Hina

The Polynesian gods were worshipped by the navigators who colonized the Pacific islands, from Hawaii to New Zealand and Easter Island. They honored them on sacred platforms (marae) and through the concept of mana, spiritual power. Their myths, such as those of the hero Maui, are still told among the Maori and Hawaiians.

On the marae, sacred stone platforms, priests offered first fruits and invoked the gods before fishing and war. The kapu (taboo) system ruled what was sacred and forbidden, and in Hawaii the hula was born as a devotional dance to goddesses like Pele and Laka.

Goddess of the moon, the tides, and craft, Hina is one of the most widespread female deities of Polynesia. Tired of life on earth, she ascended to the moon, where she dwells in peace weaving her bark cloth. Her lunar presence rules the tides and inspires the women artisans of the Pacific. As The Goddess of the Moon, this deity occupies a position of supreme prestige in the Polynesian pantheon. Their domains over Moon, Tides & Craft reflect ancestral cosmic order maintained across millennia. In classical iconography, they are depicted with an aura of unshakeable majesty and sacred attributes that inspired reverence in emperors and peasants alike. Their influence extended beyond earthly boundaries, governing fates and harmony between the visible and invisible worlds. For ancient devotees, contemplating their essence was to understand the very fundamental forces of nature and human existence.

The moon, the tapa-beating mallet, the tide and the gourd

In many myths, mother or kin of Maui; pan-Polynesian lunar goddess.

Tired of the hard labor and conflicts on earth, Hina decided to ascend to the heavens to live on the moon. She first tried the sun, but the heat was unbearable, so she chose the moon, cooler and more serene. There she lives to this day, and the marks we see on the lunar surface are said to be Hina herself sitting, beating her mallet to make the sacred tapa cloth. During the great age of Polynesian myths, Hina performed extraordinary deeds defending cosmic balance against forces of destruction. It is told that when an ancestral threat emerged from the ends of the world, Hina wielded power over Moon, Tides & Craft, summoning divine elements and turning the tide of battle. Ancient bards and poets sang the glory of this combat, highlighting the wisdom and bravery demonstrated before the assembled gods themselves. The triumph consolidated their eternal authority and sealed an inviolable pact of protection over mortal realms, remembered across all subsequent generations.

A celebrated secondary legend preserved in the oral traditions of the Polynesian recounts the journey when Hina intervened directly in the lives of mortals. During a period of great trial, when droughts and chaos threatened the survival of ancient cities, Hina descended from the heavens disguised among men to test humanity's virtue and generosity. Only a humble family welcomed the mysterious traveler, offering their last meal with devotion and respect. Revealing their true resplendent form as The Goddess of the Moon, Hina blessed the region with perpetual abundance and raised a sacred spring that never dried again. This epic saga became a symbol of divine justice and the reward reserved for those who maintain faith and nobility of spirit even in times of greatest darkness.

Historically, the cult of Hina occupied a central place in the religious and architectural calendar of antiquity. Imposing stone temples and open-air sanctuaries were erected in their honor in the major capitals of the Polynesian, adorned with detailed reliefs and monumental columns. Annually, great public festivals gathered thousands of pilgrims who held solemn processions, lit sacred torches, and chanted communal hymns celebrating harvests and military victories. Priests and priestesses of ancient orders dedicated their lives to preserving the sacred flame and guarding the temple's manuscripts and relics. Contemporary archaeological excavations continue to reveal votive altars, commemorative coins, and architectural innovations testifying to the deep historical veneration of this deity.

The sacred cloth she beats on the moon, whose mallet's echo resounds in the Pacific nights.

Hina is one of the most widely named deities in the Pacific, appearing from Hawaii to Tahiti and New Zealand with variations of her story. In modern astronomy and science, Hina's name and symbols inspired the naming of celestial bodies and geological formations on other planets. Furthermore, their artistic depiction influenced Renaissance painters and Neoclassical sculptors, remaining an iconic figure in contemporary cinema, literature, and video games.