Huahine, French Polynesia

Maeva site of Polynesian heritage
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2.14.2007 Huahine,French Polynesia

Happy Valentine’s Day. We got up and exchanged cards ,we each I purchased before leaving thinking we would out smart the other. This was another beautiful day another beautiful island in the South Pacific . Huahine is considered the undiscovered paradise of French Polynesia. It has steep green covered mountains descending into bays of emerald green and vivid blue waters. It really consists of two islands, Huahine Nui (big) and Huahine Iti (little) connected by a small bridge. We took a 3 hour twenty mile circle tour with a lovely young guide who told us about the history and culture of the island. Huahine boasts one of the most extensive archeological sites, the Maeva marae which we visited. There is less development on this island and everything was dense, lush and green. No wonder they call it the garden island. The beaches were lovely and it is too bad it won’t stay this way.

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Recent studies show that the ancestors of the Polynesians were most likely from Southeast Asia. They reached the islands off New Guinea 3-4000 years ago rapidly moved eastward arriving in this area 1500 B.C. and Easter Island A.D.850. Such migrations in the vast Pacific required keen navigational skills as an organized society with the technology to provide for such undertakings. We can only wonder what the Europeans thought as they discovered these island in the 18^th century.

The day ended with a special formal dinner with a spectacularly decorated dinning room, great meal and good music. Each window had been covered with a gigantic gold framed reproduction of a different Gauguin painting and columns covered to ceiling with beautiful fresh orchids. Unfortunately, our friend Joanne missed it as she wasn’t feeling well.