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In Hawaiian mythology, Wākea is a god of the sky, the eldest son of Kahiko ("Ancient One"), and lives in Olalowaia. He is the ancestor of the aristocracy (alii) and grandson of Welaahilaninui. The priests and common people come from his brothers, one of whom was called Makuʻu.

Wākea's first high priest was called Komoʻawa.[1]

When Wākea was on Earth in ancient times, he was a High Chief.

Consorts[]

In one legend, Wākea lives in Hihiku and marries Papahānaumoku, who is a princess of Olalo-i-mehani and a granddaughter of Princess Kaoupe-alii. The Hawaiian Islands were created by Wākea and Papahānaumoku. Their daughter was Hoʻohokukalani, who was a mother of Haloa by Wākea. This was the first incest, according to the mythology.

Wākea had sexual relations with Hina and she gave birth to the island of Molokai.

Family[]

In the genealogies, Wākea and Papahānaumoku are 37th in the Kumuhonua genealogy, and 28th in the Kumuʻuli. Kumuhonua, the ancestor of the Kumuhonua genealogy, was believed to be the first man in one tradition.

In one tradition, the first person on Earth was the woman Laʻilaʻi. She and her husband Kealiʻiwahilani are the parents of Kahiko, the father of Wākea. Wākea made the land and sea from the calabash or gourd (‘ipu) of Papahānaumoku. He threw it up high, and it became the heavens. He made the rain from its juice and from the seeds he made the sun, moon, and stars.[2]

See also[]

  • Atea, Marquesan god of light
  • Vatea, a god from Mangaia in the Cook Islands
  • Rangi and Papa, primordial parents in Māori tradition
  • Prince Kalaninuiamamao and his daughter-granddaughter Alapaiwahine (case similar to Wākea and his daughter)

References[]

  1. Kapu: Gender Roles in Traditional Society by Malcolm Nāea Chun
  2. Tregear 1891:28–29, 392
  • Wakea
  • E.R. Tregear, Māori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (Lyon and Blair: Lambton Quay), 1891.
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