Tokainiua
Rotuman · mortal · Rotuman traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Tokainiua (also Tokaniua) is the antagonist of the Rotuman foundation legend. After Raho had raised the island from baskets of soil, Tokainiua came that way from overseas with a canoe full of men and quarrelled with him over the prior right of possession. In the tradition Tokainiua prevailed, taking precedence on the main island while the defeated founder Raho withdrew to the sacred islet of Hatana. Some recorded versions give Tokainiua a Tongan or Niuafo'ou origin, marking him as the incoming, conquering line set against Raho's founding, soil-bearing line.
Domains
- chieftainship and conquest
Powers
- to wrest precedence and possession of the island from its founder
Epithets
- TokainiuaMacGregor, Gordon (1932). Field notes on Rotuma. Bernice P. Bishop Museum manuscript, Honolulu. (secondary)
Relations
- rival: RahoTokainiua is the overseas chief who challenged the founder Raho for the island Raho had raised, defeated him, and drove him to retire to the islet of Hatana.Ratzel, Friedrich (1896). The History of Mankind, Vol. I, trans. A. J. Butler. London: Macmillan, p. 290. (secondary); MacGregor, Gordon (1932). Field notes on Rotuma. Bernice P. Bishop Museum manuscript, Honolulu. (secondary)
Sources
- Tokainiua is the rival chief of the Rotuman origin tradition who arrived from overseas, disputed Raho's prior right to the island, and supplanted him on the main island.: Ratzel, Friedrich (1896). The History of Mankind, Vol. I, trans. A. J. Butler. London: Macmillan, p. 290. (secondary); MacGregor, Gordon (1932). Field notes on Rotuma. Bernice P. Bishop Museum manuscript, Honolulu. (secondary)