Hingano

Hingano, in Polynesian mythology, specifically that of Mangaia (Cook Islands), refers to the original cosmic coconut, or the primordial state of existence. It represents a dark, chaotic void, a completely enclosed space containing the potential for all creation but as yet undifferentiated. Within Hingano resided Avaiki, the underworld, and from this darkness, the god Io emerged, initiating the separation of the cosmic elements and the beginning of the world as known. Hingano is often described as a hollow coconut shell, emphasizing its enclosed and containing nature. It embodies the pre-creation phase, a period of nothingness pregnant with possibility before the structured universe came into being. Understanding Hingano is crucial for interpreting the Mangaian cosmogony and their beliefs about the origin and structure of the universe.