Which legendary figure appears across many Polynesian islands?

In the context of Oceanic literature, the legendary figure who appears across many Polynesian islands is the trickster demigod Maui-tiki-tiki.1

Often recognized as a fisherman who discovered fire, Maui is a recurring figure throughout the Polynesian region. While his specific manifestations can vary—sometimes appearing as a demigod and other times as a god associated with the first fruits of the yam harvest—he remains a central character in the region's mythological cycles. In some traditions, such as those associated with the plant Morinda citrifolia, he is also linked to themes of revival.12