Geological histories and geohazard potential of Pacific Islands illuminated by myths

Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding of the geological history of the Pacific, especially its geohazard potential, can be improved using details in ancient and properly-authenticated Pacific Islander myths. To demonstrate this, a synthesis of Pacific Island origin myths involving islands having been either ‘fished up’ or ‘thrown down’ is presented, with an account of origin myths for the island Niue used as a case study. A discussion of geohazards and myths in the Pacific focuses on tsunami, coseismic uplift, and island flank collapse, the last being illustrated by the first analysis of myths recalling ‘vanished islands’ in the Pacific.