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Aitu
Polynesian
About this being
Malevolent spirits or demons.
Description from the Wikipedia reference list; see its source and licence below.
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- Source tradition label
- Polynesian
- Character families
- Spirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)
Suggestions use the entry description and, where identified in the review, general folklore knowledge. They await editorial review.
- Geographical associations
- Tonga (language-group context) View tradition →
- Samoa (language-group context) View tradition →
- Niue (language-group context) View tradition →
- Wallis (=Uvea, different from Melanesian Uvea), Futuna (language-group context) View tradition →
- Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni (language-group context) View tradition →
- Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands) (language-group context) View tradition →
- Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea (language-group context) View tradition →
- Northern Cook Islands: Rakahanga, Manihiki, Tongareva (language-group context) View tradition →
- Southern Cook Islands: Mangaia, Rarotonga, Atiu, Iatutakim Pukapuka, Tubuai (=Austral Islands, incl Rapa) (language-group context) View tradition →
- Tuamotu, incl Pukapuka (different from Pukapuka in Cook Islands), Vahitahi, Anaa, Hao, Fangatau (language-group context) View tradition →
- Mangareva (language-group context) View tradition →
- Marquesas (language-group context) View tradition →
- Hawaii (language-group context) View tradition →
- Easter Island (language-group context) View tradition →
- Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro (language-group context) View tradition →
- Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria (language-group context) View tradition →
- Tuvalu (Ellice) (language-group context) View tradition →
Explore by place
Creature coverage
Creatures associated with a tradition
1 creatures at 17 tradition locations · 0 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
Browse associated places without the map
- Easter Island (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro (1)
- Mangareva (1)
- Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands) (1)
- Marquesas (1)
- Niue (1)
- Northern Cook Islands: Rakahanga, Manihiki, Tongareva (1)
- Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria (1)
- Samoa (1)
- Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea (1)
- Southern Cook Islands: Mangaia, Rarotonga, Atiu, Iatutakim Pukapuka, Tubuai (=Austral Islands, incl Rapa) (1)
- Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni (1)
- Tonga (1)
- Tuamotu, incl Pukapuka (different from Pukapuka in Cook Islands), Vahitahi, Anaa, Hao, Fangatau (1)
- Tuvalu (Ellice) (1)
- Wallis (=Uvea, different from Melanesian Uvea), Futuna (1)
Sources and attribution
Wikipedia contributors, List of legendary creatures (A) (source revision).
Source text: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Extracted from the list; reference markers and formatting removed, with name, tradition label and description separated.
Original list entry
Aitu (Polynesian) – Malevolent spirits or demons.
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261028.1 (28 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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