Ina and the Shark
Long ago, on the island of Mangaia, a beautiful young woman named Ina fell in love with Tinirau, the powerful god of the ocean. But Tinirau lived far away on a distant island, and Ina longed to be with him. She had no canoe, so she devised a daring plan—to ride on the back of a great shark across the vast Pacific.
One day, she went to the shore and called out to the sharks of the sea, offering them coconuts in exchange for safe passage. A mighty shark, larger than any she had ever seen, rose from the waves and agreed to carry her. Ina climbed onto its back, holding tightly as the creature glided through the deep blue ocean.
As they traveled, the sun scorched her skin, and hunger gnawed at her belly. Remembering the coconuts she had brought, she cracked one open on the shark’s head. But in her desperation, she struck too hard, splitting the shell on the shark’s skull. Furious, the shark thrashed, nearly throwing her off, and turned to devour her.
At that moment, the gods of the sea took pity on Ina. Before the shark could attack, they sent a giant fish to rescue her, carrying her the rest of the way to Tinirau’s island. There, she was welcomed by her beloved, and together, they lived in a paradise beneath the waves.
To this day, islanders say the dented skulls of some sharks are the mark of Ina’s coconut strike, a reminder of her fearless journey across the ocean.