Spirit houses or temples

Stair (33, p. 226) states that some gods or aitu, principally war gods, were honored with dwellings called faleaitu and also malumalu-o-le-aitu. They were built in the ordinary way, and there was nothing to distinguish them except that they were set apart. The double curve in the roof shown by Stair (33, p. 227) must therefore be an error due to the artist. They were in charge of guardians who were called va'a-o-taua-o-aitu tau, which he interprets as war-ships of the war-gods. They were placed in the principal malae of the village, and surrounded by a low fence. Raised stone platforms (fanua tanu) were associated with them. The buildings were raised by the village. The height and size of the platform varied with the respect in which the god was held. Priests went to their houses to consult the gods. The well-known Fale-o-le Fee was the house of Le Fee, the war god of Aana and Faleata.