The prince is... an eel

At the age of sixteen, the beautiful princess of Pape'uriri, Hina, is promised in marriage by her parents to the prince of Lake Vaihiria, Faaravaianuu. When she is introduced to her husband, she is stunned: the king of the lake is a monstrous eel. Appalled, Hina flees to Vaira'o, on the Tai'arapu peninsula, to the god Maui.
The eel, i.e. Prince Faaravaianuu, emerges from the lake and makes his way through the Vaihiria valley. She eventually found Hina.
Maui, horrified, placed his two stone tiki on the cliff. Thanks to this protection, he managed to catch the monstrous beast. He cut it into three pieces and, having wrapped the head in a piece of tapa (vegetable cloth), presented it to Hina:
« Don't put this package down until you get home, and plant it in the center of your marae enclosure. This eel's head contains great treasures. You'll be able to build your house, drink and eat from it. »

The god Maui's advice forgotten
Hina leaves. Moments later, she wishes to bathe with her servants and places her package on the grass, forgetting the advice of the god Maui. The earth opens up and swallows the eel's head. A plant appears and begins to grow. It becomes a strange tree, resembling a huge upright eel, its head pointing towards the sun: the first coconut tree (tumu ha'ari) has just been born.

The coconut resists
Hina realizes she can no longer go home. She must keep an eye on the growth of this new wealth. Days go by. A severe drought sets in, and only the coconut resists. The men then taste the fruit, which contains sweet water and on which three dark spots appear, drawing the eyes and mouth of the eel.
So, to drink a coconut the Hina way is to savor a royal kiss once denied. Traces of Faaravaaianuu still visible.
Today, when flying over the Vaihiria valley, the river's course is reminiscent of an eel's path, reminding us of Faaravaianuu's journey to find Hina.

SOURE: TAHITI HERITAGE