Maui the Polynesian Demigod

As the Polynesian myth and legend once sang, "What can I say except you're welcome.

For the tides, the sun, the sky. Hey, it's okay. It's okay. You're welcome! I'm just an ordinary

demi-guy! Recently being featured in Disneys newest animation, Moana, the legend of Maui

has been one of the most prominent tales of the Polynesian culture. Telling the story of Maui, the

Polynesian hero, trickster, and demigod who was known for carrying around his great fishhook

called Manaiakalani", a hook baited with the wing of his mothers pet bird, the alae. He brings

this as a weapon to defend himself against all the obstacles he faces during his perilous

adventures, which includes his famous tale of snaring the sun. Being a folktale in Ancient

Polynesia, the tale particularly connects its audience and readers to the essence of nature, giving

an explanation through storytelling on how the Hawaiian Islands were formed, and how some of

nature's elements such as the sun and sky came to be. These tales have spread through Tahiti,

Samoa, and other Pacific Islands. This is especially true in Hawaii, where it has been retold

numerous times and passed down from generations and generations. Furthermore, the legend of

Maui is one of Hawaii's beloved tales that simply follows Ancient Polynesia's love of nature,

explaining to natives on how the natural world we see today was created

First of all, Maui is said to be the "creator of land" because his actions result in the

formation of the Hawaiian Islands. After being subjected to numerous mockeries and taunting for

his failed attempts at catching fish, Maui becomes even more determined in proving his own

self-worth. He journeys down under to the underworld to ask his ancestress for her jawbone as a

hook. Maui also uses his mothers most treasured flock of alae birds as bait. Adding the final

touches to his fishing bait, Maui is finally content that he can be a provider for his family. He
persuades his brothers into taking him fishing in search of the ulua or possibly the pimoe, the

king of fish. Despite traveling a great distance on canoe to find the perfect spot for fishing,

Maui accidentally casts his hook onto the ocean floor. Believing that he had caught a big fish,

Maui orders his brothers to paddle with all their might. Trying to pull the line and paddle the

canoe as hard as they can, they found themselves exhausted, having a hard time to keep up.

However, within moments, Maui and his brothers were to witness the creation of the Hawaiian

Islands that they had created which were rising above the oceans surface behind them, having its

own mountains, valleys, lagoons that were secured by cliffs, and topped with mist and rainbows.

This would eventually become the beauty it is today, and home for the Polynesians to live.

Additionally, Maui is claimed to have increased daytime. As sung in Disneys Moana, he

lassoed the sun To stretch the days and bring you fun. Pitying his mothers difficulty in

trying to dry her kapa or bark cloth when the days are so short, Maui intended to snare the sun.

With his brothers help, they made a long, thick noose that would be strong enough to endure the

suns firing rays and quite lengthy to wrap around the suns outer edge. Equipped with this lasso,

Maui climbed up the summit of Haleakala, propelling it in the air to seize one of the suns rays.

Again and again, he threw his lasso at another of the suns rays. Growing anxious by the seconds

as his rays were being torn off, the sun finally broke down and pleading for his own life. To stop

further torment and trauma, the sun offered Maui that he will move slowly. Agreeing to these

new terms, Maui permits the sun to go along its course, now progressing slowly, furthermore

making our days longer.

Maui is alleged to have lifted the sky for the humans. Determined to make change after

seeing all the pain and suffering humans had from not being able to stand upright, Maui visits a
kahuna, meaning wise man in Hawaiian. In order to acquire his great strength, the kahuna

tattooed Maui with a magic symbol of his forearm. In addition to this, Maui sought out the help

of an old woman to drink from her gourd, and give himself further strength to lift up the sky.

From taking all these steps and measures to gain his newfound strength, Maui finally had the

power to lift up the sky above the mountains, and giving all mankind and creatures the ability to

stand up tall in their natural world.

Notably, Maui is especially known for his quest of seeking immortality, one that he

ultimately did not achieve. After fulfilling all of his accomplishments that have together shaped

the daily lives of humans, making their everyday jobs easier. Maui becomes distressed when told

that Hine-nui-te-po, the Guardian of Life, would come crashing down out of the blue. His

achievements will soon be lost in the tragedy of death, along with his name and reputation to be

forgotten in the eyes of all mankind. Although we know that this is frankly untrue, and all that he

has done for the humans would soon become a legacy and further retold in Polynesian folklore,

Maui fails to realize this. He decides to enlist help from his brothers to go on the search to find

this Guardian of Life. With their assistance, it does not take long for Maui to find where this

spirit lives. Upon entering her home, Maui turns his brothers into birds and orders them to be

quiet. This is so that they won't later on have to deal with the wrath of a vengeful goddess on

their backs, cursing them for their trespassing. When Maui finally comes across Hine-nui-te-po,

she happens to be in a deep slumber. Using this to his advantage, Maui enters her stomach in

hopes that he can retrieve her heart, and destroys her forever. Although it seemed like another

one of Mauis achievements with the given circumstance, there is always a flaw to ones

strategy. As Maui took action, one of his brothers had chuckled a laugh, awakening
Hine-nui-te-po from her rest, killing Maui in the process. Hence, destroying any chance that

there will be immortality on Earth.

In conclusion, the myth of Maui continues to influence the Polynesian cultural still today.

With stories telling about his daring defeats and magical powers. Maui serves as an explanation

of how the world was created according to the Polynesians.

 Works Cited

"Mui (Hawaiian mythology)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2017. Web. 26 May
2017.

"Myths Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia of Myths. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2017.

"PREFACE." Legends of Maui, A Demi-God of Polynesia: Preface. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May
2017.