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In M?ori mythology, Tiki is the first man created by either T?matauenga or T?ne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond; she seduced him and he became the father of Hine-kau-ataata. By extension, a tiki is a large or small wooden or stone carving in humanoid form, although this is a somewhat archaic usage in the M?ori language. Carvings similar to tikis and coming to represent deified ancestors are found in most Polynesian cultures. They often serve to mark the boundaries of sacred or significant sites. In Polynesian mythology, tiki often represents the first human being on Earth. These images are still used today in some Polynesian cultures in the context of spiritual practice. It is not uncommon for small tiki figures to be worn for protection from infertility in New Zealand. In ancient Hawaiian culture, the gods, the aina, or land, and the kanaka, or people, shared a symbiotic existence. If the people took care of the land in a pono (right) manner, the gods were appeased. If the gods were happy, they would allow the land to provide sustenance for the people through verdant growth. Each god had many kinolau, or forms, including human and animal forms. Tiki statues were carved to represent the image of a certain god and as an embodiment of that specific god's mana, or power. With well-formed tikis, perhaps the people could attain protection from harm, strengthen their power in times of war and be blessed with successful crops. The ancient Hawaiians kept their gods close using many creative forms of communication. Tikis were created as a medium of connection or interaction. Through continued communication with these all-powerful deities, the Hawaiian people were sure to follow the right path to appeasement. All Hawaiian people were said to have descended from the lineage of the gods. It was the job of the alii nui, or high chiefs, to make sure everything was in societal balance.