Sea Maiden’s Enchantment

Polynesian Mermaid Legend

       Pania is the beloved Maori sea maiden of Polynesia, who enchanted the heart of a human man, the young village chief Karitoku.

She resides in the ocean facing the Hukarere cliff base of Napier. As a PUUKANI "sweet-voiced" youth, she was curious about life above shore and she would venture daily among the cliff base reeds. One day she chanced upon a strong handsome man drinking of a sweet bubbling spring. Fascinated, she watched him from her hiding place every afternoon as he made the long trek alone on foot after his labors to partake of this particularly pure water. After many visits, Pania softly chanted a love-spell, not intending for him to hear audibly but only to feel its effect. However, his keen ears picked up her lovely tones and he glanced over to her immediately. Upon locking eyes, they fell utterly in love. Karitoku asked her to marry him and she consented. They lived together in his village house happily, and had a wonderful baby boy, MOREMORE "no-hair".

 Being a mermaid, she had to return to the sunlit sea each day in secret to replenish her energy.  Legend has it that eventually she turned into a coral reef and their son became a MANO "shark".