Japanese Terms
Obaa-san — Grandmother.
Korean Terms
Pangapseumnida — Formal “Nice to meet you” greeting.
Hawaiian Origin of Myths
Kamapua’a — A pig demigod. His father rejected him as a child because he believed his wife had cheated on him with his younger brother. Kamapua’a grew up strong and handsome with a taste for adventure and pleasure. He plundered the lands and began to take on the form of a hog. After murdering his “father,” he journeyed to Maui to track down his father’s younger brother. After the younger brother, too, rejected him as a son, he returned to his pillaging ways, seducing women along the way. There are variations of his relationship with Pele the volcano goddess: in some they are enemies after she rejects his romantic pursuits; in others they have a child or are lovers. Kamapua’a is said to be a shape-shifter who can resurrect the dead.
Nanaue — The son of Kamohaoli’i the shark god and a Hawaiian woman. He was born with a mouth on his back and the ability to turn into a shark when put in water. Kamohaoli’i warned Nanaue’s mother to never let him eat meat, but he does during an all-male ceremony, and it awakens his hunger for human flesh. He hunts his tribe and others before he is finally killed off of Moloka’i.
Poli’ahu — A snow goddess who dwells on Mauna Kea with her three sisters, i.e., “the bosom goddess.” She is incredibly beautiful but unlucky in love. Oftentimes Poli’ahu is a rival to Pele the volcano goddess. In the popular sledding race legend, Poli’ahu beats Pele the first time, which results in Pele barring the snow goddess’s way with lava during the second race. This angers Poli’ahu, so she freezes the lava and thus claims Mauna Kea.
Mo’o — Spirit shape-shifters who often take the form of lizards. They reside in lakes, forests, or rocks and can be beneficial or harmful. Mo’oinanea is the supreme mo’o.
Year of the Boar- Tica Page 15
