A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Ha-le-vao is identified as Peka, the flying fox, in Pulekula’s list of old animal names. Its original movement is along the ground. Seeing the heavenly rat Ti-lalo-fonua flying swiftly, Ha-le-vao praises it and repeatedly requests a trial of its wings. The rat finally agrees. Ha-le-vao asks that the wings be firmly attached so it will not fall and die.

After being lifted into flight, Ha-le-vao laughs and calls down to the rat. Requests to return are met with promises to come shortly, followed by departure altogether. The story ends with the donor below and the borrower above, each voicing its response. This theft-by-loan episode explains their reversed forms of movement. The preceding brief pigeon passage also names Ha-le-vao, but its uncertain translated origin from a grave is not used to invent a resurrection episode.

Originally ground-movingRequests trial of rat’s wingsKeeps borrowed wingsSpeaks from above
01

Origins & earliest records

Pulekula, a teacher at Tama-ha-le-leka, Liku, wrote these traditions in October 1901. The Journal of the Polynesian Society printed Niuean text alongside S. Percy Smith’s translation in 1903. Smith’s introductory note acknowledges that he could not fully question obscure passages and sometimes failed to grasp the writers’ meaning.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete English narrative and original printed pages visually checked: 28 and 30; the parallel Niuean is on 29 and 31.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    The Traditions of Niue-Fekai: “Of Other Tupuas,” paragraphs 17–21, printed pp. 28–31

    Pulekula; translated by S. Percy Smith · 1901 manuscript; 1903 publication

    Complete English narrative and original printed pages visually checked: 28 and 30; the parallel Niuean is on 29 and 31. The accessible scan is the Johnson Reprint Corporation 1967 reprint of the 1903 journal volume.

  2. 02

    The Traditions of Niue-Fekai: Of Other Tupuas: Ha-le-vao and Ti-lalo-fonua

    Pulekula · October1901 written;1903 publication;selected1967 reprint

    Pulekula, teacher at Tama-ha-le-leka, Liku, written October1901; English translation by S.PercySmith in Journal of the Polynesian Society12 (1903). Selected scan visibly preserves the1903 Wellington title and a Johnson first-reprinting1967 notice. It is a1967 reprint scan, not a newly inspected original1903 physical copy. Smith’s pre-appendix note acknowledges limited opportunities for clarification and occasional failure to grasp the writers’ meaning.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Located primary passages

Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.

The Traditions of Niue-Fekai: “Of Other Tupuas,” paragraphs 17–21, printed pp. 28–31

Pulekula, teacher at Tama-ha-le-leka, Liku, written October1901; English translation by S.PercySmith in Journal of the Polynesian Society12 (1903). Selected scan visibly preserves the1903 Wellington title and a Johnson first-reprinting1967 notice. It is a1967 reprint scan, not a newly inspected original1903 physical copy. Smith’s pre-appendix note acknowledges limited opportunities for clarification and occasional failure to grasp the writers’ meaning.

  1. Ha-le-vao is Peka, a flying fox that originally moves on the ground. It admires the heavenly rat’s speed and repeatedly asks to try its wings. Its concern that unsecured wings might cause a fatal fall leads the rat to fasten them firmly. Having gained flight, it answers requests to return with delays and then leaves altogether. The rat below and borrower above exchange final responses; the story explains why one thereafter crawls while the other flies.

    Complete17–21, English28/30 with parallel Niuean29/31

Smith’s historical translation is used with its stated uncertainties. Selected pages were read completely; no claim that all Niuean text was translated independently or the entire journal was read. Public availability of the1967 facsimile is not treated as a universal reuse licence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary written narrative with historical translationJournal of the Polynesian Society, volume 12 (1903): digitized journal (1903 journal; 1967 reprint scan)Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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