Mythology of the Polynesian islands

Visit the links to learn about the Polynesian myths related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world.

Back to the World Map
<a href="/mythology/planets/dwarf_planets/makemake.html&edu=elem&dev=">Makemake</a> was the creator of humanity and the god of fertility in the mythology of the South Pacific island of Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island). He was also the chief god of the bird-man cult, and was worshipped in the form of sea birds. This image shows a petroglyph of Makemake on Easter Island. In July 2008, a <a href="/our_solar_system/dwarf_planets/makemake.html&edu=elem&dev=">recently discovered dwarf planet</a> was named after Makemake.<p><small><em> Public domain image/Wikipedia Commons</em></small></p>

Explore Mythology of the Polynesian islands

Maori: Papa

The Maori people of New Zealand believe that at the beginning of time the sky was so in love ...Read more

Maori: Tangaroa

Tangaroa was one of the children of the Sky Father, Rangi, and Mother Earth, Papa. He was ...Read more

Maori: Tawhiri

Tawhiri was very angry with his brothers. They disagreed about whether their parents, Rangi ...Read more

Maori: Rona

Rona was the daughter of the sea god Tangaroa. One night she was carrying a bucket with water ...Read more

Maori: Rangi

The Maori people of New Zealand believe that at the beginning of time the sky was so in love ...Read more

Hawaii: Pele

Pele is a fire goddess according to the people of Hawaii. She is savage and wrathful and resides ...Read more

Hawaii: Haumea

Haumea was a goddess in Hawaiian mythology. She was the goddess of childbirth. One of her children ...Read more

Maui

Maui was a hero of Polynesian mythology. For Maui and his mother the days were too short. Maui ...Read more

Rapa Nui: Makemake

In South Pacific mythology, Makemake was the creator of humanity and the god of fertility. ...Read more

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Did you know that the temperature in the Earth's core is hotter than the Sun’s surface?

Do you know what the Greek goddess, Persephone, has to do with the seasons and the underworld?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Ooids
xOoids : Small (< 2 mm), spheroidal, layered sedimentary grains, usually composed of calcium carbonate, but sometimes made up of iron- or phosphate-based minerals.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

East Africa's Lake Tanganyika is Warming More Than Ever Before

Geologists think that the waters of Lake Tanganyika, a long lake located in East Africa, has experienced a huge amount of warming in the last 100 years. Currently, the surface water of this lake is the...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA