Menehune

The menehune are the native fae of Polynesia, found in large numbers in Hawai'i, Tahiti and Easter Island. Like the nunnehi, they stick close to their traditional way of life and reject modern technology and the attendant Banality.

History
The menehune came to Hawai'i with the Polynesians, though the islands were inhabited before this by the people of Mu. For thousands of years, the menehune and their dreamers lived in harmony under the social system called kapu, (Hawai'ian for "taboo") which regulated everything from how to treat the chief to when it was permissible to fish.

The menehune essentially ignored the Shattering, as their communities were still rich in Glamour. Not long after James Cook's first visit to Hawai'i, however, the islands became a regular stopping point for trade ships traveling between Asia and the Americas. Iron tools and weapons flooded the islands, and the kapu system began to break down. These sudden shocks of Banality nearly wiped out the menehune, until a chance meeting with an American nocker named Jack Doggins. Doggins taught the menehune about the Changeling Way, allowing them to shield themselves from Banality in human bodies.

The menehune also made pacts with the spirits of the islands, much like the Changing Breeds. Most have spirits of plants or rocks as their personal totems, although a few follow Shark or other aggressive spirits. Menehune cannot draw Glamour from human creativity as easily as Western fae, and thus rely more heavily on Glamour drawn directly from Gaia.

Culture
Menehune do not have the same court structure as western changelings. Instead they are divided into two camps, Feast and War, which alternate in dominance during the year much like the Seelie and Unseelie once did.

Instead of kiths, menehune have one of four callings: ali'i (chief), kahuna (lore-keepers), hana (craftsmen), and kokua (warriors). A menehune's calling is identified at Chrysalis by their community's senior lore-keeper, and cannot be changed. Unlike Western fae, the menehune have not had to deal with conflict between the different callings: they follow the kapu system still, and the rights of the ali'i to lead are sacrosanct.

Callings

 * The ali'i are not just leaders, they are living reserves of Glamour for their entire community. Like the sidhe they are uniquely vulnerable to Banality, but a loss of Glamour by an ali'i threatens all menehune in the area.
 * Kahunas serve as intermediaries between the menehune and the spirits, and are the arbiters of the kapu system. They may intercede with the spirits on behalf of a menehune who has violated a taboo, or even negotiate a change in taboo altogether. Occasionally a kahuna can get away with violating a taboo themself, if it is for a good cause.
 * The hana are the heart of the menehune community, and have the power to build any structure, no matter how complex, in a single night - provided they are not witnessed by mortals. If they are seen, they will abandon the project and never return. Hana have a habit of playing pranks on the other callings, to remind them of their place in the kapu system: there's no point in having chiefs, priests or warriors if there's no one for them to lead, bless or defend.
 * Kokua are athletic and quick to anger, and are the most likely to follow totems such as Shark. They defend the menehune from both mortals and Western fae, when they are not squabbling amongst themselves. The ali'i usually allow such behavior, within limits, as a way for the kokua to burn off excess energy.

Totems
Most menehune contact their totems during a coming-of-age ceremony, though they often receive visions or other indications of which spirit has taken an interest in them before this. Once a totem relationship is established, a menehune can step sideways into the Umbra when in the presence of their totem. This is yet another way to shield themselves from Banality, and some menehune have explored the Umbra in search of old trods.