Sharks and mythology?

Question

Can someone please confirm for me, a Hawaiian myth/legend that states that if you cast the body of a deceased person out to the ocean, they will be reborn as a shark?

(I think I saw a reference to this on an episode of "DOG The Bounty Hunter, where he mentioned that they cast a loved ones body out to sea. When the returned the next morning, their was a baby shark in its place...)

Sorry if the details are cloudy, this was a long time ago, and this question has been bugging me for a while! Best answer goes to whoever can provide the most comprehensive information! Thanks!

Answer 1

Sharks figure prominently in the Hawaiian mythology. There are stories of shark men who have shark jaws on their back. They could change form between shark and human at any time desired, and for any length. A common theme in the stories was that the shark men would warn beach goers that sharks were in the waters. The beach goers would laugh and ignore the warnings and go swimming, subsequently being eaten by the same shark man who warned them not to enter the water.



Hawaiian mythology also contained many shark gods. They believed that sharks were guardians of the sea, and called them Aumakua.

A listing of them follows:

Kamohoali'i - The most well known and revered of the shark gods, he was the older and favored brother of Pele, and helped and journeyed with her to Hawaii. He was able to take on all human and fish forms. A summit cliff on the crater of Kilauea is considered to be one of his most sacred spots. At one point he had a temple dedicated to him on every piece of land that jutted into the ocean on the island of Moloka'i.

Ka'ahupahau - This goddess was born human, with her defining characteristic being her red hair. She was later transformed into shark form and was believed to protect the people who lived on O'ahu from sharks. She was also believed to live near Pearl Harbour.

Kaholia Kane - This was the shark god of the ali'i Kalaniopu'u and he was believed to live in a cave at Puhi, Kaua'i.

Kane'apua - Most commonly, he was the brother of Pele and Kamohoali'i. He was a trickster god who performed many heroic feats, including the calming of two legendary colliding hills that destroyed canoes trying to pass between.

Kawelomahamahai'a - Another human, he was transformed into a shark.

Keali'ikau 'o Ka'u - He was the cousin of Pele and son of Kua. He was called the protector of the Ka'u people. He had an affair with a human girl, who gave birth to a helpful green shark.

Kua - This was the main shark god of the people of Ka'u, and believed to be their ancestor.

Kuhaimoana - He was the brother of Pele and lived in the Ka'ula islet. He was said to be 55 m long and was the husband of Ka'ahupahau.

Kauhuhu - He was a fierce king shark that lived in a cave in Kipahulu on the island of Maui. He sometimes moved to another cave on the windward side of island of Moloka'i.

Kane-i-kokala - A kind shark god that saved shipwrecked people by taking them to shore. The people who worshipped him feared to eat, touch or cross the smoke of the kokala, his sacred fish.

Never though have i heard of the legend/ myth you reffer to in Hawai.
In other Pacific Ocean cultures, Dakuwanga was a shark god who was the eater of lost souls and that's probably your best shot.


Hope that helps...

Answer 2

I heard that too but it may just be that is what one person thinks and not the whole culture

Answer 3

Your memory is, as you say, cloudy.
Sharks are believed to be the ancestral spirits and spirit-allies of the Kahunas (shamans).

Better?