Pacific Lore is a collection of tales and stories of the Pacific. Lore is often used to explore and prosletyze norms. Some are and wonderful tales of heroism, others explore despotism.

Share in the stories and folklore that have contributed to moulding the world-view of people from the Pacific Islands.

The following pages of Pacific Legends and Oral History have been initiated by the labours of Daniel (Taniera) Longstaff and Tonga Online. In these pages you will find stories passed from generation to generation on the Pacific Islands and in the retelling is engraved here. We hope you enjoy these stories and from them learn a bit more about the islands and people of the Pacific.

If you have any comments or have stories/references you consider appropriate in these pages, please feel free to contact us.

Last Structural Revision: June 7th, 2019 Samiuela Taufa

  • Mangareva
    • Mangareva was once heavily forested and supported a large population that traded with other islands via canoes. However, excessive logging by the islanders during the 10th to the 15th centuries resulted in deforestation of the island, with disastrous results for its environment and economy Polynesian mythology tells of Mangareva being lifted from the ocean floor by the demi-god Maui. The mountains of Mangareva rise over the surrounding islands and the luminous lagoon like a great cathedral.
  • Samoa
    • Sisi, Fainga'aSisi, Fainga’a and Their Samoan Slave In ancient times in Tonga there were no people, just gods. There were these two gods named Sisi and Fainga’a and they had a Samoan slave named Pasikole. One day these two gods discovered a new way to travel: they each built a large basket which they climbed into and they had their servant, Pasikole, carry the baskets on a pole that he hefted on his shoulder.
  • Tahiti
    • Tahiti (/təˈhiːti/; French pronunciation: ​[ta.iti]; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia. The island is located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the central Southern Pacific Ocean; it is divided into two parts: the bigger, northwestern part, Tahiti Nui, and the smaller, southeastern part, Tahiti Iti. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous with surrounding coral reefs.
  • Tonga
    • AudioTongan Lore - In Audio The only extensive (known to these pages) work of diverse range of story-tellers, settings was made by Richard Moyle between 1973-5. Richard Moyle’s collection covered 62 villages on Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou. The reader interested in hearing the stories accentuated by story-tellers, including the fakatangi (sung verses) should contact either the author or Radio Tonga. Radio Tonga holds the widest collection of audio recordings available in the Kingdom and for a number of years had broadcast a number of Richard Moyle’s recordings.
  • Tuamotu
    • Background on the Tuamotu Islands The Tuamotu Archipelago is located east of Tahiti. Dozens of islands stretch in a gradual arc for 1200 km. Except for the island of Makatea, these islands are all atoll islands consisting a series of motus or sandbars encircling a central lagoon. Agricultural resources on these islands are poor. The old Tuamotuans lacked good timber for canoe-making. Never-theless, they fashioned double canoes that were 15-18 meters long from planks that were sewn together with coconut fiber.