Tehaapapa I

Tehaʻapapa I (c. 1735–25 July 1810) also called Fatu'araʻi Teri'itariʻa Tei'oatua v. was a sovereign of the island of Huahine. From her first union with Rohianu'u, she had a son named Teriitaria I born in 1765. Rohianu'u died in 1767, and she became the wife of his brother Mato, by whom she had a daughter, Turaiari'i born in 1769. By another spouse, Tetuaveroa, Mato had two sons: Tenani'a the eldest, and Mahine, born in 1761. Teha'apapa assumed the regency of her son Teri'itaria with the support of Chief Ori, her great-uncle by marriage. He was twelve years old and was the ari'i rahi of Huahine when James Cook met him in 1777. He was still the king in January 1791, according to the information reported to James Morisson by the inhabitants of Huahine while he was in Tahiti. It is clear that he was ousted during that decade by Mahine and Tenani'a, who eventually seized power over the island of Huahine. His fate remains unknown. When English missionaries arrived in Huahine in November 1808, the island was governed by the children of Mato and Turaiari'i Ehevahine. Teri'itaria II, recognized as the supreme chief of Huahine, had been designated to marry King Pōmare II. Her grandmother, Teha'apapa, who held the title of district chief, also served as regent on her behalf until her death on 25 July 1810. Mahine, commander of Huahine's army, wielded influence equal to that of his niece, Teri'itaria. He ceded power to Teri'itaria after the Battle of Feipi in November 1815. He was 60 years old at that time and had decided to withdraw from politics to devote himself to Christianity. However, he was appointed co-regent of the island of Huahine, first alongside Hauti'a and later with Ma'ihara.