Maui & Moana: Tales of the Demi-God
Maui pulls up to the islands
One day, Maui said to his four brothers, “Come fishing with me today! Go far out to sea. The fish there are much bigger and tastier than near the mainland.”
“Alright!” his brothers said. They are good fishermen and want big fish. The four brothers and Maui jumped into the canoe and began rowing. When they were far out to sea and could no longer see land, Maui jumped into the back of the canoe. He pulled out his magic hook. As his brothers looked ahead, he threw the hook over the side of the canoe. The theme sank deep into the clear blue water.
Soon, the magic hook was quickly hooked to the bottom of the sea. Maui pulled the fishing line tight. He called out, “See those scissors? I must have caught a giant fish!”
“Wow, I see!” one guy said.
“Those are some fish you caught!” another said.
“My brothers!” Maui called out. “Let’s row hard so we can catch this wonderful fish!”
The two brothers rowed with all their might. They fought so hard that they did not notice the hooks pulling up land from the seabed. Behind them, island after island rose from the sea!
Legend has it that this is how Maui created the islands where people live today.
Maui welcomes the sun
One day, Maui wanted to know how the people on the island lived. But what he saw there made his heart skip a beat. Life is tough for them. And he can understand why – the days are too short! There is no time in the day for people to do the things they need to do, like make and cook food. If they spread a wet blanket on the sand, the next day, the blanket will still be moist. There is not even time for the fruit on the tree to ripen.
Ezoic
“That’s the Sun!” Maui said. “He’s running so fast in the sky! He didn’t think about the people living below, on the islands.”
Maui knew that it was up to him, a demigod, to slow down the Sun. But how? He asked his brothers. He asked his sister Hina. He still requested other people he knew.
“Who do you think you are, Maui?” one person said. “No one can catch the Sun!”
“Even if you are a demigod,” said another, “you know very well that the Sun is too big and bright for anyone to stop.”
But Maui’s sister Hina said no such things. She cut off her long hair. She tied her hair into a rope and gave the rope to Maui. From those ropes, Maui made a giant noose.
That night, Maui took his lasso up the highest mountain in the Hawaiian Islands. This mountain was once an active volcano. Many years ago, it spewed out waves of hot lava. When the volcano ended, only a large crater remained at the top of the mountain. And that crater is where Maui plans to meet the Sun.
At the crater of the Maui volcano, waiting, very quiet. He hid the lasso behind him, out of sight. When the Sun rises at dawn, it begins to hurtle across the sky very quickly. Soon, the Sun flew over the mountaintop. Maui bravely threw the lasso over his head. The ropes are caught! The Sun tries to move but is stuck!
“Let me out of here!” The Sun shouted.
“Not yet!” Maui said. “You are moving too fast in the sky. It makes the days too short for those living below.”
“That’s why I like to go fast!” The Sun said. “Who cares? Let me out of here!”
“ARE NOT!” Maui roared. “I care! You have to stay here, in this crater!” He pulled the noose tight. But in his heart, Maui did not feel brave. He did not know how much longer he could last. It was true that his noose was more robust than any other rope on earth, all over this land. But he did not know how long the loop made from his sister’s hair could last before the hot rays of the Sun burned it.
The Sun tried to move again but couldn’t. “Oh, very good!” The Sun finally spoke. You can be sure that Maui is happy to hear that! “I suppose I could slow down a bit,” the Sun said. “But only for part of the year.”
So Maui and The Sun reached an agreement. During half the year, the Sun will move at a slow speed. The days will be long, and it will be summer. During the remaining half of the year, the Sun can run as fast as it wants. Those days will be short, and it will be winter.
This is how Maui makes the days longer for the islanders. Finally, they can perform the tasks they need. They can have a full dinner and rest afterward. And the fruits on the tree grew big and sweet.
