"[1] He was the fifth son of Pōmare IV, queen of Tahiti, and of her second husband (also first cousin), the prince consort Ariʻifaite a Hiro, a chief from Huahine.

At birth, he was given the title of ariʻirahi (chief) of the district of Afaʻahiti, in Tahiti.

[2] In June 1862, he married the Princess Teriʻinavahoroʻa, from the princely family of Maʻi from Bora-Bora.

He was considered by English visitor Constance Gordon-Cumming to "very good fellow, but sadly lame".

[3]: 160, 206 The main official post held by Teriʻitapunui was that of President of the Tahitian High Court, called Toʻohitu, which had indigenous jurisdiction over property matters.