Sacred Trees in Polynesia

Sacred Trees in Polynesia

Trees in French Polynesia are believed to be a direct gift from the gods. From the coconut tree that grew from the head of a buried ancestor to the palm trees deliberately planted in front of the ahu of Rapa Nui, trees in the Pacific were far more than vegetation: they were the bridge between the world of the gods and the world of men.

Trees at the Marae: The Link Between Gods and Humans

Early creation myths tell us how the god Ta’aroa took on the shape of a bird and flew over the newly emerged islands shaking his feathers. These feathers landed on the ground, on rocks and hills, and turned into the leaves of the first trees. Humans identified strongly with trees, especially the trees that grew in and around the temples, or marae.

According to the ancient beliefs, the human body is directly connected to the body of trees. A creation myth describes for example how the first coconut tree grew out of the head of a buried ancestor: The coconut is the skull, the fibers are the hair, the two little germination pores are the eyes and the big germination pore is the mouth. The coconut water is believed to be the tears of the ancestor, the flesh is the brain and the palm sap is the blood (Henry 1928: 420-422). The personalization of trees goes so far that individual specimens were given names that have prevailed through centuries.

Trees were planted at the temples and played an important role during the rituals. They provided shade for the chiefs and priests during ceremonies, and the spirits that were called upon were believed to hide in the shadows of the trees. Another important aspect was that the trees attracted birds. Birds were considered messengers of the gods and when they flew over a marae during a ceremony that was seen as a direct presence of the god that was being worshipped. Thus the trees at the sacred sites served as a bridge, linking the world of the gods to the world of men.

Sacred Tree Species and Their Gods

Certain tree species were dedicated to certain deities and were believed to transform into the respective god during rituals. Miru (Thespesia populnea sol) was considered to be the holiest of all trees and the emanation of the god Roro’o, who inspires the chants of the priests at the marae. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) was dedicated to Tane, god of the forest. Aito (Casuarina equisetifolia subsp.) was dedicated to Oro, god of war, and Pua (Fagraea berteroana) was dedicated to Tane and Hiro, god of thieves.

On the Marquesas Islands it is the giant Banyan trees (Ficus prolixa) that still can be found on or close to ceremonial sites. Early drawings and accounts by European explorers show that also palm trees grew inside the marae enclosures as a component of the ritual architecture. The marae were very structured and meticulously planned. Oral traditions and chants describe how the marae were weeded before ceremonies. We can therefore assume that the plants that grew within a marae complex were not growing wild but were selectively planted or allowed to grow.

Sacred Trees at the Ahu of Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui and French Polynesia share a great number of religious concepts, albeit with local adaptations. This is also the case for the places of worship. Like the marae of French Polynesia, the ahu of Rapa Nui typically consist of a paved plaza with a raised rectangular platform at one end. In some cases effigies of deified ancestors were placed on top. In French Polynesia they are called Tiki or Ti’i, on Rapa Nui it is the famous Moai. Despite all the other similarities, trees as a part of ahu architecture have never been studied or even considered on Rapa Nui. On the contrary, trees are only ever mentioned in the context of deforestation.

The tree species that dominated the landscape by the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers was the now-extinct Easter Island palm tree (Jubaea sp.). 20 million palm trees are estimated to have grown on the island. Over the course of centuries the palm forest had to give way to extensive agricultural fields to feed a growing population. Does this massive deforestation exclude the possibility that sacred trees were once planted on Rapa Nui?

We know that ritual objects, especially Kava Kava statuettes and Rongo-Rongo tablets were carved from toromiro wood (Sophora toromiro). The name toromiro also exists on the Society Islands. Here the sacred Miru (Thespesia populnea) is referred to as toromiro only when planted at a religious site. The Miru in Rapanui is called makoi. For the production of ritual objects on Rapa Nui we can thus find a direct connection to the sacred trees of French Polynesia. In recent years, efforts have been made to reintroduce the Toromiro on Rapa Nui, with some specimens already planted on the island.

Archaeological Evidence: Palm Trees Planted at Ava Ranga Uka a Toroke Hau

Since 2008 the German Archaeological Institute in cooperation with local authorities and other German universities has been carrying out excavations at the site of Ava Ranga Uka a Toroke Hau. This project has revealed evidence that palm trees were intentionally planted as a component of the transformation of the landscape into a ritual site.

During the excavation of a pavement that extended throughout the valley, planting holes for palm trees were found. These are clearly distinguishable by a circular border of stones and inside by the presence of channels produced by the roots. This indicates the exact location where palm trees once grew. In the paved plaza in front of Ahu Hanua Nua Mea another hole was found perforated in the pavement. This shows that a large palm tree once grew in front of the ahu and was deliberately planted there.

Trees were therefore part of the ritual architecture of Ava Ranga Uka a Toroke Hau. This demonstrates that palm trees must have had a special significance for the ancestral Rapanui — possibly the same sacred role of linking the divine and human worlds that trees played in the marae of French Polynesia, where Polynesian culture first took shape.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sacred Trees in Polynesia

Why were trees sacred in Polynesia?

In Polynesia, trees were considered a direct gift from the gods and the bridge between the divine world and the human world. According to creation myths, the first leaves were born from the feathers of the god Ta’aroa. Trees were deliberately planted at the marae to attract birds — the messengers of the gods — and to provide shade during ceremonies. Some species were believed to transform into the deity they were dedicated to during rituals.

What was the most sacred tree in Polynesia?

The Miru (Thespesia populnea sol) was the holiest tree in French Polynesia, considered the emanation of the god Roro’o who inspired the chants of the priests. The Toromiro (Sophora toromiro) was the tree used to carve the most important ritual objects of Rapanui culture — Kava Kava statuettes and Rongo-Rongo tablets.

What is the Toromiro of Rapa Nui?

The Toromiro (Sophora toromiro) is the endemic tree of Rapa Nui used to sculpt the most important ritual objects of Rapanui culture. It was declared extinct in the wild in the mid-20th century, though it survived in European botanical gardens. In recent years, efforts have been made to reintroduce the Toromiro on Rapa Nui, with some specimens already planted on the island.

Were there sacred trees at the ahu of Rapa Nui?

Yes. Excavations at the site Ava Ranga Uka a Toroke Hau found evidence of palm trees intentionally planted in front of an ahu. This demonstrates that trees were part of the ritual architecture of Rapa Nui, playing a similar role to the sacred trees planted in the marae of French Polynesia.