Proto Nuclear Polynesian: *Lewa
REFLEXES IN SOME POLYNESIAN LANGUAGES:
Tongan: Leva (Cerbera odollam, Apocynceae)
Samoan: Leva (Cerbera odollam, & C. manghas, Apocynceae)
Tahitian: Reva (Cerbera forsteri , Apocynceae, & Barringtonia sp., Lecythidaceae)
Rarotongan: Reva (Cerbera odollam , Apocynceae)
Maori: Rewa, Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa, "Native honeysuckle ", Proteaceae)

COGNATE REFLEXES IN SOME OTHER AUSTRONESIAN LANGUAGES
Wayan (Fiji): Rewa (Cerbera manghas, Apocynceae)
Bauan (Fiji): Rewa (Cervera odollam, "with long leaves", Apocynceae)

The generic name of the tropical trees known as leva or rewa, Cerbera, recalling the vicious guard dog, Cerberus, of the Greek god Hades, ruler of Hell, seems somewhat odd when you look at this rather beautiful tree with its attractive flowers and fruit, especially as it's sometimes known as the "sea mango". However, its seeds are rich in a deadly poison, cerberin, which, according to the entry for Cerbera odollam in Wikipedia, is difficult to detect after ingestion and therefore frequently used in homicides (and also suicides) in India (and also occasionally in parts of Polynesia). It was also widely used as a test for innocence in trials by ordeal in Madagascar, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people over the protracted period when its use for this purpose was in vogue. It belongs to the same family as the oleander, also a set of highly toxic species although widely grown for their ornamental value, and like the oleander the smoke from burning Cerbera wood is also toxic.

The New Zealand tree whose flower and name are derived from *lewa share a vague similarity in the appearance of their leaves, but otherwise are very different. The New Zealand rewarewa ("like a rewa/*leva") belies its name, except for the leaf shape, the bouyancy of its fruit, and the beauty of its otherwise quite different flower, which has a sweet, perfectly safe honey very useful in relieving sore throats without causing the demise of the patient!