Maui

The Maui of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

**Maui** or **Māui** is a trickster god from real-life Māori culture.

## History

Maui is a folk-hero and trickster found in many Polynesian cultures, known to natives as, "**The Mighty One**". He is son of the goddess Hina and grandson of the rain goddess Hina Kuluua. He is affiliated with many stories and often his depiction changes from culture to culture. Common stories affiliated with the figure include: him stealing fire from the underworld to give as a gift to human kind, fishing a giant sea-creature whose corpse became the North Island of New Zealand, roping the sun to extend the length of days, and dying on a mission to make mankind immortal by being crushed by the obsidian teeth of the night-goddess Hine-nui-te-pō.

## Appearances and allusions

### Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Maui is the mascot for Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and makes several appearances throughout the resort. In the resort's earlier days pamphlets explaining his story were handed out which read:

"The folklore of Polynesia contains no more colourful characters than those of Maui. His exploits are told and retold across the island world, from Hawaii to Bora Bora to New Zealand.

Maui, born of the gods, lived among the people of the South Seas. His Pranks and tricks provided the Islanders with a constant source of new tales… How Maui, with his magic fish hook, pulled the islands of Polynesia from the depths of the sea…And happiest of tale of all, how Maui achieved his greatest feat – capturing the Sun with a specially woven net, refusing to release it until he secured a promise that the Sun would pursue his course across the sky more slowly.  This, of course, means more daylight for all…for all who live in Polynesia.

So now you know why the people of every Polynesian Village remember the mischievous one – the playful god of the people, Maui".

### Main Street, U.S.A.

Rolly Crump's concept-artwork for the Tiki Room's Maui can be seen within the window for "*Fargo's Palm Parlour; Predictions that will haunt you; Bazaar, whimsical & Weird. Designs to die for Roland F. Crump assistant to the Palm Reader*" along with artwork for *It's a Small World* and the Grandfather Coffin Clock from the Museum of the Weird.

### Tahitian Terrace

Maui is one of the many gods from the Enchanted Tiki Room which appears within this dining-area.

### Tangaroa Terrace

Maui's likeness is used for seats in this Disneyland Hotel restaurant.

### Trader Sam's

Maui's likeness is carved on the doors for Trader Sam's bar in both of its locations. Additionally the ceramic mug and glass for the *HippopotoMai-Tai* drink is modelled after Maui's head. The drink itself is themed to the Jungle Cruise, its respective effect being that two gunshots are fired to represent the drink's, "Two shots of rum" in an homage to JNC skippers shooting in the hippo pool on the Jungle Cruise.

#### Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

Paraphernalia of the Polynesian Village Resort's depiction of Maui is found in Trader Sam's possession, decorating his Grog Grotto.

### Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

Maui is one of the Polynesian deities represented as a wooden figure in the pre-show of Disneyland's *Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room*. Within this pre-show, the tiki god comes to life and explains his character and the story of how he roped the sun. Nearby this statue is a sign which reads, "Through his special mystic powers He made the sun keep regular hours Maui tells us time to go Time for wonderous tiki show".

### In Other Media

#### Disney Kingdoms

The Tiki Room's Maui makes small appearances within *Disney Kingdoms: Enchanted Tiki Rooms* comics.

#### Moana

A different depiction of Maui appears within this film, being a shapeshifting Demi-god voiced by actor and former-professional-wrester Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. This film is to be subject for a coming re-theming of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort meaning the film's Maui will likely be incorporated in.

#### Tales from Adventureland

In this book, the Tiki Room's Maui is in actuality one of many animatronics created by the Jungle Explorers' Society to protect the Tiki Room's birds from would-be poachers.

## Connections

### Professor Porter’s Trading Post

The tiki of Maui's bound sun from the Tiki Room is hung in this shop belonging to Prof. Archimedes Q. Porter from *Tarzan*.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CNiY2wAgYb8/