Legends

Chuuk has many legends and stories. Since the people of Chuuk didn’t evolve writing until after western invasion they relied on storytelling to carry legends and stories from generation to generation.
Inhabitants of Chuuk believe they are part of the cosmos populated by gods, spirits, and living humans The gods and the spirits (whether human or nonhuman) are known by the single term enu.

On this page I’ve tried to collect some of the better known legends of Chuuk.

Great octopus and Neawacha

Legend has it that Mount Tonachaw is a great sleeping octopus with an ugly past. One story tells of a native warrior who violently murdered his wife, Neawacha, on the side of the mountain. Aided by a powerful curse, her ghost is said to haunt that hillside.

Legend of the ghost from Chuuk (story from Yap)

The legend told of the fear of a ghost that haunts the island. He was a smart ghost, and a local magician who disguised himself as a handsome Chuukese man. He concocted a magical love potion made from crushed stingray tail, black ants and centipede legs, which he gave to beautiful women who liked handsome men instead of not-so-handsome men with good hearts. Every time a beautiful woman followed him into the forest hoping for a delightful romp in the bush, with a handsome man, he became ugly and consumed the woman from toe to ears.
The moral of this legend reminds beautiful romantic-minded girls a man’s handsome face can hide a hideous ghostly heart.

A good thesis on Chuuk legends and stories can be found in a PDF file from Beatriz Moral

Erotic Legends and Narratives in Chuuk