Fishing with octopus ink (tutae fee) to catch parrot fish is a fishing specific to the island of Tubuai. The legend of the octopus 'Orava tells the origin of this fishery.
At that time, a green island emerged from the ocean. On this island called Tumurai (former name of Tubuai) lived men and women who by their stature and beauty resembled gods. They worshiped the gods of nature: Atea, goddess of space; Oro, god of the sky and the rainbow; Hiva, goddess of the sea.
On this island lived a couple, Maraetoa tane and Maraetoa vahine. One day, Maraetoa tane decided to fill his gourd with sea water to prepare the meal. When he arrived at the Vaiharuru River, he saw something the size of a gourd floating on the surface of the water. He looked for a way to get hold of it, put the strange thing in his hands, turned it over and over. He was excited, because this completely closed shell contained something.
He took a stone to split this shell. Inside, he discovered a tiny octopus. He put it in his calabash filled with sea water and ran home to show it to his wife.
Sensitive to the signs of Nature, they decided to raise her but she grew so quickly that it became impossible to hide her. The whole village discovered the sacred animal, raised and protected by the Maraetoa couple.
The population then decided to elevate the octopus to the rank of a new goddess. Incantations are being prepared for the location of a new marae on Te Ha Umapurotu land. The two large drums Ruamanoparere and Ruareiparoro were installed. Each had a particular resonance. Ruamanoparere called the inhabitants of the valleys and Ruareiparoro called the inhabitants of the coast. The large Taitehepu umete was also placed, intended to engrave the names of the great families of the island.
The population gathered for the inauguration of the new marae and the enthronement of the new goddess 'Orava.
A large crowd had gathered that day. As an offering to the new goddess baptized “Tearamoana” two young people are preferred, Titoarii and Heinatoa. They were led and tied to Natitai Rock, which overlooked the sea.
At that time, the large shark Ma'o-Tuanui was seen circling near this place. The ceremony dedicated to Tearamoana made him very jealous and he decided to kill her. A struggle ensued and both sank. The octopus was thrown into the depths of the ocean. Ma'o-Tuanui filled with water and then drowned.
Tearamoana loses all its ink which darkens the ocean. At the nauseating odor of this black liquid, many species of fish were seen rising to the surface of the ocean.
Since ancient times, fishing with octopus ink (tutae fee) to catch parrot fish has been a fishing activity specific to the island of Tubuai.
