Polynesian peoples had no name for the constellation in particular, though they had many names for Canopus. The Māori name Ariki ("High-born"), and the Hawaiian Ke Alii-o-kona-i-ka-lewa, "The Chief of the southern expanse" both attest to the star's prominence in the southern sky, while the Māori Atutahi, "First-light" or "Single-light", and the Tuamotu Te Tau-rari and Marere-te-tavahi, "He who stands alone". refer to the star's solitary nature. It was also called Kapae-poto ("Short horizon"), because it rarely sets from the vantage point of New Zealand, and Kauanga ("Solitary"), when it was the last star visible before sunrise.
Polynesian peoples had no name for the constellation in particular though they had many names for Canopus. The Māori ,name Ariki ("High-born"), and the Hawaiian Ke Alii-o-kona-i-ka-lewa, "The Chief of the southern expanse" both ,attest to the star's prominence in the southern sky, while the Māori Atutahi, "First-light" or "Single-light", and the Tuamotu Te Tau-rari and Marere-te-tavahi, "He who stands alone". refer to the star's solitary nature. It was also called Kapae-poto ("Short horizon") because it rarely sets from the vantage point of New Zealand, and Kauanga ("Solitary"), when it was the last star visible before sunrise.