Polynesian Mythology · Character
Manaia
A chief whose wife is violated by the very workers he summoned, and who turns his grief into a voyage of emigration after avenging the crime.
major
Also known as Hawaiki, Ko Manaia
First appearance: Legend of the Emigration of Manaia
As a major figure in Polynesian Mythology, Manaia is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
His son was slain by Rātā and hidden in canoe shavings.
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Manaia is a chief of Hawaiki whose gathering of neighbors to make spears ends in the rape of his wife Rongotiki, setting off a cycle of vengeance and counter-vengeance. He discovers a hidden son, Kahukakanui, in the…
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See Manaia in Legend of the Emigration of ManaiaCharacter Web
46 connectionsA slice of how Manaia sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Rivalry
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Protagonist
- Arawa migration leaders
- Miscellaneous figures and ancestors
- Heroes and lovers
+41 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the story's dramatic climax because it presents the psychological peak of the narrator's in…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Ngātoro
rivalry · negative
Manaia and Ngātoro are bitter enemies, often clashing over land and honor. How this plays out →
- Kuiwai
family · ambivalent
- Kuiwai
family · ambivalent
- Ngātoro
rivalry · negative
Manaia and Ngātoro are bitter enemies, often clashing over land and honor. How this plays out →
- Ngātoro
rivalry · negative
Manaia and Ngātoro are bitter enemies, often clashing over land and honor. How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Manaia in Legend of the Emigration of ManaiaIn the story
Manaia appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Construction of Canoes to Emigrate to New Zealand
- The Curse of Manaia
- Legend of the Emigration of Manaia
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Manaia unlock in the free preview.
See Manaia in Legend of the Emigration of Manaia