Coincidence

—or not?

Before the first Europeans arrived in Tahiti in 1767, the word that the Tahitians used to describe a person from certain parts of the Tuamotus was popaa.

After the Europeans arrived, the word was used to describe a European or white man, and it still is.

Why did the Tahitians hit so readily on the word popaa for Europeans? Because they were white like some of the Tuamotuans? Or because they were both foreigners?

Another coincidence. . . .

The word for God in Spanish is Dios, with the accent on the second syllable. An old Tuamotuan word for God is Kio, with the accent on the second syllable.

Could it be that the Tuamotuan word Kio is the Spanish word Dios in disguise?