandmother sent him inland to find an old man who could advise him.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2

Maui Hina (grandmother of Maui)

Maui was greatly troubled but his grandmother sent him inland to find an old man who would tell him what to do.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Maui struck the hump on Ku-olo-kele's back with a stone, making his back straight.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2 · 📍 [[Waipahu]]

Maui Ku-olo-kele

Maui threw a large stone and hit the "hill on the back" knocked it off and made the back straight.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Ku-olo-kele built and tested a great bird that could fly.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2 · The second day

Maui Ku-olo-kele

The second day he placed food inside and tried his bird and it flew all right.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Ku-olo-kele sent Maui off in the flying bird to find his wife.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2 · On the third day

Maui Ku-olo-kele

On the third day Maui came and saw the wonderful bird body thoroughly prepared for his journey. Maui went inside.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Pea-pea-maka-walu's people caught Maui and confined him in a tabu box.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2

Maui Pea-pea-maka-walu

He was caught and placed in a tabu box.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Hina darkened the dawn so Pea-pea would fall asleep, allowing Maui to kill him.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2 · In the night

Maui Hina (grandmother of Maui) Pea-pea-maka-walu

Then Maui called to Hina with his spirit voice, "O Hina, keep it dark." Hina made the gray dawn dark in the three eyes and two closed in sleep. The last eye was weary, and it also slept. Then Maui went out of the bird body and cut off the head of Pea-pea and put it inside the bird.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2
Maui escaped with his wife and returned with her to Oahu.

Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 2 · 📍 [[Oahu]]

Maui

He took his wife, Kumu-lama, and flew away to the island of Oahu.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1
In the Hawaiian legend, Kanaloa seized Maui and dashed him against the rocks, killing him.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1 · 📍 [[Waipio valley]]

Kanaloa Maui

Kanaloa, one of the four greatest gods of Hawaii, seized him and dashed him against the rocks. His blood burst from the body and colored the earth red in the upper part of the valley.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1
In another Hawaiian legend, Maui chased a boy and girl, changed into an eel, and failed to reach the girl.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1 · 📍 [[Honolii gulch]]

Maui the boy (Chapter XI) the girl (Chapter XI)

The Hawaiians in another legend say that Maui was chasing a boy and girl in Honolii gulch, Hawaii. The girl climbed a breadfruit tree. Maui changed himself into an eel and stretched himself along the side of the trunk of the tree. The tree stretched itself upward and Maui failed to reach the girl.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1
In another Hawaiian legend, a priest struck and killed Maui while he was an eel.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1 · 📍 [[Honolii gulch]]

Maui a priest (Chapter XI)

A priest came along and struck the eel and killed it, and so Maui died.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1
In the Hervey Islands version, people threw Maui into the sky, where his body remained among the stars.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1 · after Maui fished up the islands

Maui

The Hervey Islands say that after Maui fished up the islands his hook was thrown into the heavens and became the curved tail of the constellation of stars which we know as "The Scorpion." Then the people became angry with Maui and threw him up into the sky and his body is still thought to be hanging among the stars of the scorpion.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1
In the Samoan version, people drove Maui into the heavens, and the island split into two parts as he leaped away.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1 · Finally

Maui

Finally an island appeared, but the people living on it were angry with Maui and drove him away into the heavens. As he leaped from the island it separated into two parts.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2
In the New Zealand version, the father warned Maui that his failure would surely come.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2 · In Maui's last days

the New Zealand father of Maui Maui

And yet his father warned him that his time of failure would surely come.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2
In the New Zealand version, the father revealed that he had omitted part of Maui's childhood ceremony and that Hine-nui-te-po would overcome him.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2

the New Zealand father of Maui Maui Hine-nui-te-po

The answer was that one of his ancestors, Hine-nui-te-po (Great Hine of the night), the guardian of life, would overcome him.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2
In one of the New Zealand legends, Maui entered the pit, the home of night, and when his brothers laughed its walls closed around him and held him till he died.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2

Maui Hine-nui-te-po

Maui entered the pit--telling his brothers not to laugh. He passed through and turning about started to return. The brothers laughed and the walls of night closed in around him and held him till he died.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui asked the goddess of the moon to let people die briefly and revive, but she insisted death should be long.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 2

Maui the goddess of the moon (Chapter XI)

Maui said to the goddess of the moon: "Let death be short. As the moon dies and returns with new strength, so let men die and revive again." But she replied: "Let death be very long, that man may sigh and sorrow.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui stole food from Hine-nui-te-po’s home and returned to his brothers.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3

Maui Hine-nui-te-po

He crept past the attendants on hands and feet, found the place of life, stole some of the food of the goddess and returned home.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui changed his brothers into birds.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3 · On the way

Maui

On the way he changed them into the form of birds.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui entered Hine-nui-te-po’s body seeking immortality, but she awoke and killed him.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3 · In the evening

Maui Hine-nui-te-po

Her sharp, obsidian teeth closed with a snap upon Maui, cutting his body in the center.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui’s brothers buried his dismembered body in a cave.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3 · 📍 [[Te-ana-i-hana]]

Maui

Maui's brothers took the dismembered body and buried it in a cave called Te-ana-i-hana, "The cave dug out," possibly a prepared burial place.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3
In the longer New Zealand legend, Maui’s wife made war on spirits and gods and killed as many as she could to avenge him.

Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 3

Maui's wife

Maui's wife made war upon the spirits, the gods, and killed as many as she could to avenge her husband's death.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 1
In the legends of the Southern Pacific Islands, Ina was placed in the skies, where she beat out glistening fine tapas.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 1 · 📍 [[the skies]]

Hina

They say that Ina (Hina) was such a wonderful artist in making beautiful tapas that she was placed in the skies, where she beat out glistening fine tapas, the white and glorious clouds.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2
Hina called on Maui for aid against the sun’s swift passage.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2

Hina Maui

Then she called on her powerful son, Maui-ki-i-ki-i, for aid.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2
Maui lassoed the sun, broke some of its rays, and struck its face with a magic club.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2 · 📍 [[Haleakala]]

Maui the sun

Then Maui threw his lassoes one after the other over the sun's legs (the rays of light), holding him fast and breaking off some of them. With a magic club Maui struck the face of the sun again and again.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2
The wounded sun promised Maui to go slowly forevermore.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2

Maui the sun

At last, wounded and weary, and also limping on its broken legs, the sun promised Maui to go slowly forevermore.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2
Hina realized Maui’s deed and spread out her tapas joyfully.

Chapter XII · Hina of Hilo · Part 2 · soon

Hina

Hina of Hilo soon realized the wonderful deed which Maui had done. She spread out her fine tapas with songs of joy

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1
Kuna hurled a great stone into the gorge, blocking the river.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1 · 📍 [[Wailuku]] · at night

Kuna

Kuna became very angry and, uttering great curses and calling upon all his magic forces to aid him, caught a great stone and at night hurled it into the gorge of the river below Hina's home, filling the river bed from bank to bank.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1
The rising water entered Hina's cave and began creeping along its floor.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1

Hina

The water entered the opening of the cave and began to creep along the floor.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1
Hina called for Maui to help her.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1

Hina Maui

Then Hina called for Maui.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1
Maui heard Hina's cry and rushed to her assistance.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 1

Maui Hina

When Maui heard Hina's cry for help echoing from cliff to cliff and through the ravines, he leaped at once to rush to her assistance.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Maui breaks the dam and releases the water, saving Hina.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Wailuku river]]

Maui Hina

The bank around one end of the dam gives way. The imprisoned waters leap into the new channel. Safe is Hina the goddess.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Maui pierces the river bank with his spear, revealing Kuna’s hiding place.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Wailuku river]]

Maui Kuna

he took his magic spear and thrust it through the dirt and lava rocks along one side of the river, making a long hole, through which the waters rushed, revealing Kuna-mo-o's hiding place.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Maui drives Kuna from his hiding places and scalds him with boiling pools.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Wailuku river]]

Maui Kuna

At last Kuna-mo-o found what seemed to be a safe hiding place in a series of deep pools, but Maui poured a lava flow into the river. He threw red-hot burning stones into the water until the pools were boiling and the steam was rising in clouds.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Maui attacks Kuna, and Kuna is forced over the falls into the stream below.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Wailuku river]]

Maui Kuna

His struggles were of no avail. He was forced over the falls into the stream below.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Maui beats the life out of Kuna.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Wailuku river]]

Maui Kuna

Here Maui again attacked Kuna, at last beating the life out of his body.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Tuna dies for Ina, giving his head to be buried.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Islands]] · finally

Kuna Hina

In the Hervey Islands, Tuna, the god of eels, loved Ina (Hina) and finally died for her, giving his head to be buried.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2
Two cocoanut trees bearing fruit marked with Tuna's eyes and mouth spring from his buried head.

Chapter XIII · Hina and the Wailuku River · Part 2 · 📍 [[Hervey Islands]]

Kuna

From this head sprang two cocoanut trees, bearing fruit marked with Tuna's eyes and mouth.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1
Hina the mother gave the hill Halai to Hina Ke Ahi and the hill Puu Honu to Hina Kuluua for their families and dependents.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1 · 📍 [[Halai]]

Hina Hina Ke Ahi Hina Kuluua

Hina the mother gave the hill Halai to Hina Ke Ahi and the hill Puu Honu to Hina Kuluua for their families and dependents.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1
During the famine, Hina Ke Ahi decided to provide food for her suffering people.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1 · 📍 [[Halai]] · at last

Hina Ke Ahi

Hina Ke Ahi pitied her suffering friends and determined to provide food for them.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1
Hina Ke Ahi directed the people to prepare the imu for cooking a great feast.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1 · 📍 [[Halai]]

Hina Ke Ahi

When the stones were hot, Hina Ke Ahi directed the people to arrange the imu in its proper order for cooking the materials for a great feast.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1
Hina Ke Ahi ordered the people to make a place in the imu for a human sacrifice.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 1 · 📍 [[Halai]]

Hina Ke Ahi

Then Hina told them to make a place in the imu for a human sacrifice.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Ke Ahi lay on the burning stones and had herself covered with dirt in the imu.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2

Hina Ke Ahi

I shall lie down on its bed of burning stones. I shall sleep under its cover. But deeply cover me or I may perish.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Ke Ahi appeared as a pool named Moe Waa.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2 · The second day

Hina Ke Ahi

The second day passed. Hina was still journeying underground, but this time she came to the surface as a pool named Moe Waa (canoe sleep) much nearer the sea.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Ke Ahi caused a spring of sweet water to burst forth from the seashore.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2 · The third day

Hina Ke Ahi

The third day came and Hina caused a great spring of sweet water to burst forth from the sea shore in the very path of the ocean surf.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Ke Ahi emerged from the imu alive, and the hungry people found abundant food.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2

Hina Ke Ahi

When this was done, the hungry people found a very great abundance of food, enough to supply their want until the food plants should have time to ripen and the days of the famine should be over.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Kuluua repeatedly sent rain to extinguish the fires Hina Ke Ahi tried to kindle.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2

Hina Kuluua Hina Ke Ahi

The second sister, Hina Kuluua, the goddess of rain, was always very jealous of her beautiful sister Hina Ke Ahi, and many times sent rain to put out fires which her sister tried to kindle.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Ke Ahi fled with her people to a home by the seaside.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2

Hina Ke Ahi

Hina Ke Ahi could not stand the rain and so fled with her people to a home by the seaside.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2
Hina Kuluua commanded her people to make a great imu for her.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 2 · 📍 [[Puu Honu]]

Hina Kuluua

She commanded her people to make a great imu for her in the hill Puu Honu.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3
Hina Kuluua lay on the heated stones and was covered with mats and dirt.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3

Hina Kuluua

When all was ready, she lay down on the heated stones and the oven mats were thrown over her and the ghostly provisions. Then the covering of dirt was thrown back upon the mats and heated stones, filling the pit which had been dug.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3
Maui caught the escaped ghost of Hina Kuluua and carried it to the forest to burn the rain.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3

Maui Hina Kuluua

Meanwhile Maui, changing himself into a white bird, flew up into the sky to catch the ghost of the goddess of rain which had escaped from the burning oven. Having caught this spirit, he rolled it in some kapa cloth which he kept for food to be placed in an oven and carried it to a place in the forest on the mountain side where again the attempt was made to "burn the rain," but a great drop escaped and sped upward into the sky.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3
Maui caught Hina Kuluua's ghost again, but it escaped his lava oven and took refuge among kukui trees.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3 · 📍 [[Kilauea]]

Maui Hina Kuluua

Again Maui caught the ghost of the goddess and carried it to a pali or precipice below the great volcano Kilauea, where he again tried to destroy it in the heat of a great lava oven, but this time the spirit escaped and found a safe refuge among kukui trees on the mountain side

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3
Hina Kuluua's retainers opened the imu and found only her ashes.

Chapter XIV · The Ghosts of the Hilo Hills · Part 3 · after five days had passed

Hina Kuluua

The legend ordinarily told among the Hawaiians says that after five days had passed the retainers decided on their own responsibility to open the imu. No woman had appeared to give them directions. Nothing but a mysterious rain cloud over the hill. In doubt and fear, the dirt was thrown off and the mats removed. Nothing was found but the ashes of Hina Kuluua.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
Hina left her home and climbed toward the Sun, but returned to earth when its heat weakened her.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · very early in the morning

Hina

So she left her home very early in the morning and climbed up, higher, higher, until the heat of the rays of the sun beat strongly upon her and weakened her so that she could scarcely crawl along her beautiful path. Up a little higher and the clouds no longer gave her even the least shadow. The heat from the sun was so great that she began to feel the fire shriveling and torturing her. Quickly she slipped down into the storms around her rainbow and then back to earth.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
Hina’s husband broke her leg as she climbed toward the moon, but she reached it and made it her home.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon

Hina

She shook off her husband, but as he fell he broke her leg so that the lower part came off in his hands. Hina went up through the stars, crying out the strongest incantations she could use. The powers of the night aided her. The mysterious hands of darkness lifted her, until she stood at the door of the moon. She had packed her calabash with her most priceless possessions and had carried it with her even when injured by her cruel husband. With her calabash she limped into the moon and found her abiding home.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
Hina showed Kahai the way into the skies, and he ascended in quest of adventures among the immortals.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 [[the skies]]

Hina Kahai

From this watch tower in the heavens she pointed out to Kahai, one of her descendents, the way to rise up into the skies. The ancient chant thus describes his ascent: “The rainbow is the path of Kahai. Kahai rose. Kahai bestirred himself. Kahai passed on the floating cloud of Kane. Perplexed were the eyes of Alihi. Kahai passed on on the glancing light. The glancing light on men and canoes. Above was Hanaiakamalama.” (Hina). Thus under the care of his ancestress Hina, Kahai, the great sea-rover, made his ascent in quest of adventures among the immortals.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the Tongan legend, Hina remains in the moon as the protecting goddess of the fire-walkers.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon

Hina

In the Tongan Islands the legends say that Hina remains in the moon watching over the "fire-walkers" as their great protecting goddess.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the Hervey Island tradition, Marama came down and caught Hina up to live with him in the moon.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon · at last

the moon Hina

The Hervey Island traditions say that the Moon (Marama) had often seen Hina and admired her, and at last had come down and caught her up to live with himself.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the Atiu Island story, Hina took her human husband to the moon, then sent him down to earth to die.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon · as he grew old

Hina

The story as told on Atiu Island (one of the Society group) is that Hina took her human husband with her to the moon, where they dwelt happily for a time, but as he grew old she prepared a rainbow, down which he descended to the earth to die, leaving Hina forevermore as "the woman in the moon."

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the Samoan story, the Moon received Hina and a child, along with her tapa-making tools and materials.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon

Hina

The Samoans said that the Moon received Hina and a child, and also her tapa board and mallet and material for the manufacture of tapa cloth.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the New Zealand legend, the moon seized the woman and carried her up after she cursed it.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon · in the night

the woman (Chapter XV) the moon

Then she became very angry and cursed the moon heartily. Then the moon became angry and swiftly swept down upon her from the skies, grasping her and lifting her up.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon
In the Nauru story, Gigu was rewarded by marrying Maraman, the Moon, and lived with him ever after.

Chapter XV · Hina, the Woman in the Moon · 📍 the moon

Gigu Maraman

She opened the eyes of the Mother of the Moon as Hina, in some of the Polynesian legends, is represented to have opened the eyes of one of the great goddesses, and in reward is married to Maraman, the Moon, with whom she lives ever after, and in whose embrace she can always be seen when the moon is full.

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