Whilst working on my translations, I’ve become interested in Polynesian mythology. I
hadn’t previously, though a little bit does rub off, simply from being here so
long. I had already heard some plant myths - Polynesians believe that humans
gave rise to plants.
One of my favorites is the breadfruit legend, in a time of famine in Raiatea, a husband and father, desperate to help his starving family turns himself into a tree, his head the fruit, his body and arms the trunk and branches, his hands the leaves. His wife and children, distraught to discover this ultimate sacrifice, gather the fruits to eat.  |
| The breadfruit legend, by Sarahina |
There are also a family of gods, some found across Polynesia, though their significance and importance vary. Their legends evoke images every bit as powerful as those found in Greek or Roman mythology.
You may have heard of Maui, the demi-god who fished up islands and ensnared the sun (if only thanks to the recent Disney movie Moana, Vaiana in the French version), using rope made from his sister’s hair and a magical fishhook. Here is a striking painting of Maui catching the sun, the work of a famous local artist-musician Bobby Holcomb.
AirTahiti have been showcasing a legend, telling how the islands formed; once magical fish, hauled up from the depths by Maui, Hina and others.
This striking painting, by Vashee, a young artist from Tubuai, elegantly distills this story into image.
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