Legends of Ma-ui—a demi god of Polynesia, and of his mother Hina

Maui is a demi god whose name should probably be pronounced Ma-u-i, i. e. , Ma-oo-e. The meaning of the word is by no means clear. It may mean "to live"",to subsist". It may refer to beauty and strength, or it may have the idea of "the left hand" or "turning aside". The word is recognized as belonging to remote Polynesian antiquity.