The sacred eels of Faie

In the small village of Faie, east of Huahine Nui, you can find large freshwater eels. Special features: they have blue eyes and ears, hence their name "puhi taria". They live along a small, often dry river, in crevices or among the branches of "mape" or Polynesian chestnut trees. Visitors can buy cans of mackerel from the local vendor, which the eels are very fond of. They can even go down into the water to try to catch them. Although they are harmless, they are very fat and can slip between your legs! Many Polynesian legends speak of the origins of these eels, symbols of life and abundance.