In the earliest age before the sun rose and before the stars found their places in the sky there stood a single tree called Te Kaintikuaba. It grew at the center of all existence where the realms of sky sea and underworld met as one. Its roots reached into the spirit world its trunk belonged to the earth and its branches touched the heavens. Through this tree the breath of creation flowed linking all life together in one sacred rhythm.
The god Na Atibu the father of all life rested beneath its shade while the goddess Nei Teukez tended to its roots with the waters of the deep. From their union came the first spirits who would later become the ancestors of humankind. The spirits played among the branches of the great tree listening to the hum of the winds that told stories of what was and what was yet to come.
Every leaf upon Te Kaintikuaba held a secret of creation and every seed within its fruit contained a spark of life. Birds came to nest in its branches fish gathered beneath the waters near its roots and the spirits drew wisdom from its songs. The whole world was in harmony and the sacred tree was the heart of that harmony.
But balance in creation is delicate and even the smallest act can bring change. Among the spirits was one who grew restless. He looked upon the endless sea and wondered what might lie beyond it. He wished to shape a world of his own and to create beings that would honor him alone. Driven by curiosity and pride he struck the base of Te Kaintikuaba with a piece of coral.
The sound echoed through all the realms. The heavens trembled the sea rose in anger and the spirits cried out. Na Atibu and Nei Teukez tried to mend the wound but the great tree began to sway. The roots loosened their hold upon the underworld and the branches tore through the clouds. With a deep sigh Te Kaintikuaba fell and the world changed forever.
As the tree fell its seeds scattered across the vast ocean. Each seed struck the water and from each grew a new island. Some were small and round others long and winding but all held a part of the life and wisdom that once belonged to the sacred tree. The falling branches became the reefs that protect the islands and the roots became the channels that connect them.
Na Atibu looked upon what remained and wept but Nei Teukez comforted him saying that life must spread and grow just as the sea must move and change. From their tears came rain that nourished the new islands. The spirits who had lived among the branches awoke upon the scattered lands and took human form. They were the first people of Kiribati the children of Te Kaintikuaba and the guardians of its memory.
The people learned to live in balance with the sea and sky for they understood that their lives were bound to the spirit of the tree. They built their homes from the gifts of nature and gave thanks to the roots that once bound all things together. They passed down stories of Te Kaintikuaba so that every generation would remember the sacred origin of their islands.
In time the people began to see the tree not only as the source of life but also as a teacher. Its fall reminded them that power without wisdom leads to loss but that even in loss there can be creation. From its destruction came the beauty of the islands and from its seeds came the strength of community.
When the wind passes through the palms the elders say it is the breath of Te Kaintikuaba whispering reminders of harmony. When the tide rises it is the sea remembering the fall of the great tree. The people still look to the sky and to the deep knowing that both are connected by that sacred moment when heaven and earth were one.
Even today the story of Te Kaintikuaba is told during gatherings and rituals. It is more than a tale it is a map of identity a spiritual memory of how life began. The people of Kiribati understand through this story that they carry within them the wisdom of the ancestors and the breath of the first tree.
And so the world continues in balance the sky above the sea below and life between both realms just as it was when the sacred tree stood at the center of creation.
Moral Lesson:
The story of Te Kaintikuaba teaches that every act has a consequence and that life is sustained through harmony and respect. When balance is broken creation itself can fall but through renewal and wisdom the world can be restored.
Knowledge Check
1. What was Te Kaintikuaba in the story?
It was the sacred tree of life that connected heaven earth and the underworld.
2. Who cared for the sacred tree in the beginning?
Na Atibu and Nei Teukez nurtured and protected the tree.
3. What caused Te Kaintikuaba to fall?
A restless spirit struck the tree out of pride and curiosity.
4. What happened when the sacred tree fell?
Its seeds scattered across the ocean forming the islands of Kiribati.
5. What lesson did the people learn from the fall of the tree?
They learned that balance and respect for creation are essential to life.
6. How do the people of Kiribati remember Te Kaintikuaba today?
Through stories rituals and their continued respect for nature and ancestry.
Source: Adapted from The Sacred Tree and Origins of the People of Kiribati by the Kiribati Cultural Centre (2014).
Cultural Origin: Kiribati (Micronesia)
