 According to local legend, the spirit of Uenuku was brought from Hawaiki to the North Island in a stone by the people of the "Tainui".When they landed, they made the large carving known as either "Uenuku" or "Te Uenuku" out of "tōtara" with a round opening at the top, in which the stone was placed so that the spirit of Uenuku inhabited the carving.The carving is unique in form, and bears a noted resemblance to Hawaiian carving styles.