Hawaiian Mythology: Part Four. Heroes and Lovers in Fiction: XXX. Trickster Stories

This is a scholarly analysis of Hawaiian mythology, written in the tradition of early 20th-century comparative folklore studies, drawing on sources including Fornander, Kepelino, and Emerson. It examines two interlocking Hawaiian myth cycles: the trickster hero Pupuhuluana, who brings food plants to the islands by deceiving spirits who guard them, and Makali'i, a hoarder-figure who withholds food in a net until rats gnaw it open to relieve famine. The author traces multiple regional variants of each myth, arguing that these cycles are closely related — both tied to the theme of famine, food acquisition, and the goddess Haumea — and that the character names (Kaulu, Puluena, Pupuhuluana) are likely variants of a single underlying tradition. A distinctive methodological claim is that most recorded Hawaiian trickster stories reflect late foreign or south-Polynesian influences, displacing whatever earlier local versions existed, though the author suggests those originals may still be recoverable. The analysis extends comparisons to parallel customs and stories across Polynesia (New Zealand, Marquesas, Pukapuka), grounding specific tricks — like using chewed oil-nuts to see into water, or feigning indifference to covet a cultural gift — in a shared regional tradition. The text is most valuable for readers interested in Hawaiian oral literature, comparative Polynesian mythology, or the structural analysis of trickster and culture-hero narratives.

Hawaiian Mythology: Part Four. Heroes and Lovers in Fiction: XXX. Trickster Stories

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