Page 3 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

December 5 - 21, 2008

Chapter 1. Introduction

The Maori demi-god, Maui, crouched in the hull of his two older

brothers’ waka (ocean-going canoe) on a beautiful Pacific Ocean
day of calm waters and blue skies punctuated with floating white

clouds. He was hidden because they had refused permission for
him to join their daily fishing expedition, as they always did. They

said he was too young and would bring them bad luck. The big
canoe had set off from their home island, Hawaiiki, its actual
location lost in the shadows of time and myth. But Maui was

confident he would lead them to many more fish than they had
ever caught in a single day, because he was convinced that his

forefathers had granted him magical powers. For this adventure,
he had woven a special fishing line as instructed by his personal

protector.

When his brothers discovered him
they were already far from land.
Exasperated, they realized they

would not be able to take him back
home before beginning again

because the daylight would fade
from the sky before they could come

back with the day’s catch. So all
three began fishing accompanied by

the grumbling of the two brothers.
Very soon they realized that they
were hauling in a huge number of big

and healthy fish, much more than
usual. They began to tease Maui

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