Māui the Demi-god
Māui is one of the greatest cultural heroes in all of mythology and his adventures are told in almost all the Polynesian Islands. While Māui in most cases is regarded as a trickster and demigod, in some places he is regarded as merely a mortal human. Ask yourself, was the Māui of Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand) the same person as the Māui from the Hawaiian Islands? While we will never know who, how or why there are so many variations of Māui and his adventures, it is important for us to recognize that these beloved stories are embedded throughout Polynesia and have been passed down through generations of families just like yours.
Māui is one of the greatest cultural heroes in all of mythology and his adventures are told in almost all the Polynesian Islands. While Māui in most cases is regarded as a trickster and demigod, in some places he is regarded as merely a mortal human. Ask yourself, was the Māui of Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand) the same person as the Māui from the Hawaiian Islands? While we will never know who, how or why there are so many variations of Māui and his adventures, it is important for us to recognize that these beloved stories are embedded throughout Polynesia and have been passed down through generations of families just like yours.
How Māui Finds Fire
One of Māui’s most important stories is how he found the secret of fire. In this version which is set in Kaupo on the island of Maui, Hina, Māui’s mother yearns to cook food to bring out all of the wonderful flavors for her sons. But at that time man did not have fire and this made Hina very sad. Because of this, Māui and his older brothers would go fishing every morning to find fresh fish to cheer her up.
One day as they paddled out to sea, they saw smoke and flames billowing from the shore. When they returned, Māui and his brothers tried to sneak up behind the culprits that weren’t sharing the secret of fire with anyone else. As they got closer they heard something quickly run past them cackling and laughing at the brothers. The next day the trickster Māui made a dummy of himself out of Kapa (cloth made from bark) and placed it sitting upright in their canoe to fool the fire makers into thinking he had gone fishing with his brothers.
As Māui’s brothers paddled off he hid in bushes and peeked through the leaves. To his surprise he saw three ‘alae birds dancing, laughing and cooking banana and sweet potato over the fire. He jumped out from the bushes and surprised the silly looking birds. “Waaaghhh!!!” They screamed as they scattered. But this time Māui was faster and captured one of them by its neck and tried to force it to give him the secret of creating fire. The panicked bird yelled “Māui! Take two banana peels and rub them together! This will give you the secret you seek!”, Māui attempted it but nothing happened except a mushy mess.
He shook the ‘alae even more and said, “Tell me the truth!” The ‘alae screamed and answered once more, “Māui! Take Ti leaf stalks and rub them together! This will give you the secret you seek!” Māui again did as the funny looking bird said and again nothing happened. Māui was furious but this time decide to try a different approach. He put the little bird down, held his wings and tried to reason with it. He told him that if the ‘alae did not help him that people would not be able to cook food and they would suffer. Understanding Māui’s reasons (but being more concerned for his own safety) the ‘alae finally gave in and said, “Māui take these two dry kiawe sticks and rub them together.” Māui once again did as the bird said but this time a spark of flame came from the sticks! Māui was so pleased because he knew this would make his mother very happy.
Now, even though Māui now had the secret of fire, he felt that he needed to teach the foolish little bird a lesson about lying so took the tip of the hot stick and rubbed it against the birds forehead. This one act by Māui created a bright red spot that can still be seen to this day on all ‘alae. It is forever a symbol to remind people of the birds rudeness and selfish deed. So you see because of Māui’s persistence men have since used fire to cook food.
One of Māui’s most important stories is how he found the secret of fire. In this version which is set in Kaupo on the island of Maui, Hina, Māui’s mother yearns to cook food to bring out all of the wonderful flavors for her sons. But at that time man did not have fire and this made Hina very sad. Because of this, Māui and his older brothers would go fishing every morning to find fresh fish to cheer her up.
One day as they paddled out to sea, they saw smoke and flames billowing from the shore. When they returned, Māui and his brothers tried to sneak up behind the culprits that weren’t sharing the secret of fire with anyone else. As they got closer they heard something quickly run past them cackling and laughing at the brothers. The next day the trickster Māui made a dummy of himself out of Kapa (cloth made from bark) and placed it sitting upright in their canoe to fool the fire makers into thinking he had gone fishing with his brothers.
As Māui’s brothers paddled off he hid in bushes and peeked through the leaves. To his surprise he saw three ‘alae birds dancing, laughing and cooking banana and sweet potato over the fire. He jumped out from the bushes and surprised the silly looking birds. “Waaaghhh!!!” They screamed as they scattered. But this time Māui was faster and captured one of them by its neck and tried to force it to give him the secret of creating fire. The panicked bird yelled “Māui! Take two banana peels and rub them together! This will give you the secret you seek!”, Māui attempted it but nothing happened except a mushy mess.
He shook the ‘alae even more and said, “Tell me the truth!” The ‘alae screamed and answered once more, “Māui! Take Ti leaf stalks and rub them together! This will give you the secret you seek!” Māui again did as the funny looking bird said and again nothing happened. Māui was furious but this time decide to try a different approach. He put the little bird down, held his wings and tried to reason with it. He told him that if the ‘alae did not help him that people would not be able to cook food and they would suffer. Understanding Māui’s reasons (but being more concerned for his own safety) the ‘alae finally gave in and said, “Māui take these two dry kiawe sticks and rub them together.” Māui once again did as the bird said but this time a spark of flame came from the sticks! Māui was so pleased because he knew this would make his mother very happy.
Now, even though Māui now had the secret of fire, he felt that he needed to teach the foolish little bird a lesson about lying so took the tip of the hot stick and rubbed it against the birds forehead. This one act by Māui created a bright red spot that can still be seen to this day on all ‘alae. It is forever a symbol to remind people of the birds rudeness and selfish deed. So you see because of Māui’s persistence men have since used fire to cook food.
Māui In Aotearoa
Now compare this to another version from Aotearoa. In this story Māui, finding that fire has been lost on earth seeks out the Fire-goddess Mahuika who lives deep in a volcano to learn the secret of fire. During his visit, she generously gives him flames from her fingertips. Māui, being the trickster that he is finds a way to extinguish each flame she gives him. But, since he has traveled far, she gives him more and more until finally she has none left to give. Realizing that she was tricked Mahuika became furious and unleashed her full power to destroy him! During her onslaught as the trees around him exploded into flames, she accidentally exposed her secret that fire is hidden in the bodies of dried out trees. Māui, finally understanding the secret of how to make fire barely escapes her fury by transforming himself into a hawk and flies away.
Now, finally he was able to share the secret of fire with all men and women so that they could live a better life.
Why do you think the two versions are so different? What do you think the similarities mean?
Now compare this to another version from Aotearoa. In this story Māui, finding that fire has been lost on earth seeks out the Fire-goddess Mahuika who lives deep in a volcano to learn the secret of fire. During his visit, she generously gives him flames from her fingertips. Māui, being the trickster that he is finds a way to extinguish each flame she gives him. But, since he has traveled far, she gives him more and more until finally she has none left to give. Realizing that she was tricked Mahuika became furious and unleashed her full power to destroy him! During her onslaught as the trees around him exploded into flames, she accidentally exposed her secret that fire is hidden in the bodies of dried out trees. Māui, finally understanding the secret of how to make fire barely escapes her fury by transforming himself into a hawk and flies away.
Now, finally he was able to share the secret of fire with all men and women so that they could live a better life.
Why do you think the two versions are so different? What do you think the similarities mean?
Check out these other awesome stories of Māui from
around Polynesia that are free to watch online!
around Polynesia that are free to watch online!
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