In Churchill 2 we find (item 272) an extensive survey covering several variants of Polynesian words incorporating the fundamental ehu:
| dust | ashes | vapor | darkness | twilight | muddy | |
| Samoa | efu | lefu | nefu | nefu | ||
| Tonga | efu | efu | nefu | nefu | ehu | |
| Niuē | efu | efu | lefu | |||
| Uvea | efu, nefu | efu, lefu | nefu | nefu | nefu | |
| Futuna | efu | lefu | nefu | |||
| Nukuoro | rehu | lefu | ||||
| Maori | nehu | rehu | ehu, nehu, rehu | rehu, nehu | ehu | |
| Moriori | rehu | |||||
| Tahiti | rehu | rehu | rehu | ehu | ||
| Marquesas | ehu | ehu | ehu | |||
| Rarotonga | reu | reu | ||||
| Mangareva | ehu, neu | ehu, rehu | ||||
| Hawaii | ehu | lehu | ehu | ehu, lehu |
In Hawaii (according to Heyerdahl 6) Wakea was sometimes spoken of as 'The ehu, the blond, the bright, the shining one'.
There is much discussion in Heyerdahl 6 about the racial background of the Polynesians, where he distinguishes between three elements. I have constructed a simple summary table:
| pakepakeha * | maori | manahune ** |
| reddish wavy (urukehu) hair | black straight hair | very black hair |
| white (kiritea) or copper-coloured (maurea) skin | brown skin | very dark (manauri) skin |
| aquiline nose | aquiline nose | flat nose and spreading nostrils |
| wavy hair | straight hair | bushy (frizzy) hair standing out from the head |
| very thin lips | thin lips | thick lips |
| * Maori traditions explains that they were "... a race of 'gods' ... who are said always to live on the sea, and are white in complexion - hence the name Pakeha they gave to the white man on first becoming acquainted with us in the eighteenth century ..." | ||
| ** In a Maori dialect: manahune = 'scab, or mark on the body' | ||
"... Being now willing that Tonga should also be inhabited by intelligent beings, he [Tangaloa] commanded his two sons thus:
Go, and take with you your wives, and dwell in the world at Tonga: divided the land into two portions, and dwell separately from each other. They departed accordingly.
The name of the eldest was Toobó (in present Polynesian spelling Tu Po, or 'Divine-Night'), and the name of the youngest was Váca-acow-oóli (Vaka-akau-uli, or 'Vessel-lof-logs-to steer') who was an exceedingly wise young man; for it was he that first formed axes, and invented beads, and cloth, and looking-glasses.
The young man called Toobó acted very differently, being very indolent, sauntering about and sleeping, and envying very much the works of his brother. Tired at length with begging his goods, he bethought himself to kill him, but concealed his wicked intention; he accordingly met his brother walking, and struck him till he was dead.
At that time their father came from Bolotoo with exceeding great anger, and asked him. Why have you killed your brother? Could not you work like him? Oh thou wicked one! begone! go with my commands to the family of Váca-acow-oóli and tell them to come hither.
Being accordingly come, Tangaloa straightaway ordered them thus: Put your canoes to sea, and sail to the east, to the great land which is there. Be your skin white as your minds, for your minds are pure; you shall be wise, making axes, and all riches whatsoever, and shall have large canoes. I will go myself and commend the wind to blow from your land to Tonga; but they shall not be able to go to you with their bad canoes.
Tangaloa then spoke thus to the others: You shall be black, because your minds are bad, and shall be destitute; you shall not be wise in useful things, neither shall you go to the great land of your brothers; how can you go with your bad canoes? But your brothers shall come to Tonga, and trade with you as they please ..." (Heyerdahl 6)