Avaiki
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Avaiki is one of the many names by which the peoples of Polynesia refer to their ancestral and spiritual homelands.
Samoa, Hawaii, Cook Islands
By no means certain, but certainly possible, is an origin in the large islands of
There are endless local variants. In the Cook Islands, for example, on the capital island of Rarotonga, northern facing volcanic rocks, tumbling onto the shore millennia ago and still set in place, are well known as the ancient departure point for souls bound for Avaiki - the afterworld or heaven.
In fact each island, vaka or ngati (family line) has its own Avaiki or interpretation of it. For instance it would be somewhere in the
Mythology
In the
Solomon Islands connection
While
The locals call Rennell Island “MUNGAVA” and they call Bellona Island “MUNGIKI”. They then combine the last three letters of each Island and come up with a word called AVAIKI. If someone local does something silly you might hear someone say ‘That’s the Avaiki way’. A further example of this nomenclature can also be evidenced with the identification of the name of the Province,
There is also a rugby and netball team on Rennell Island called Avaiki.
Notes
- ^ "Ko te papa ariki teia mei Avaiki mai, mei roto ia papa" Genealogies and Historical Notes from Rarotonga, Part 1. Journal of the Polynesian Society vol 1. p. 64-75, 1892
- ^ E.R. Tregear, Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (Lyon and Blair: Lambton Quay), 1891.
- ^ Peter Buck, "Mangaian Society" in "Bulletin of the Bishop Museum", Honolulu, 1934.