In the Central Caroline Coral Islands, for example, they believe in spirits of the sea. It is thought that two spirits, Soalal and Mar, frequently take peoples souls when they die and keep them to live beneath the sea. The Mar ghost is good and communicates with the living. They were wrapped in weighted mats as an offering to placate the good Soalal ghost. There are many myths associated with the ocean and its creatures.
Myths often explain the origins of customs and features of the landscape.
They form an important part of cultural knowledge, power and identity. In the heat of the day, the dugong fell asleep among the rushes while her brothers went off hunting. The chicken hawk, who was a very lazy bird, set dry grass alight to flush out small animals to eat. The fire spread to the rushes burning the dugong as she slept. The chicken hawk realised his mistake and fled because the cockatoos who were famous fighters, would surely punish him.