The Legend of Māui and the Sun
Long ago, the days were short, and the nights were long. The sun raced across the sky so quickly that people barely had time to work, fish, or gather food. Māui, the clever and daring demigod, decided to change this.
He gathered his brothers and explained his plan: they would catch the sun and slow it down. His brothers hesitated, fearing the sun’s fierce heat, but Māui’s determination won them over.
They set off at night and traveled to the pit where the sun rose. Using strong ropes made from flax, they built a massive net. Māui instructed his brothers to hide and hold the ropes tightly. As the first light crept over the horizon, Māui chanted his powerful incantations.
When the sun rose, Māui leaped out and snared it with the net. The sun thrashed and roared, scorching the earth, but Māui struck it with his enchanted jawbone, weakening it. He shouted, “Move more slowly! Give us time to live!”
Exhausted and subdued, the sun agreed. From that day on, it traveled more slowly across the sky, giving longer days for work and life. The people rejoiced, grateful to Māui for his bravery and cunning.