Description
Haumea is the goddess of fertility and childbirth, known by many names and forms. There are stories of her that span across Polynesia. Stories of Haumea are found throughout the Kumulipo, the creation myth of the Hawaiian people. In her human form as Papa, Haumea lived on Oahu as the wife of Wākea. Their union gave birth to many Hawaiian deities. In her spirit body as Haumea, she returned to the divine land of the gods in Nuʻumealani. There are many mo‘olelo that tell of Haumea’s ability to transform: into a tree, a young woman, an old woman, and back to her ethereal body. In her many forms, she taught women about fertility and childbirth. The heiau of Ka-ieie in Kalihi Valley on Oahu is known as a place of her transformation. It was built to worship her.