Tonga-HitiPolynesian
In Polynesian mythology, Tonga-Hiti is a lesser-known, yet terrifying demon, infamous for causing unbearable headaches. As one of the Ponaturi, a race of malevolent semi-spirits who live beneath the sea, Tonga-Hiti holds a unique place in the story of Urutonga, the wife of Hema and the mother of two heroic brothers, Tawhaki and Karihi. The Ponaturi were responsible for the death of Hema, but the story of their downfall, and Tonga-Hiti’s narrow escape, has become a cautionary tale passed down through generations.
Urutonga’s tragedy began with the brutal slaying of her husband by the Ponaturi. These semi-spirits were known for their hostility towards humans, but they spared Urutonga, allowing her to remain outside their house. As a widow, Urutonga bided her time, hiding her grief and waiting for the right moment to strike back. She hid her sons, Tawhaki and Karihi, away from the Ponaturi’s sight, knowing that they would play a crucial role in avenging their father’s death.
At nightfall, Urutonga and her sons watched as the Ponaturi came home, flying in from the sea in their thousands. The air was filled with the sound of wings, and the spirits descended into the house, crowding in to rest. When the last Ponaturi had settled, Urutonga instructed her sons to seal every crack and opening in the house, leaving no way for the Ponaturi to escape. Their demise was planned with precision.
As dawn approached, the Ponaturi chief grew suspicious and repeatedly asked Urutonga if the sun had risen. Each time, she lied, keeping them in the dark. It wasn’t until the first rays of sunlight pierced through the cracks that the truth was revealed. The sunlight, deadly to the Ponaturi, entered the house, and all of the creatures inside perished in its bright rays. However, not all the Ponaturi met their end that morning.
Two spirits managed to escape—Kanae, who transformed into a flying fish and fled to the sea, and Tonga-Hiti, the headache demon. Unlike the other Ponaturi, Tonga-Hiti possessed the power to survive the daylight. This demon, forever associated with tormenting humans by causing excruciating headaches, became a symbol of lingering evil and pain. Unlike most of his kind, he did not perish with the rising sun, and his legacy as a bringer of agony continues to haunt Polynesian folklore.
Tonga-Hiti’s survival makes him a unique figure among the Ponaturi. Where most of his kin were destroyed by Urutonga’s clever plan, his persistence as a source of suffering lives on, reminding people of the dangers that lurk in the shadows and the pain that can strike without warning. To this day, the story of Tonga-Hiti serves as a warning of the power of darkness and the cunning needed to defeat it, even if some demons may never fully be vanquished.
Demons
