User:Sakecat/Ghosts in Polynesian culture

Tinirau, the fish god or "innumerable" was the sea God with two faces known all through-out Polynesia. He has been depicted in painting as well as stone carvings from Samoa to Hawaii and has many back stories depending on where you are and who you ask. The Mangaia people of the Cook Islands portray him has half man and half fish. Other cultures define him as a chief or the son of a chief. He is said to have promised endless amounts of fish the the islands and many Hawaiians still pray to him for good fortune while fishing. Pele the goddess of lava and volcanos has long been a part of the Hawaiian culture and is believed to be able to bring misfortune to natives and visitors alike. Pele is considered the creator of the islands and the embodiment of anger and jealousy. Native Hawaiins Know her by her more traditional name Halemaumau, which translates to "the fiery pit creator". Over time the legend has changed however. Originally it was believed that the rocks or ground was disturbed on the volcano that Pele would cause an eruption as a sign of being displeased. In more recent years it is widely believed that if tourists take pieces of the rock or black sand off the islands with them that Pele will curse them and cause great misfortune in their lives until it is returned to where it came from. This belief causes hundreds of people a year to ship packages containing the stones the picked up while vacations and blaming the goddess for bad things that happened to them since the returned home.