Haumea (mythology)
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Infobox deity
Haumea (Hawaiian: Template:IPA) is the goddess of fertility and childbirth in Hawaiian mythology. She is the mother of many important deities, such as Pele, Kāne Milohai, Kāmohoaliʻi, Nāmaka, Kapo, and Hiʻiaka. She was killed by Kaulu. Haumea is one of the most important Hawaiian gods, and her worship is among the oldest on the Hawaiian islands.Template:Sfn
Mythology
With the help of a magic stick called the Mākālei, Haumea repeatedly transforms herself from an old woman to a young girl, and returns to her homeland periodically to marry one of her offspring, thus giving birth to continuous generations of humans.Template:Sfn Eventually, her identity is found out by Kio, which angers her, causing her to leave humanity behind.Template:Sfn
Haumea is said to have given humans the ability to give birth naturally. In a story, she visited Muleiula, the daughter of a chieftain who was experiencing painful childbirth, during which she discovered that humans only gave birth by cutting open the mother. Seeing this, Haumea created a potion out of the Kani-ka-wī tree (Spondias dulcis), which allowed the mother to push out the baby naturally.Template:Sfn
Relationships
Haumea is the sister of the gods Kāne and Kanaloa, and sometimes also the wife of Kanaloa.Template:Sfn Some traditions identify Haumea with Papahānaumoku, the goddess of the Earth, and wife of the sky god Wākea.Template:Sfn
Offspring
With Kanaloa, Haumea gave birth to the war god Kekaua-kahi, the volcano goddess Pele, as well as Pele's brothers and sisters, including Hi'iaka.Template:Sfn Except for Pele, who was born the normal way, her children were born from various parts of her body. From her head, for example, were born Laumiha, Kahaʻula, Kahakauakoko, and Kauakahi.
Kumulipo
According to the Kumulipo, a Hawaiian creation chant, Haumea's offspring are:<ref>The Kumulipo: A Hawaiian creation chant</ref>
- Children by Mulinaha:
- Laumiha
- Kahaʻula
- Kahakauakoko
- Children by Kanaloa:
- Kauakahi
- Grandchildren:
- Kauahulihonua
- Haloa
- Waia
- Hinanalo
- Nanakahili
- Wailoa
- Kiʻo (last born)
Death
Legacy
Template:Main On September 17, 2008, the International Astronomical Union named the fifth known dwarf planet in the Solar System Haumea. The planet's two moons were named after Haumea's daughters: Hiʻiaka, the goddess born from the mouth of Haumea, and Namaka, the water spirit born from Haumea's body.<ref>IAU names fifth dwarf planet Haumea Template:Webarchive, International Astronomical Union, News release, September 17, 2008, Paris</ref>