Polynesian Legends

Fagasa

[The story of the village of Fagasa and the birth of Dolphins]

The great navigator Liava'a traversed the great moana, the great ocean, and visited the many islands that rested upon her waves. As he traveled the islands of Sāmoa, he was accompanied by the famous young beauty, Sina. She was there to serve the 'ava, a ceremonial drink, to the notorious navigator.

One day, as they traveled around the island of Tutuila, they stopped their canoe at the harbor village of Fagasa.

The people of Fagasa were accustomed to visitors and travelers, they welcomed the navigator and his crew. The people fed them and offered them resources for their journeys as well as gave them a place to rest and relax. Even Sina enjoyed her time in the coastal village and frolicked amongst the greenery.

As the men were properly rested and prepared, Liava'a called out to his crew to set off and continue on their tour of the islands. The men hustled with their provisions and manned the great va'a. The great sails caught the winds and they sailed off from Fagasa as the people waved their farewells to yet another visitor.

Navigator Liava'a rested aboard his great canoe and soon became thirsty for the God's divine drink of 'ava. He called for Sina and waited, enjoying the sweet smell of the salty sea. However, she did not come.

He called for her again... no reply.

He ordered his crew to retrieve her.

The crew told the great navigator that Sina was gone! They must've left her back in Fagasa!

Outraged and worried, Liava'a ordered his men to dive back into the sea and bring her back to the canoe. The warriors of Liava'a were swift and executed his order. As they dove into the sea they were transformed. Their bodies grew fins and a tail! They looked like enormous fish!

These men turned into the first dolphins!

As they swam towards Fagasa, the fishing people of the harbors became ecstatic over the arrival of such big fish. They called upon their fishermen and started to hunt down the never before seen dolphins!

They speared the massive fish and as they pulled them ashore, they were haunted by the sound of the dolphin, their calls resembled the screaming of men. More and more of Liava'a's men dove and transformed into dolphin, and more and more were hunted down.

Soon, the men gave up on trying to receive Sina. They decided that since they couldn't retrieve the beautiful Sina, they could at least provide for her. The transformed men in their dolphin forms would herd in schools of fish, especially the atule, into the harbors of Fagasa to ensure that the fishermen would feed their people and in turn, feed their beloved Sina.

To this day, Fagasa is known as the home and origin of the dolphins and Liava'a's dolphins still continue to feed the village, herding in the great atule. And for the people's unknowing defense against Liava'a's dolphins, they have gained the nickname "Fagasa: the Forbidden Bay."