Polynesia

Our last stop on this journey is Polynesia. Most of Polynesia practices Christianity and the traditional Polynesian religion, but only one of those two has a trickster god popping up within their stories. Maui is the Polynesian hero/trickster god and is known for many feats of trickery and sincere service. Most of his personality consists of breaking societal norms and openly ridiculing authority. Like many tricksters, Maui is a shapeshifter and often takes the form of either a handsome young man or a wandering wise old priest. Though he is seen as a trickster, all the tales of his adventures end with him somehow bettering life for humans whether it’s on purpose or not. Maui’s most notable deception is his thieving from the underworld. He deceived his ancestor, Mahuika, and brought the flames of hell to the humans for them to cook their food over.