In traditions most commonly associated with Ngāi Tūhoe—the children of the mist—Uenuku was once human, and one early morning when he was out hunting, in a clearing, he saw two women. One was named Hinepūkohurangi who seemed to coalesce out of the morning mist, and her sister was Hinewai. They were daughters of Ranginui the sky father. He persuaded Hinepūkohurangi to stay and talk with him for a moment and to return the next night. She continued to return to him every night afterwards, and before long they fell in love. As a mist maiden her home was in the sky, so she had to leave him at dawn by the calling of her sister Hinewai. At last, she agreed to marry Uenuku on condition that he tell no one about her.