Tuvaluan mythology

The reef islands and atolls of Tuvalu are identified as being part of West Polynesia.

[1] The pattern of settlement that is believed to have occurred is that the Polynesians spread out from Tonga and the Samoan Islands into the Tuvaluan atolls.

[5] The voyaging ancestors brought the myths from their islands of origin, with these stories being adapted to over time to become the mythology of Tuvalu.

[5]: 15–16  The ancestor of the people of Nanumea is described as Tefolaha, who was part human, part spirit from Tonga;[5] on Nanumaga the founding ancestor is described as Tepuhi, a spirit with the shape of a sea-serpent, who came originally from Fiji, although there are other creation stories that are told on Nanumaga that have links to Tonga and Samoa.

He settled at Tamana on the eastern side of the island, where winds swept the spray of the surf over the reef.

Tefolaha would climb a palm tree and use a wooden hook on a piece of twine to trick the women into shouting their names.

[14] Nanumean traditions describe the islets, Te Motu Foliki, Lafogaki, and Teaafua a Taepoa, as being formed when sand spilled from the baskets of two women, Pai and Vau, when they were forced off Nanumea.

Nanumean traditions describe the islets, Te Motu Foliki, Lafogaki, and Teaafua a Taepoa, as being formed when sand spilled from the baskets of two women, Pai and Vau, when they were forced off Nanumea.

Tefolaha's sons and daughters are today the founding ancestors of leading families and the seven chiefly lineages of Nanumea.

After the Flounder died the Eel threw the stone in the air and said the magic words: By repeatedly throwing the stone in the air the Eel created night and day, the blue sky and the sea.

The Eel then broke the stone into eight pieces to create the main islands of Tuvalu.