King Ari'imate Teurura'i (1824 – 14 April 1874) was a member and founder of a Polynesian royal family (House of Teurura'i) which reigned on the Tahitian island of Huahine and Mai'ao during the 19th century. In Tahitian, his name translates as "sovereign-demised" and "the-sky-forest" respectively. He was installed as king of Huahine in 1852 until his deposition in 1868.

Family

Ari'imate Teururai was born at Huahine in 1824. He was the second child and only son of Chief Taaroaari'i and Tematafainu'u vahine. He was the paternal grandson of Mahine Tehei'ura Puru, who reigned as King of Huahine from 1800 to 1815 but abdicated in favor of his niece Teri'itaria II instead of his own son. In his early years, he ruled as the chief of Tefareri'i.

Founder of the Teururai dynasty

On the 26 of December 1851, Teriitari'a II was deposed while she was at Tahiti with her adopted son Teratane Teriitaria Pomare. The main dignitaries chose Ariimate to be king. He was installed as king of Huahine and Maia'o on January 5, 1852. He took the reign name of Teururai. Sixteen years later, on July 7, 1868, he was deposed by the chiefs in favour of his wife.

Marriage and children

He married in 1840 Princess Maerehia a Tamatoa, heiress presumptive to her father King Tamatoa IV of Ra'iatea and Taha'a, and had twelve children: Their children remain member to the royal family of the former kingdom of Huahine-Maia'o and Raiatea-Taha'a since the end of the monarchy. Ari'imate died at Huahine on 14 April 1874.

Ancestry