# Hatupatu — Polynesian Mythology character guide

> Hatupatu in Polynesian Mythology by George Grey.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** O Hatupatu

**First appearance:** 0016-the-legend-of-hatupatu-and-his-brothers

## Snapshot

A young hero who survives captivity under the bird-woman Kurangaituku, escapes through cunning and endurance, and returns to claim his place among his people.

## Who they are

Hatupatu is a youth whose story pits human ingenuity against a supernatural captor, the bird-woman Kurangaituku, who keeps him in her lair. His escape depends on quick thinking and knowledge of the land, and his eventual triumph restores him to his family and his standing. His arc gives the collection one of its most vivid portraits of survival—how a young person's wit and courage can turn captivity into a homecoming, and how the wild world of spirits and monsters can be outwitted by a determined human.

## Relationships

### [Hou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/hou)

_rivalry_

Hatupatu and Hou are adversaries, with Hou pursuing Hatupatu in a chase.

## In the story

### [The Legend of Hatupatu and His Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/the-legend-of-hatupatu-and-his-brothers)

The youngest brother, mistreated and killed by his siblings, later revived by a spirit; clever and resourceful, he tricks Kurangaituku and escapes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/hatupatu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters