Hikule'o
Encyclopedia
In the mythology
of Tonga
, Havea Hikuleo is the god of the world
, Pulotu
. The islands of Kao
, Tofua
, Hunga Haapai, Hunga Tonga
, Late and Fonualei
came from stone
s thrown down from the skies by Hikuleo. They are all volcanic islands. The other, (coral) islands were fished up by his brother or cousin Maui
.
Hikuleo's ancestors were, according to one source, the god Pil'e (Limu according to others) and the goddess Kele, who came from Pulotu and created the mythical land of Tongamamao for their children to dwell in. They had a son Toiukamea (hidden iron) and a daughter Māimoaalōngona (royal game of hearing) who married each other and had children. Among their children were many sons', the boy Taufulifonua and the girl Havea Lolofonua. One day they lay on the beach, naked, as they were still innocent, with their legs in the sea. The tide rose and the water covered them more and more. Then an oo (meaning: to penetrate) fish swam along and started to suck from the girl's labia, which caused her a lot of joy. Once the fish had been chased away the boy tried to gently stroke her inflicted parts but that did not give her relief. Then instead of his hand, he tried it with his penis, and suddenly the girl was consoled. So copulation was invented, and Havea Hikuleo was the first of many children.
Meanwhile Taufulifonua and Havea Lolofonua's younger brother and sister, also twins, also married each other. They were named Fonuuta (land turtle) and Fonutahi (sea turtle) and their child was Maui
(Maui Motua, that is; if he was not the child of Taufulifonua and Havea Lolofonua themselves). And the next younger brother and sister, also twins who married each other, were Velesii (small enticer) and Velelahi (big enticer), who brought forth Tangaloa
(Tangaloa Eiki, that is).
When Taufulifonua had become old and close to death, he divided the universe: Tangaloa got the sky to rule, Maui the earth, and Havea Hikuleo became the lord of Pulotu
.
Tangaloa's descendants would become later the (divine) Tui Tonga
starting with Ahoeitu
. Maui's line became the Tui Talau, while Hikuleo's offspring was Loau, and the ancestry of the Tui Haatakalaua
.
The historical interpretation of this triumvirate (Hikuleo, Maui, Tangaloa) may be a struggle to liberate Tonga from the dominance of the Tui Pulotu
empire in Fiji, after which the victors could divide the spoils. Or, in reality perhaps, those three were Sāmoans, which made Tonga part of the Tui Manua
empire.
Tongan mythology
Tongan mythology is a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology in Tonga.-Creation myth:In the beginning there was just the sea, and the spirit world, Pulotu; and between them was a rock called Touiao Futuna...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, Havea Hikuleo is the god of the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
, Pulotu
Pulotu
In the mythology of parts of western Polynesia , Pulotu is the underworld, the world of darkness ....
. The islands of Kao
Kao (island)
Kao is an island and stratovolcano in Tonga. It reaches above sea level, the highest point in Tonga. The date of its last eruption is unknown, and fresh lava flows are not seen, but the absence of deep erosional gullies or high sea cliffs suggests a very recent origin. It lies about north of...
, Tofua
Tofua
Tofua Caldera, in Tonga, is the summit caldera of a steep-sided composite cone that forms Tofua Island. Tofua Island is in Tonga's Ha'apai island group. Pre-caldera activity is recorded by a sequence of pyroclastic deposits and lavas constituting the older cone, followed on the northern part of the...
, Hunga Haapai, Hunga Tonga
Hunga Tonga
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai is a volcano located about 30 km south-southeast of Fonuafoou , part of Tonga.The volcano is part of the highly active Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc, a subduction zone extending from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji. The volcano lies about above a very active...
, Late and Fonualei
Fonualei (volcano)
Fonualei is a volcanic island close to Vavau in the kingdom of Tonga.It was seen by Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle on the La Princesa in February 1781. He reported the island to be barren from eruptions, and called it for that reason Bitterness island....
came from stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
s thrown down from the skies by Hikuleo. They are all volcanic islands. The other, (coral) islands were fished up by his brother or cousin Maui
Maui (Tongan mythology)
In Tonga, Maui drew up the Tongan Islands from the deep: first appeared Lofaga and the other Haapai Islands, and finally Vavau. Maui then dwelt in Tonga. Maui had two sons: the eldest, Maui Atalaga, and the younger Kisikisi. The latter discovered the secret of fire, and taught people the art of...
.
Hikuleo's ancestors were, according to one source, the god Pil'e (Limu according to others) and the goddess Kele, who came from Pulotu and created the mythical land of Tongamamao for their children to dwell in. They had a son Toiukamea (hidden iron) and a daughter Māimoaalōngona (royal game of hearing) who married each other and had children. Among their children were many sons', the boy Taufulifonua and the girl Havea Lolofonua. One day they lay on the beach, naked, as they were still innocent, with their legs in the sea. The tide rose and the water covered them more and more. Then an oo (meaning: to penetrate) fish swam along and started to suck from the girl's labia, which caused her a lot of joy. Once the fish had been chased away the boy tried to gently stroke her inflicted parts but that did not give her relief. Then instead of his hand, he tried it with his penis, and suddenly the girl was consoled. So copulation was invented, and Havea Hikuleo was the first of many children.
Meanwhile Taufulifonua and Havea Lolofonua's younger brother and sister, also twins, also married each other. They were named Fonuuta (land turtle) and Fonutahi (sea turtle) and their child was Maui
Maui (Tongan mythology)
In Tonga, Maui drew up the Tongan Islands from the deep: first appeared Lofaga and the other Haapai Islands, and finally Vavau. Maui then dwelt in Tonga. Maui had two sons: the eldest, Maui Atalaga, and the younger Kisikisi. The latter discovered the secret of fire, and taught people the art of...
(Maui Motua, that is; if he was not the child of Taufulifonua and Havea Lolofonua themselves). And the next younger brother and sister, also twins who married each other, were Velesii (small enticer) and Velelahi (big enticer), who brought forth Tangaloa
Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)
Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleo and Maui, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa Eiki Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of...
(Tangaloa Eiki, that is).
When Taufulifonua had become old and close to death, he divided the universe: Tangaloa got the sky to rule, Maui the earth, and Havea Hikuleo became the lord of Pulotu
Pulotu
In the mythology of parts of western Polynesia , Pulotu is the underworld, the world of darkness ....
.
Tangaloa's descendants would become later the (divine) Tui Tonga
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
starting with Ahoeitu
'Aho'eitu
In Tongan mythology, or oral history, Ahoeitu is a son of the god Tangaloa Eitumātupua and a mortal woman, Ilaheva Vaepopua. He became the first king of the Tui Tonga dynasty in the early 10th century, dethroning the previous one with the same name but originating from the uanga instead of...
. Maui's line became the Tui Talau, while Hikuleo's offspring was Loau, and the ancestry of the Tui Haatakalaua
Tu'i Ha'atakalaua
The Tui Haatakalaua was a dynasty of Tongan kings, which originated in the 15th century by taking over the power from the Tui Tonga line. Lost the power in 16th century to the Tui Kanokupolu dynasty, and disappeared into nothingness by the end of the 18th century.#Moungāmotua – around 1470; might...
.
The historical interpretation of this triumvirate (Hikuleo, Maui, Tangaloa) may be a struggle to liberate Tonga from the dominance of the Tui Pulotu
Tu'i Pulotu
The Tu'i Pulotu is believed to be the head of an ancient group of people that settled in Pulotu during the Lapita period...
empire in Fiji, after which the victors could divide the spoils. Or, in reality perhaps, those three were Sāmoans, which made Tonga part of the Tui Manua
Tu'i Manu'a
The title Tui Manua is considered the oldest chiefly title of the Samoa Islands and Polynesia. Tuimanua Elisala was the last Tuimanua titleholder. He was the grandson of Tuimanua Alalamua whose genealogy descended from the Sa Tagaloa....
empire.