The story of Taruia and his wife, Taritoa. It is a custom in Penrhyn to put a rā’ui on the trunk of a pandanus tree as a sign that no one else can take the fruit. The rā’ui takes the form of wrapping the pandanus leaves around the fruit and tying them. Taritoa stole some pandanus fruit that had been rā‘ui-ed and took it to a boy-friend of hers. When Taruia found out he became angry and went to another island, leaving his wife, who became lonely for him and composed this song.