The glyph type vaha mea without signs added seems to mean the 'red opening' which is located in midwinter and through which a new sun (year) will enter.

 

Metoro's name vaha mea is probably correct, and together with vaha hora (entrance into summer) and vaha toga (entrance to winter) creates a logic of words. Vaha mea can therefore be thought of as the entrance of the new year (into spring).

 

The openings in question presumably were not merely abstractions but imagined as real holes in the sky roof. A consequence is that the midwinter hole (entrance into spring) north of the equater (e.g. as observed from Hawaii) will be the midsummer hole (entrance into autumn) south of the equator. In Tahua there is such a special vaha mea glyph (denoting the midsummer hole).

 

The red gills (mea) seen in the open mouth of a fish may be the origin of the word for the colour red (mea). The new sun brings a red dawn, as can be observed looking towards east. Before sun himself is seen sky and sea are coloured red from his rays. The sun comes up where sky and sea meet - it is as if he was a mighty fish.