Faumea

Faumea is a figure in Polynesian mythology, specifically that of the Tuamotus archipelago of French Polynesia, where she is regarded as an "eel-woman".^[1] The sea god Tangaroa encounters her when he sails to her island.^[2] In addition to being an eel-woman, Faumea has eels within her vagina which eat men, reflecting the folk concept of vagina dentata.^[3] However, Faumea teaches Tangaroa how to lure the eels out and they have sex.^[4] Faumea bears Tangaroa two sons: Tu-Nui-Ka-Rere (also called Rata-Nui) and Turi-A-Faumea.^[1]

Later, Turi-A-Faumea's wife Hina-Arau-Riki is kidnapped by the octopus-demon Rogo-Tumu-Here.^[5] Faumea helps Tangaroa and their sons rescue Hina by holding the wind within "the sweat of her armpit" and then releasing it at Tangaroa's command to power their canoes.^[1][5]

American folklorist Martha Warren Beckwith recorded a similarity or possible relation to the fertility goddess Haumea.^[1]