| Legend
- Te Henua Enana, the "land of men"
When the world was young, the first man, whose
name was Oatea, and the first woman, called Atanua, ruled
over the seas. Atanua lamented that she and her husband
could not live well without a house. Oatea admitted that
he did not know how to build a house, but that he would
use his mana (divine powers) to entreat the gods to help
him. He promised Atanua that the house would be built by
the next dawn.
Oatea chose a site in the middle of the sea: the site was
called Tuaka. He erected two posts, which he called Ua Pou.
These two posts supported a long beam, which became Hiva
Oa. Next, the rafters were added. These were the big island
of Nuku Hiva. Weaving coconut palms together to form thatch,
he created the island of Fatu Hiva. Then Oatea dug a hole
to bury the debris he created as he worked.
As Oatea continued his task, Atanua cried out that the sun
was beginning to lighten the sky. Oatea saw the glimmer
and declared it Tahuata. Then, alarmed, she cried out that
she heard the song of the morning bird. "This," replied
Oatea, "is Motane." As the dawn broke and Oatea's divine
energy ebbed, he threw the scraps of wood and vegetation
into the hole he had dug and said, "This is Eiao." |
|
|
|
 |
Island Discovery
|
|
| |
- Nuku
Hiva
|
Hiking
$28-$40
4-Wheel Drive Excursion $40-$143
Boat Excursion $106-$167 |
| |
- Hiva
Oa
|
Hiking/4-Wheel
Drive Excursion $22 - $117
Boat Excursion $134 - $167
Horseback riding $78 |
|
|
Tiki's Land
of Men, or Te Henua Te Enana as these islands were known by
their earliest Polynesian inhabitants, is the rugged, untamed
Marquesas Archipelago, among the most remote islands in the
world. Sheer volcanic peaks soar to thousands of feet above
the surging sea. Unlike the Society Islands, there are no
tranquil lagoons with their protective barrier reefs here;
instead the wild cobalt ocean breaks relentlessly against
the craggy shore. Fertile fiord-like river valleys reach inland,
forming sheltered, picturesque bays with sandy beaches where
most of the islanders live.
For hikers, scuba divers, adventurers, and nature lovers,
the Marquesas are a paradise of spectacular waterfalls, abundant
sea life, and quiet, unspoiled places. Among the main settled
islands, Nuku Hiva in the northern group and Hiva Oa in the
south offer quaint village life, infused with ancient traditions
and a rich cultural and artistic heritage. |
|
