Kanaloa

Also known as: Tangaroa / Tangaroa-meha · Role: great god · First appears: Chapter I · Maui's Home · Part 1

In Chapter I · Maui’s Home · Part 1, the Raro-Tonga legend says that Maui’s parents were children of Tangaroa, called Kanaloa in Hawaiian. Chapter II · Maui the Fisherman · Part 3 praises Maui as “O thou loved grandchild / Of Tangaroa-meha” in a chant accompanying his fishing up of the large island of the Tongas.

In the New Zealand legend of Chapter III · Maui Lifting the Sky · Part 1, Rongo, Tangaroa, Haumia Tiki-tiki and Tu fail to lift the sky, while Kane raises it. Afterwards, Tawhiri wages war against his brothers and drives them and their descendants into hiding. In the Society Islands legend of Chapter V · Maui Finding Fire · Part 3, Tangaroa gives Maui a lighted stick, but Maui extinguishes it and returns for fire. With help from the white duck, Tangaroa teaches him to make fire with two sticks; after a quarrel, Maui strikes Tangaroa down and carries away the art of making fire, then restores his spirit to his body.

In Chapter X · Oahu Legends of Maui · Part 1, Kanaloa and Kane agree with Maui to a digging contest at Kaha-luu, but Maui escapes to the other side of the island. In Chapter XI · Maui Seeking Immortality · Part 1, the Hawaiian legend says Kanaloa seizes Maui and dashes him against the rocks, killing him.