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LESSON 1: Mythology harmonious and meaningful context that

explains the present situation.
Myth
 Both the Hopi and the biblical stories of
 a traditional story, especially one creation also feature the fall of
concerning the early history of a people humanity, pointing out that humans have
or explaining some natural or social free will to act in disharmony with
phenomenon, and typically involving original creation.
supernatural beings or events.  Creation myths serve not only as
historical stories but as functional
Mythology allegorical lessons and warnings about
 a traditional story, especially one proper human and societal behavior.
concerning the early history of a people Myths of Gods and Goddesses
or explaining some natural or social
phenomenon, and typically involving  Many classical civilizations,
supernatural beings or events. including Greek, Egyptian and
 the study of myths. Hindu, developed rich mythologies
 Muthos + logia = mythology centered around the actions of gods
and goddesses. These myths usually
Folklore took place in otherworldly realms:
in heaven, the cosmos or
 the traditional beliefs, customs, and
mythological locations such as the
stories of a community, passed through
Greeks' Mount Olympus.
the generations by word of mouth.
 Gods usually personified both
Lore natural phenomena like the sun or
thunder as well as human attributes
 a body of traditions and knowledge on a such as wisdom, music and beauty
subject or held by a particular group,
typically passed from person to person  The interplay between these gods
by word of mouth. functioned as a sort of divine soap
opera, in which harmonious or
Folk
disharmonious actions between gods
 relating to the traditional art or culture served as a metaphor for the reasons
of a community or nation behind events in the worldly sphere.

Types of Myths  The story of the Trojan War, which

started as an argument between
Creation Myths three goddesses, is a good example
of this.
 From the biblical account of the Garden
of Eden to the Hopi story of Spider Trickster Myths
Woman creating the first humans out of
dirt and saliva, creation stories ground  Trickster myths center around a specific
cultures in a concrete beginning. archetypal character found in many
 The real function of these myths, cultures around the world. Examples of
however, is not to provide the culture trickster characters include the Norse
with a list a concrete facts about the god Loki, the Greek god Hermes and the
beginning of the cosmos or the given Native American Coyote, who is
society, but rather to provide a prominent in the myths of many tribes.

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 What tricksters like Coyote personify is Folk Art

the force that brings change to otherwise
 As distinct from fine art, folk art
static and often rigid social structure --
comprises a range of artistic productions
the force of human experimentation and
and handicrafts. These include paintings,
raw passion -- which is why the trickster
sculptures, quilts, pottery, and furniture
often takes animal forms.
created by ordinary, unschooled folks
MYTHS OF DEATH, THE using traditional styles and methods, and
UNDERWORLD, AND RESURRECTION often employing imagery or symbolism
from local mythology.
 Another common mythological theme is
the experience of death, one of the most Folk Dance
basic problems faced by all humanity.
 A folk dance (also sometimes called
Mythological stories about a hero, or
ethnic dance) is any dance that
sometimes even a trickster's, visit to the
originated with the common people of a
land of the dead and subsequent return
region or cultural group and has been
abound in world mythological literature.
handed down by tradition. They were
 As in Gilgamesh, who journeys to the
usually held at social gatherings by
underworld to solve the riddle of human
people who learned the dances
death and comes out revitalized and
informally.
enlightened, the power of death is at the
heart of many a mythical account. Folk Songs
TYPES OF FOLKLORE  A folk song is a traditional song,
anonymously composed and handed
Ballads
down orally, about commonplace topics
 A ballad is a traditional poem or folk including work, family, community, and
song that tells a story, be it about true the vicissitudes of everyday life. They
love, a heroic adventure, a scandalous can address social or political issues or
interlude, or a tragic death, to name but be ballads, love songs, or novelty songs.
a few possible topics. Historical They are usually played on acoustic
examples date back to the Middle Ages. instruments.
The stories told in the ballad may be
Jokes
kept alive and evolved by how they are
written for the songs.  A joke is a humorous story or anecdote
meant to provoke laughter through
Fairy Tales
irony, wordplay, the thwarting of
 Fairy tales are traditional stories, expectations, the juxtaposition of
intended primarily for children, which images, and other long-practiced
recount human encounters with techniques.
supernatural beings such as fairies,
Legends
witches, ogres, and the like, most often
conveying a cautionary message. Many  A legend is a traditional historical tale or
such tales were compiled by the collection of related tales popularly
Brothers Grimm. In the modern era, they regarded as true but usually containing a
have become the basis of Disney mixture of fact and fiction. They may
movies, television, and movies. explain an event or have a moral lesson.

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Sometimes they contain fantastical • Myths present guidelines for living.

elements or embellishments that would
• Myths justify culture's activities.
have a supernatural origin or be highly
improbable and couldn't be regarded as • Myths give meaning to life.
factual.
• Myths explain the unexplainable.
Myths
• Myths offer role models.
 A myth is a traditional sacred story,
usually featuring gods and heroes, which • Folklore is a representation of culture
purports to give a cosmic explanation of and tradition.
a natural phenomenon or cultural • Folklore can produce a feeling and a
practice. It is part of the cultural fabric, strong sentiment towards culture and
conveying essential (if not literal) truth unity.
and meshing with other stories and
beliefs in the society. • A good advantage of folklore is, they
inspire simple and logical thinking.
Riddles
• Folktales and folklores provide a greater
 A riddle is a linguistic puzzle posed in and deeper insight to life and living.
the form of a question containing clues
to its solution. It's a form of verbal play • Since Folklore and folk stories are lucid
and popular with children. and explanatory, they engage creativity
in children.
Superstition
LESSON 2: Philippine Mythology
 A superstition is an irrational belief (i.e.,
one held in spite of evidence to the Luzon:
contrary), usually involving supernatural BATHALA
forces and associated with rituals. A
superstition may conflict with a person's  Also known as ABBA./“may kapal sa
religious beliefs, or lack thereof, but still lahat”
be held and practiced.
 Creator of everything
 His origin is unknown but his name
suggest Hindu influences

Urban Legends  According to William Henry Scott,

Bathala was derived from the Sanskrit
 An urban legend is an apocryphal story, bhattara (noble lord)
often taking the form of a cautionary
tale, which varies in the telling but is  Lives in Kawalhatian/Kaluwalhatian
always told as true and attributed to a (heaven).
secondhand or thirdhand ("friend of a
 “bahala na” philosophy
friend") source.
IDIANALE
IMPORTANCE OF MYTHS AND
FOLKLORE  One of the assistant of Bathala in the
Kawalhatian.
• Myths grant continuity and stability to a
culture.  Goddess of labor and good deeds

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 According to Gregorio Zaide, Idianale MAPULON

was the Goddess of Agriculture.
 God of seasons.
 Married Dumangan, the God of harvest.
 Husband of Ikapati.
 Mother of Dumakulem and Anitun
 Father of Anagolay.
Tabu.
 Not much is known about this deity.
DUMANGAN
ANAGOLAY
 Husband of Idianale
 Goddess of lost things.
 Father of Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.
 Daughter of Ikapati and Mapulon
 God of Harvest.
 Strong and skillful hunter.
 According to F. Landa Jocano, he is the
brother of Kalasakas, Kalasokus, and  Married Dumakulem, the guardian of
Damulag. mountains.
ANITUN TABU  Mother of Apolaki, the sun god, and
Dian Masalanta, the goddess of lovers.
 Fickle-minded goddess of wind and rain.
APOLAKI
 Daughter of Dumangan and Idianale.
 God of Sun and patron of the warriors.
DUMAKULEM
 Talked to people with blackened teeth.
 Guardian of the Mountains
 According to William Henry Scott, his
 Son of Dumangan and Idianale.
name came from apo (lord) and laki
 Strong and skillful hunter. (male/virile).
 Married Anagolay, the goddess of lost  Son of Anagolay and Dumakalem and
things. brother of Dian Masalanta.
 Father of Apolaki, the sun god, and Dian  Other story : Apolaki (sun) and Mayari
Masalanta, the goddess of lovers. (moon)
IKAPATI/LAKAPATI DIAN MASALANTA
 Goddess of fertility.  Goddess of lovers and childbirth.
 F. Landa Jocano described her as the  Daughter of Anagolay and Dumakulem.
“goddess of the cultivated land” and the
 Sister of Apolaki
“benevolent giver of food and
prosperity”.  Sacrifices were offered to her for
successful pregnancy.
 Androgynous, hermaphrodite, and
transgender God. AMANIKABLI
 Wife of Mapulon, the God of seasons  God of Sea and patron of the hunters.
and the mother of Anagolay, the
goddess of lost things.  Aman Ikabli.

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 In other stories: Aman Sinaya, chief MANGGAGAWAY

protector of the sea, the father of Sinaya,
 Wicked shape-shifter.
inventor of fishing gears.
 Wears skull necklace and could kill or
MAYARI, HANA AND TALA
heal using her magic wand.
 Goddesses of moon, morning, and stars,
 Can prolong one’s death for weeks or
respectively.
months by binding a snake around the
 Daughters of Bathala and a mortal person’s waist.
woman.
MANSISILAT
 In other stories: Mayari is the sister of
 Goddess of broken homes.
Apolaki: Haliya is the masked moon
goddess, rival of Bakunawa.  Her mission is to destroy homes or
relationship.
LAKANBAKOD, LAKANDANUM, AND
LAKAMBINI  Old beggar or healer
 Lord of fences. (phallic god) MANGKUKULAM AND HUKLUBAN
 Serpent-like mermaid water god / Lord  According to William Henry Scott,
of Water Mangkukulam is the most powerful kind
of witch, able to kill or cause
 Curer of throat ailments / Lord of Purity
unconsciousness simply by greeting a
 Land deities person.
 Pretending to be a priest-doctor.
 Hukluban is a shape-shifter who could
make anything happen by simply
GALANG KALULUWA AND ULILANG
uttering it.
KALULUWA
VISAYAS
 Wandering Spirit and Serpent Orphaned
Spirit. TUNGKUNG LANGIT AND ALUNSINA
 Both were met by Bathala  The Sulod of Central Panay in Western
Visayas believed the world was divided
 Orphaned Spirit was killed and burned
into 3 parts: ibabawnun (upper world),
by Bathala
pagtung-an (middle world), and
 Wandering Spirit became friends with idadalmunun (underworld).
Bathala but later died because of illness.
 Ibabawnun was divided into two parts:
 Tree of life (coconut tree) place inhabited by a male diwata, and a
place inhabited by a female diwata.
SITAN
 Tungkung Langit – Pillars of the skies
 Ruler of the underworld
 Alunsina- goddess of eastern skies
 Lives is Kasamaan (underworld)
TUNGKUNG LANGIT
 Satan (Christianity) / Saitan (Islam)

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 Tungkung Langit was assisted by other Madyaas mountain in Panay everytime

deities: he visited earth.
 Bangun-bangun : God of Time KAPTAN AND MAGWAYEN
 Bahulangkug : God of Seasons  Kaptan also has his assistant deities:
 Ribun-linti : God of Lightning and  Makliumsaiwan : God of plain and
Thunderstorms valleys
 Sumalongson : God of River and Seas  Maklium-sa-bagidan : God of fire
 Santonilyo : God of Good Grace  Maklium-sa-tubig : God of sea
 Munsad Burukalaw : Most Respected  Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan : God of
and Feared God streams
ALUNSINA  Magdan-durunuum : God of hidden
lakes
 Alunsina was assisted by other deities:
 Sarangan-sa-bagtiw : God of storms
 Muropuro : Goddess of springs, rivers,
and lake  Suklang-Malayon : Guardian of happy
homes
 Labing-daut : Goddess of rain-clouds
 Tibang-tibang: Goddess of Balance (day
and night)
PAGTUNG-ANG (Middle World) KAPTAN AND MAGWAYEN
 Paiburong and Bulawanon together with  Kaptan married Magwayen and their
their five children. story was the same as Tungkung Langit
and Alunsina.
 Among the five children were: Layang
Sukla ( Goddess of beauty), Surangaun  To cope with sorrow, Kaptan planted a
(God of Sea), and Tugang Tubig (God bamboo.
of rivers, streams, and lake)
 The first man, Sicalak (the sturdy one),
IDADALMUNUN (Under World) and the first woman, Sicabay.
 Panlinugon  Magwayen is the Goddess of Sea and
Death.
 God of Underworld and Earthquake
LIHANGIN AND LIDAGAT
KAPTAN AND MAGWAYEN
 God of wind and Goddess of Sea.
 Other parts of Visayas believed that the
world was divided into 3 regions:  Parents of Licalibutan (God of strength
Kahilwayan (sky world), Kamariitan with a body of Rock), Liadlaw (the
(earth), and Kasakitan (underworld) always happy god of sun covered with
gold), Libulan (God of moon made of
 Kaptan was the Supreme God. He lives
copper), and the only daughter, Lisuga
in Kahiwayan and always pass to
(Goddess of stars with silver body which
always sparkle).

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VARANGAO, YNAGUINID AND  Supreme God

MACANDUC
 Creator of the first man and woman ,
 God of Rainbow Tuglay and Tuglibon.
 Gods of War  Creator of an eel (kasili) and a crab
(kayumang).
MAKABUSOG, DALIKMATA, AND
BULALAKAW  Rain is the spit and the clouds were the
smoke.
 Makabusog is believed to moved man to
gluttony.  Bagobo Myth
 Dalikmata is a goddess with many eyes  Pamulak Manobo also has his assistant
and believed to cure eye illnesses. deities:
 Bulalakaw is the giver of illness. Said to  Mandaragan and his wife Darago : Gods
be a bird with fiery feathers. of war who lived inside Mt. Apo
BURIGADANG PADA SINAKLANG  Tigyama: protector of families
BULAWAN
 Tarabumo: God of Agriculture
 Goddess of Greed
 Buso - ghoul
SARAGNAYAN
 God of Darkness
TUGLAY AND TUGLIBON
 first man and woman
LALAHON
 Assistant of Pamulak Manobo
 Goddess of Agriculture
 Responsible for births, marriages,
 Mistaken as the goddess of volcano language, and customs of the tribe.
DIAN MAGAYON  Bagobo Myth
 Goddess of all flying creatures MEBUYAN AND LUMABAT
MAKAPTAN, SUMPOY, AND MAGYAN  siblings (Bagobo Myth)
 Leader of Kamariitan, God of Sickness  Mebuyan is the Goddess of
Underworld/Gimokudon
 Husband of Sidapa, the Goddess of
Death.  Banua Mebu’yan/Mebuyan’s Town is
maid of pure gold
 Sumpoy is the eader of Kasakitan
 Said to have many breast
 Magyan is the boatman to the
underworld..  Ritual bath known as pamalugu
MINDANAO  Lumabat is the God of the Sky
PAMULAK MANOBO  A hunter
 Creator of everything  The one who killed his father

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MOIBULAN  Magbabaya also has his assistant deities:

 God of afterlife  Domalongdong : God of North wind
 He takes care of the spirit in Sumowow,  Ognaling: God of South wind
a place where spirits can experience
 Tagaloambung: God of East wind
peace and happiness before the final
judgment.  Magbaya: God of West wind
 Ata Myth  Ibabasag: Goddess of Pregnancy
TAGBUSAN  Ipamahandi: Goddess of Accident
 Creator of everything  Tao-sa-sulup: God of Material goods
 Supreme God, Ruler of both gods and  Busao: God of Calamity (most feared)
men
 Tigbas: Most respected God
 Manobo Myth
LESSON 3: Japanese Folklore
 Tagbusan also has his assistant deities:
 Japan have so many folklores which is
 Kakiadan: Goddess of rice heavily influenced by both Shinto and
 Taphagan: Goddess of harvest Buddhism, the two primary religions in
the country.
 Tagbanua: God of Rain  Shinto or kami-no-michi is the
traditional religion of Japan that focuses
 Umouiui: God of Clouds
on ritual practices to be carried out
 Sugudun: God of Hunters diligently to establish a connection
between present-day Japan and its
 Libtakan: God of Sun rise and sun set ancient past.
 Yumud : God of water  Buddhism is a path of practice and
spiritual development leading to Insight
 Ibu: Godess or Queen of the Underworld into the true nature of reality. Buddhist
 Apila: God of Wrestling and Sports practices like meditation are means of
changing yourself in order to develop
TAGABAYAU the qualities of awareness, kindness, and
wisdom
 Goddess who convince people to engage
in adultery and incest.  It often involves humorous or bizarre
characters and situations and also
AGKUI
includes an assortment of supernatural
 the diwata who indulge men into sexual beings, such as, 
excesses.
o kami (gods and revered spirits), 
MAGBABAYA
o yōkai(monster- spirits), 
 Creator of everything yūrei (ghosts),
 Supreme God  and animals with supernatural powers
such as the 
 Bukidnon Myth

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o kitsune (fox),  • The original story of Kuchisake-Onna

comes from the Heian period of Japan’s
o tanuki (raccoon dog), and  history, roughly 1200-800 years ago.
o bakeneko (transforming cat), • A beautiful woman, either wife or
o as well as sacred objects and concubine to a samurai, was
extraordinarily vain. She cheated on the
possessed objects.
samurai.
 Nonetheless, these are stories handed
• When he discovered her treachery, he
down for many generations that have a
slit open her mouth from ear to ear,
basis in fact with perhaps a little fiction
giving her a Glasgow smile, and asked
and superstition thrown in over time.
her, “Who will think you are beautiful
Japanese folklore is often divided into several now?”
categories:
• While the original tale is clearly a
• mukashibanashi (tales of long ago); cautionary story to remain faithful, the
story takes a creepy turn when the ghost
• namidabanashi (sad stories); of the Kuchisake-Onna began appearing
• obakebanashi (ghost stories); in Japan in the 1970s. 

• ongaeshibanashi (stories of repaying • The story goes that a woman would

kindness); appear to people travelling alone at
night. 
• tonchibanashi (witty stories);
• The woman wore a surgical mask, not
• waraibanashi (funny stories); and terribly uncommon in Japan, and would
ask if the traveler thought she was pretty
• yokubaribanashi (stories of greed).
(“Watashi kirei?“).  If they said no, she
would kill them immediately or at least
slash their faces the same as hers,
 The folklore of Japan has been usually with a long pair of scissors.
influenced by foreign literature as well
as the kind of spirit worship prevalent • If the hapless victim said yes, she would
all throughout prehistoric Asia. remove the mask and ask, “how about
now?” (“Kore demo?“) revealing her
 Some stories of ancient India were bloody, gaping wounds. 
influential in shaping Japanese stories
by providing them with materials. • If the person said no at this second
point, she would again kill them,
 Indian materials were greatly modified slashing open their mouth.  If, however,
and adapted in such a way as would the person said yes again, they still
appeal to the sensibilities of common would not be safe.  She would follow
people of Japan in general, transmitted them home and kill them on the
through China and Korea. threshold of their house. 
KUCHISAKE ONNA • The only way to survive the encounter
History: with this ghoulish creature is to answer
yes the first time and “so-so” or
“average” the second time, which

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caused the Kuchisake-Onna to pause - Kamoho also ruled over the shark-
and ponder the response, giving the men. These beings were greedy
victim a chance to escape.  humans cursed by Kamoho to
periodically transform into sharks.
• Without this distraction, the victim
They could be recognized by the
cannot escape the ghost as she simply
large shark tattoos that Kamoho
reappears before them if they try to run.
branded onto their backs.
• As mentioned, the Kuchisake-Onna MILU
began making steady appearances in the
1970s, and in 1979 she was supposedly – The goddess who ruled over the
chasing children.  subterranean land of the dead
which shared her name. A cave
• Surprisingly enough, there is some basis
led to her realm and the mouth
for this. In 2007, a coroner found of this cave was guarded by two
records that in the late 1970s there was a
gigantic lizards. The association
woman who chased children. She was of lizards with the land of the
struck by a car and killed while in the
dead came from the way lizards
midst of such a chase, and she did have often feed on flies and if there’s
a torn mouth similar to the story. This
one thing dead bodies do it’s
woman was likely the cause of the panic attract flies.
in the late ’70s.
– Milu would punish the souls of
• The legend, however, has not died.  It
the wicked by feeding them on
resurfaced in the early 2000s, and is still flies and beetles, then devour
prevalent today, though the means of
them after cooking them in her
escape is now telling the ghost you have eternally burning oven.
a previous appointment to attend to, at
which point she’ll excuse her poor KAHOALI
manners and depart.  
– The god of sorcerors and
• The legend has even spread to South sorcery. His favorite drink was
Korea, where she appears with a blood kava served with a human
red face mask. eyeball in it. He could construct
wood, stone or coral figures and
Hawaiian Mythology then bring them to life to do his
Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses bidding. Kahoali’s wife was
Paluhu, the sorcery goddess of
KAMOHOALI’LI the island of Moloka’i.
- Hawaiian shark god who was the – Kahoali’s nemesis was the god
chief of the many lesser shark Lono, the one deity who could
deities in the Hawaiian pantheon. cure all harm inflicted by the
Kamoho was the brother of the fire sorcery god.
goddess Pele and was considered the
guardian god of the Hawaiian HAUMEA
Islands. He alone of all Pele’s
– Hawaiian mother-goddess who
relatives tried to aid her when she
was prayed to by midwives
was seeking to avoid her marriage to
attending at the birth of
the boar god Kamapua’a.

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children. The kinkiest myth – Other qualities he shared with

about her involves the way she the wild boars he was the lord of
would take a man as a mate, were the ability to use his snout
have children with him, then to dig up edible roots and find
when those sons were old underground springs.
enough to procreate, she would
– His final marriage was to the
restore her own youth and have
goddess Pele. He bested all her
children with those sons. She
other suitors at the contests held
would repeat the process with
for her hand but she still refused
the sons she had through those
to marry him until her family
children and so on and so on,
intervened on his behalf.
generation after generation.
LAKA
– Sometimes she is associated
with the primordial Earth – Fertility and reproduction
goddess Papa, the wife of Rangi goddess. This wife of the god
the sky god. Another famous Lono was also considered the
myth about her involves her goddess of love and beauty. She
ownership of a grove of is credited with inventing the
enchanted trees. One of them hula dance and is sometimes
produced fish the way other identified with Pele’s sister, the
trees produce fruit. She gave goddess Hi’i’aka but most often
this tree to humans with the is considered a separate deity.
warning to never shake the tree
to get fish to fall but instead – The red lehua blossom is sacred
wait for the fish to ripen and fall to Laka and is among the
on their own. flowers used to decorate her
shrine, kuahu, in the halau
– Naturally this warning was temple. The hymns sung during
ignored, the tree was shaken by hula dances are also dedicated
impatient humans and all the to Laka.
fish fell from the tree, escaping
into the sea from which humans – To avoid confusion be aware
now have to work to fish them that in other Polynesian Island
up groups there is a Laka who is a
male hero of a popular epic
KAMAPUA’A myth.
– The warlike god of wild boars KU
and the husband of the fire
goddess Pele. In his human form – The Hawaiian god of war. Ku
he was a handsome warrior wields a fiery mace that burns
armed with a mace but when the with the souls of the gods,
battle- lust was upon him his demons and mortals he has
snout became tusked and hog- personally slain in combat. Ku,
like and he was virtually like his brothers Kane and Lono,
uncontrollable. was a child of the sky god Rangi
and the Earth goddess Papa.

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– Ku’s prowess in battle was KANE

responsible for saving all the
– he chief of the Hawaiian trinity,
deities in the Hawaiian pantheon
which also consists of his
after the separation of Papa and
brothers Lono and Ku. In
Rangi caused a massive assault
contrast to Lono being the deity
by the storm god Apuhau.
of cultivated foods, Kane was
LONO the god of wild foods and plants
like trees, etc. He was also the
– The god of cultivated, agrarian
god of the forests and jungles
foods, especially the kumara or
with all their gifts like wood,
sweet potato. In the early days
medicinal plants and leaves, etc.
following the separation of
Rangi and Papa, Lono used a – When the close proximity and
net to fish up the sun and the constant lovemaking of Papa
moon from the seas and set and Rangi was preventing the
them in orbit. birth of all the deities who had
formed in Papa’s womb, Kane
– When it came time to create
was the god who separated them
humans he supplied the fertile
by growing upward like the
soil to create them, his brother
trees he is the lord of, keeping
Ku sculpted the bodies and their
Earth and sky separated and
oldest brother Kane breathed
allowing himself and all his
life into them. Lono liked to
siblings to be born (though one
descend from the heavens on a
lone deity, Luau, remained in
rainbow and surf which is how
Papa’s womb and his stirring is
he met and married the mortal
the cause of earthquakes).
woman Kaikilani.
MAUI
– Her beauty was so intense that
he was frequently jealous and – Sort of a Polynesian Hercules in
on one occassion was so some respects, this mighty
convinced she had been demigod is also a trickster deity
unfaithful that he struck her and a sun god. When Maui felt
down with his godly powers. the sun that Lono fished up out
Repenting of this act he of the sea moved too quickly
wandered the island mourning across the sky, making the days
her and in her memory instituted too short, he physically attacked
the Makahiki festival that lasts the sun, beating it and taming it
from October to February – like a beast and forcing it to
rainy season. move more slowly so that
humans would have longer days
– The rains are said to be Lono’s to finish their work in.
tears over the loss of Kaikilani
(though other myths say they – Other feats he is credited with are:
are Rangi’s tears over being
a) pushing the sky up even
separated from his wife Papa).
further above the Earth than it
He later married the goddess
originally was when Kane first
Laka.
separated Papa and Rangi ,

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b) slaying a giant eight-eyed bat, Milu and waking the goddess herself
from her daytime slumber (in many
c) giving humans fire by
versions the “sunrise” in the land of the
stealing flames from the
dead prompts a bird to sing, waking
eternally burning oven of Milu,
Milu up). Maui lost the bet, so humans
the death-goddess,
were still doomed to die, and in some
d) fishing up various Polynesian versions Milu forced Maui to spend
island groups with his massive eternity with her in her gloomy
strength, including the Hawaiian kingdom.
island that bears his name,
PELE
e) transforming his brother-
– The Hawaiian fire and volcano
in- law into the first dogs,
goddess, as dangerous and
f) saving his sister, the moon uncontrollable as the elements
goddess Hina, from the eel god she ruled over.
Tetuna and his legion of sea
– Her volatile nature prompted her
monsters, then marrying her
father Kane to dismiss her from
himself and
the heavens, so she wandered
g) creating shrimp from his own the Earth, creating the world’s
blood. volcanoes until finally
establishing her home on Mount
• Maui’s final adventure involved his Kilauea on the Big Island.
failed attempt to gain immortality for
humanity. This myth also has solar – The fire goddess eventually
overtones and goes as follows: the sun married the war-like wild boar
that Lono fished up was swallowed each god Kamapua’a, who had bested
night by Milu and traveled across her all her other suitors when her
subterranean realm, lighting it the way it father Kane offered up her hand
did the Earth during the daylight hours. in marriage in an attempt to
Each morning the sun emerged from settle her tumultuous nature.
Milu’s vagina and started its journey
– Pele still refused to be married
across the Earth, and so on and so on.
and fled, but none of her family
• Maui made a wager with Milu that if he would risk Kane’s displeasure
could enter through her vagina right by hiding her except her brother
after the sun emerged at daybreak and Kamoho, the shark god.
then race his way across her realm, Eventually Kane, as chief of the
emerging from her mouth before the sun gods, ordered Kamoho to stop
could set in it, then she would let human shielding Pele.
beings live forever. The wager was
– Pele then attacked Kamapua’a
accepted and Maui raced with the sun,
personally when he came to
fighting his way through many perils
claim his bride, but, with help
and menaces in Milu.
from Kane and other gods,
• Unfortunately, before he could reach the Kamapua’a succeeded in
mouth of the land of death the sun was surviving her attack and the two
entering through it, bringing daybreak to were married. The union tamed
both of their violent natures and

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they fell deeply in love with

each other. Their son, Opelu, the
god of thieves and doctors,
became the ancestor of the
ruling chiefs of the Hawaiian
Islands.
–

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