Kautoki

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Clive Ruggles, Youla Azkarrula

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An asterism representing an adze handle known in the Polynesian outlier island of Kapingamarangi. It is formed of Vega (α Lyr), δ, ε, and ζ Lyr (Johnson, Mahelona and Ruggles 2026: 298).

Concordance, Etymology, History

The American anthropologist Kenneth Emory conducted an expedition to Kapingamarangi in 1947, during which he recorded 28 star names confirmed to him by, and identified with the help of, the informant “King David” (Emory 1965: 341–343). Amongst these is

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• Emory, Kenneth P. (1965). Kapingamarangi: Social and Religious Life of a Polynesian Atoll. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum (Bulletin 228).
• Johnson, Rubellite K, John K. Mahelona and Clive Ruggles (2026). Nā Inoa Hōkū: Hawaiian and Pacific Star Names (3rd edition). Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press.