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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Assembly House of Entertainment. — Hare Karioi

Assembly House of Entertainment.
Hare Karioi.

There were no large houses for the lodging of guests in former times. In these days, large houses of lime have been built, where meetings can be held. They are known as hare kopu-tangata, family houses, but the old men say they are modern.

There were, however, large houses built for the entertainment of the villagers and of visitors. They were usually built to the order of a high chief to add to his own prestige and for the entertainment of his unmarried daughters. In them dancing, singing and all indoor games and amusement took place, and it was the ambition of all to excel in these entertainments. The houses were called page 37the hare karioi, and each village had one. They corresponded to the Maori, whare tapere.

The most famous hare karioi in Aitutaki stood at the end of the old village of Vaitupa. It was built 14 generations ago for Maraehara. The first architect was his son, who got into difficulties with the roof, and abandoned the work. Rahui, a priest who had been expelled from the village of Vaihau, completed the work. Rahui, from a particular head-dress he wore, was known by the short name of Rahui-pare-kauhatu. This must have been a relief to him, as his full name was Rahui-taua-te-hakanoho-patoa-i-hare-mango.

The site of the house is still marked by the stones that paved the sides and corners. The rectangular floor proved to be 72 feet long by 34 feet wide. It is little wonder that Maraehara's son got into difficulties with a ridge 72 feet long. The floor space was paved with unworked stone not closely set. Above this, white coral gravel had been spread. Midway along the sides there was a break in the set edging stones of 5 feet in width and 3 feet 10 inches in depth, evidently marking the doors.

The hare korioi was built for dancing and singing. One Ikaroa, deserted his wife Otaua at Rangiriri and sailed down to Aitutaki. Otaua followed in the canoe Te-Ue-Tohora and, guided by the sun and the moon, also reached Aitutaki. She discovered her husband at the hare karioi, where an entertainment was going on. To attract his attention, she leapt into a dance and made herself known in the following chant or pehe.

I rarango ana e Otaua i tona vaka,
Ko Te-Ue-Tohora mei Rangiriri,
Te kimianga i tana tane ia Ikaroa e
Ka kitea ki te Poniu-a-Hau e

I aru au e
I te ra e te marama
I te kimianga e
Ia Ikarna e
Ka kitea ki te Poniu-a-Hau e

Otaua built and prepared her canoe,
It was the Ue-Tohora from Rangiriri,
In the searching for her husband, Ikaroa,
He is found at the Poniu-a-Hau.

I followed alas,
The sun and the moon,
In the searching alas,
For Ikaroa, ah me,
He is found at the Poniu-a-Hau—alas, ah me.

page 38

The house was merely alluded to as the hare karioi by my informants, but in the above song that they sang over its site, the name of the house was shown to be the Poniu-a-Hau.