Hawaiian Folk Tales: A Collection of Native Legends

These Hawaiian stories tell the tales of gods and men, ghosts and goblins. One Hawaiian chant speaks of as many as "four thousand gods" of the Hawaiian people. The ancient Hawaiians, like most indigenous peoples, felt a deep connection with nature and explained everything from the creation of the Earth to the lava flowing from the volcanoes through the stories of their gods and goddesses.
The four main gods (akua) are Ku, Kane, Lono and Kanaloa. Then there are many lesser gods (kupua), each associated with certain professions. In addition to the gods and goddesses, there are family gods or guardians (aumakua). The many gods of Hawaii and Polynesia were often represented by tikis. Tiki statues were carved to represent the image of a certain god and as an embodiment of that specific god's mana, or power.

This is only a partial list of the many Hawaiian gods. To this day, they are revered and respected by many.

Kane: Father of living creatures. Kane is the highest of the four major gods.

Ku: God of war. Human sacrifices were made to Ku in ancient times.

Kanaloa: God of the underworld and a teacher of magic. Ruler of the ocean. Complementary power and close companion of Kane.

Lono: God of agriculture. Associated with fertility, rainfall, music and peace.

Pele: Goddess of the volcanoes, as well as fire, lightning and wind.

Hina: Goddess of Moon.

Laka: Goddess of the hula.

Kuula: God of fishermen.

Papa: Fertility goddess. Earth mother.

Poliahu: One of the four goddesses of snow. The rival of Pele.