Auriaria and Nei Tituaabine: The Origin of Trees
In Kiribati mythology, Auriaria was a red-haired giant chieftain who fell in love with the beautiful red-haired woman Nei Tituaabine. Despite their love, they had no children. When Nei Tituaabine died, Auriaria buried her with great sorrow. From her grave grew three trees: a coconut tree from her head, a pandanus tree from her heels, and an almond tree from her navel. Nei Tituaabine became a tree goddess, and these three trees became the most important plants for the people of Kiribati. The coconut provides food, drink, and materials for shelter; snip the pandanus provides leaves for weaving;