# Hinemoa — Polynesian Mythology character guide

> Hinemoa in Polynesian Mythology by George Grey.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0019-the-story-of-hinemoa

## Snapshot

A chieftainess who, forbidden a canoe, ties gourds to her body and swims the wide night lake of Rotorua toward the sound of her lover's flute.

## Who they are

Hinemoa is a beautiful chief's daughter whose love for Tūtānekai is thwarted when her family hauls every canoe ashore to keep her from him. Guided only by the soft measure of his trumpet across the water, she takes six dry gourds as floats and casts herself into the lake, resting at a sunken tree stump and warming herself in a hot spring when she finally reaches Mokoia. Her night swim — equal parts desperation, courage, and ingenuity — is the heart of the tale.

## Relationships

### [Tūtānekai](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/tutanekai)

_romantic_

Hinemoa and Tūtānekai are famous lovers who overcome obstacles to be together.

### [Tūtānekai](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/tutanekai)

_romantic_

Hinemoa and Tūtānekai are famous lovers who overcome obstacles to be together.

### [Tūtānekai](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/tutanekai)

_romantic_

Hinemoa and Tūtānekai are famous lovers who overcome obstacles to be together.

## In the story

### [Preface to the Second Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/preface-to-the-second-edition)

Her legend was told to Grey by a native chief on Mokoia island in 1849.

### [The Story of Hinemoa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/the-story-of-hinemoa)

The beautiful and high-born maiden who swims across Lake Rotorua to be with Tūtānekai.

## Links

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