Ritual was built around them as around gods. Human sacrifices were offered to the god 'Oro, and human sacrifices were demanded for the chiefs on birth and through the varying periods of youth until they were invested with the famous red feather belt at the temple of Taputapu-atea.

The red feathers of the parrakeet became the symbol of high chiefs and of the gods.

Wooden images that represented the gods were abandoned in the course of time to sorcerers and were replaced by wood beautifully encased in twined coconut fibre. These were decorated with hanging cords of coconut fibre to the ends of which were attached red feathers.

The symbol of the great 'Oro rests unrespected in the British Museum. It is a beautiful example of technique but is dead spiritually, for the red feathers which symbolized the divinity of 'Oro have long since disappeared.

The royal family of Porapora wore girdles of yellow feathers to denote that their line was junior to the royal house of Ra'iatea. Through intermarriages both forms of girdle spread to the chiefly houses of Tahiti."

(Buck)