In ancient times, the gods had all the powers on Earth. The Tahiti Nui fish that had become the island of Tahiti kept its position well, but struggled constantly. It was necessary to cut its tendons to immobilize it. Tafa'i-upo'o-tu, the legendary Polynesian hero said: "The tendons of the fish must be severed so that the wind can blow easily around the head of the fish and the fish remain motionless!" »
Several warriors arrived to master the Tahiti Nui fish:
– Terarai used his hands but without result;
– Taito'a knocked but in vain;
– Tautai knocked but in vain;
– Tainuiatea tried but in vain;
– Taitaata doesn’t succeed either.
Warriors came from everywhere, tried but none succeeded in cutting the tendons of the fish. Then Tafa'i exclaimed, "None of you have succeeded, we must appeal to the gods!" O gods that I know, gods of Heaven and gods-men. Come to our aid! I will give you my strength, my possessions. I will give my strength to the moon”
But no god answered Tafa'i's call. Then, Maruato'a arrived and said to Tafa'i: "Get your strength, prepare your canoe, give it the name of Tepatea and leave for Tupuai (old name of the island of Tubuai, in the Australs)”
Tafa'i and Ohuna left for Tubuai, which symbolically represented the head of the octopus Tumurai fenua (see legend). Arrived at Tubuai, they came to prostrate themselves before King Marerenui Marua to'a.
– O King, it is a very important mission that we carry out! The Tahiti fish is not stable enough, its tendons must absolutely be cut to be able to immobilize it!
– Who are the priests appointed for this work? then asked the king.
- There are not any ! The warriors tried without success! We come to ask you, O King, to come and do this work. »
The king thought and said, 'I can't go. I am going to give you this Tepahurunuimatevaitau ax belonging to Tinorua, the god of the oceans, to be able to immobilize the land of Tahiti by severing the tendons of the fish Tahiti Nui. »
Tafa'i and Ohuna took the heavy ax and returned to Tahiti. They went to meet the warriors and said to them: “Here is the magic ax to cut the tendons of the fish, its name is Tepahurunuimatevaitau. »
The magic and sacred ax was far too heavy to be used by the warriors, on the other hand in the hands of Tafa'i, it became light and very mobile. Tafa'i lifted the ax and severed the fish's tendons.
The land and the great mountain range, which dominated Tahiti, was divided into two parts: Tevaitai (the peninsula) and Tevaiuta. The place where Tafa'i struck formed an isthmus now called Taravao. The head of the Tevaitai fish was also named Taiarapu because the ocean became cloudy upon separation.
This is how the territory of Greater Tahiti was founded.
