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Paper short abstract

This paper will examine Pacific folklore where nature is sacred yet terrifying. It explores Polynesian deities, spirit guardians, dangerous taboos, and ancient curses, reflecting deep cultural fear and respect for natural power.

Paper long abstract

Folk narratives across Oceania depict the complex relationship between humans and nature, characterized by simultaneous worship and fear. This paper examines how deities, spirits, and taboos function as powerful symbols of nature's power and fury in Pasifika folklore.

In Hawaiian lore, Pele embodies the duality of creativity and destruction, with her volcanic fury devastating communities when she is angered. Her temper is respected and feared, leading to rituals and strict taboos, such as the prohibition against taking lava rocks, lest her wrath bring misfortune. Fear manifests through terrifying supernatural entities like the Night Marchers, ancient warriors whose ghostly processions require the living to show profound deference to avoid fatal consequences. Water guardian spirits, the Moʻo, also exemplify this duality, acting as protectors of freshwater bodies who may inflict harm if angered.

Chamorro lore features cautionary tales involving transformation and curses, such as the pagan curse that transforms the young girl Sirena into a mermaid, reflecting an indigenous belief in the powerful native word juxtaposed against colonial Christian elements.

In Samoa, respecting local custom and avoiding loud noises are crucial in sacred, spirit-inhabited areas like Toʻaga, which is reputed to be the home of malevolent spirits and legendary mysteries. Furthermore, modern Pacific narratives link this cultural framework of destruction to colonial and environmental fury, such as Marshallese accounts of women giving birth to "monsters" after nuclear testing, tying primal fears to contemporary trauma. These folk narratives ultimately demonstrate that reverence for nature, whether divine, ancestral, or physical, is crucial for survival.