Hina, Empress of All the Fishes
A Polynesian Legend

Little Princess Hina sat lonely and bored, while a tempest raged outside. Desperate for entertainment, she drew from their secret hiding place the family treasures—gorgeously colored ceremonial feather head-dresses of King Vai-tooringa, her father, and Queen Nagaetua’s three matchless strings of pearls.

Just then Ngana burst in begging for shelter. He was a handsome villain, this thieving magician, and Hina was quite fascinated when he donned a head-dress, flung the pearls about his neck and began to dance. Then he suddenly vanished with all the treasure!

When Vai-tooringa and Nagaetua returned they punished Hina so severely that she ran way to the beach imploring the fishes to take her away. Then Takea, King of the Sharks, carried Hina on his back to the sacred atoll, Motu-tapu, stronghold of the Tini-Rau, Emperor of all the fishes of the Seven Seas, who made Hina his empress.

Seven years later, while Hina was swimming with her son and daughter, Koro and Ature, a white bird swooped down beside them. It was Hina’s brother, Rupe, who had won back the treasure and had been seeking Hina ever since.