A significant custom in Tikopia is the Maro or Te Maro. Literally ‘te maro’ refers to cover for body or clothes but its purpose is to cover someone from the ailments or to show that they are well taken care of by their uncles or aunties. It is a practice whereby a Tikopian gives traditional mats, tapa and raw food to their ‘tama tapu’ who is usually a nephew or niece(i.e child of a sister). When a girl marries out, her brothers become responsible for her children and are required to make maros from time to time for them. The usual time a maro takes place is when a tama tapu is injured or sick, had recovered from illness, had returned or is leaving on a journey to a far away place.
The tama tapu is informed by the uncles prior to the day of the maro so he or she would be prepared. Usually food is prepared to feed the uncles as well. The tama tapu has to pay for the maro. Nowadays people pay in the form of money. An estimate of the value of the items given in the maro guides the tama tapu on how much to pay for it, however he or she is free to pay more or in other forms if so desired. In some instances the uncles would give maros freely however mostly something is given in return for a maro. Some uncles even request for certain kinds of payments such as cash or items that they need.
When the uncles take the maros to their tama tapus, they have to paint them with tumeric mixed with coconut oil as a symbol of protection. During this ritual the uncle would speak to the tama tapu words of protection against the elements. These words have been spoken for over many generations. This would also show the community that a maro has been done. The tama tapu has to go out in public with the tumeric in place. Nowadays the tumeric is judiciously applied to certain areas of the body only such as the cheeks for those who have to travel far instead of the usual practice of painting the whole chest, shoulders, arms and neck.
In return for the service the uncles have been providing to the tama tapus in terms of maros, when a tama tapu dies, his or her punefu would go to the uncle’s house. A punefu will be discussed in another post.