Mehetia, in the Winward Islands

The deserted island

A century ago already the island of Mehetia, last active volcano of French Polynesia, is again deserted, a victim of the new advancements of the navy.

17 ° 52 '30.07 "S latitude, 148 ° 4' 3.19" W longitude. Needless to note these details: there is little chance you will never be around here somewhere. And besides, it's forbidden...

Violent, wild and deserted Mehetia

Outside the norm, outside the shipping lanes, timeless, Mehetia is, for a century now, once again become an island outside the world, abandoned by men.

The Island of Mehetia and geography

Located about 110 km east-south-east of Tahiti, Mehetia is the youngest volcanic geological formation of the Society Archipelago.

The summit crater

In fact, the island is the tip of an underwater volcano 4,000 meters high, still active.

The only known eruption may have occurred on 5 March to December 1981, at 1600 m depth.

Mehetia is crowned by two craters, one of which is the highest point of the island. Mount Hiurai or Fareura, 435 meters, and Mount Teruato.

Mehetia: not very hospitable, visibly

Mount Teruato provides this valuable feature to offer a crater 220 meters in diameter, in perfect condition, although cluttered with screes and vegetation.

At Mehetia, no coral reef nor lagoon, beach neither. The steep slopes of the volcano plunge directly into the ocean.

Mehetia and the explorers

June 17, 1767, Samuel Wallis, the first of all, can see the Island of Mehetia. But it was only the next day he actually approaches.

On the night of June 17 to 18, tells his diary, fires show that the island is inhabited. In the morning, a few canoes led by three men stand away from the Dolphin.

Mehetia in its heyday...

Wallis sent two boats to approach the island. They return just two hours later! Officer Furneaux's report explains: "The people, he said, consists of several hundred natives whose aggressive attitude forced us to open fire, but without hitting them (...)".

Persuaded to be near the Austral continent, Wallis cast off and sailed, unknowingly, to Tahiti.

Less than a year later, April 2, 1768, Bougainville is passing off the coast of Mehetia without disembarking.

Mehetia seen by a sailor in 1849

Finally, Domingo de Boenechea, a Spanish explorer, aboard the ship Aguila was the first, who actually recognized the island. He named it San Cristobal. Mehetia was well inhabited: it then had about two hundred inhabitants.

The history of Mehetia

If no one knows when Mehetia was invested by the Mā'ohi people, we know it was long, and probably from the beginning of settlement, under the domination of Western Tuamotu.

It was settled permanently and played a key role in trade and political relations between the Tuamotu Archipelago and Society Islands.

And yet: an essential island for the yesteryear Polynesians

It was indeed an indispensable stage for the Polynesian dugouts that ensured the exchanges between the two archipelagos.

Someday, the Ari'i pa'umotu * ** who also reigned over the island, exchanged his wife with a significant Ari'i of Tahiti. When his first child was born of this relationship, the possession of Mehetia was transferred from Tuamotu to Tahiti.

The transportation revolution (sailing ships and steamships) sounded the death knell for the prosperity of Mehetia.

The only livable area of Mehetia

The last permanent residents of the island were reported in the early twentieth century. Since, the island is deserted. It is now attached to the commune of Taiarapu East, a small town of Tahiti's peninsula.

Mehetia or the origins of a name

The first known name of the island is To'ohoa, which could mean "fully erect" and be linked to particularly steep sides of the top. But the name could also be derived from hoa, refuge place of populations in case of conflict.

What is certain is that the name of To'ohoa is found on a comparable Island of New Zealand.

Mehetia: a refuge or a prison?

But the original name of the island, reached us through legends, was Meketu in pa'umotu and Me'etu in reo Tahiti ***. This name would have belonged to the princess who accompanied a large group that colonized the island after the great migrations to New Zealand.

It was during King Tu's accession to power, from the line of Pomare, the name of the island had to change, Tu getting tabu (sacred, prohibited). So, it became Me'etia for the Tahitians and Meketia for the Pa'umotu.

Mehetia today

Uninhabited for a century, Mehetia only receives rare scientific missions and few privileged visitors who have obtained permission to land there.

An island without water, so truly deserted...

Here, a seismograph is installed permanently, with a mission to monitor the hot spot of the South of Society Archipelago, last area in French Polynesia, where seismic activity is observed in the depths of the Pacific.

Mehetia Island is privately owned, and it is said that a treasure would be buried in the hold of a ship that came to break on its inhospitable coast.

Today, a bird sanctuary

Meanwhile, it’s a welcome sanctuary for several species of birds that live there safe from any predator.

Glossary:

* Ari'i: Head, king…

** Pa’umotu: on the Tuamotu Archipelago. The inhabitants of the Tuamotu are Paumotu.

*** Reo Tahiti: Tahitian language

An article of Julien Gué

Translated from French by Monak

Copyright Julien Gué. Ask for the author’s agreement before any reproduction of the text or the images on Internet or traditional press.

In the Leeward Islands

Taha'a, the vanilla island

Protected by the same lagoon as Raiatea, its sister island, Taha'a is known for producing the best vanilla in the world. But it offers many other delights.

According to legend, an eel, inspired by the spirit of a princess, separated Taha'a from Raiatea.

Taha'a, view from the top of Raiatea

Enclosed in the same lagoon as its big sister, Taha'a Island is probably the most authentic and most beautiful of the Leeward Islands (Raro mata'i), the western whole of the archipelago of the Society Islands.

The ancient Polynesians called itself, Uporu. Today it's also known as the (deserved) of the Vanilla Island.

Taha'a, in geography

Taha'a, 230 kilometers west off Tahiti, shares the same lagoon as its sister island Raiatea, but the similarities end there. While their common lagoon is 290 km², the small island of Taha'a covers only just 80.

The twin islands of Raiatea and Taha'a

The remains of the ancient volcano are present in the center of the island, materialized by two main peaks steep sloped: Mount Ohiri (590 m) and Mount Puurauti (458 m).

Almost circular, the island is deeply penetrated by four beautiful bights. Skirting the island from the southwest to east, the first is Hure Piti Bay, the second the bay of Apu, the third (the most beautiful and deepest) Haamene Bay, and finally the Bay of Faaaha.

At the 2007 census, there were 5,003 people on the island of Taha'a. At Patio, where the foremost town of the island is located, their number is about a thousand. There, are the head shops and administrations.

But the nerve center of the island lies elsewhere: in Tapuamu where the core port is located and hosts the cargo boats, and therefore the bulk of the trade. Indeed, there is no airport in Taha’a.

Mount Ohiri, the highest peak of Taha'a

To get to Taha'a, except to have his own boat, there are only two ways.

Either you arrive by plane to Raiatea and borrow a maritime shuttle, one that crosses the lagoon between the two islands, either you take the regular maritime links, passenger-cargo ship or, more recently, a high-speed vessel serving Raiatea once per week. Then it's the shuttle.

Undoubtledly, the paradise must be earned!

Short history of the island of Taha'a

James Cook is who discovered the three islands of Huahine, Raiatea and Taha'a, in 1769.

At that time, Raiatea and Tahaa were under the rule of King Puni of Bora Bora, but because of the very frequent reversals in those days, the Tapoa and Tamatoa succeeded at the head of the island.

From the heart of Taha'a, the Bay of Faaaha

In the early nineteenth century, the Pomare family, which ruled Tahiti, tried to take possession of the other islands of Society. It will succeed too in conquering Raiatea and Taha'a with the rise to power of Tamatoa IV, heir of Pomare and royal lineage of Raiatea. The family will rule over Raiatea and Taha'a, until the early twentieth century.

In 1847, France recognized the independence of The Leeward Islands. But 40 years later, the annexation of the archipelago by the governor Lacascade causes an insurrection led by Teraupoo. For almost ten years, the war will rage within these islands. The French prevail in February 1897 after heavy fighting by capturing Teraupoo.

Therefore, that would have been the end of the independence of Raiatea and Taha'a.

Taha'a, the vanilla island

In the opinion of most experts worldwide, Taha'a produces the best vanilla in the world.

In fact, the vanilla production of Taha'a serves as a reference for all specialist buyers who come to provide in Polynesia.

In the Bay of Hurepiti, the insular quiet

Whether grown on natural guardians or under shade structures, vanilla is, with the fishing and tourism, the main resource of the inhabitants of Taha'a. This small island products alone, 80% of the vanilla of Polynesia.

Thus, thanks to these wonderful vanilla pods, perfume of Taha'a is reflected in the fine dining dishes of all the greatest restaurants in the world!

Sightseeing in Taha'a

Staying at Taha'a must be won!

One of the many pontoons at Tiva

The traveler, once arrived in Tahiti, will take a local flight operated by Air Tahiti to Raiatea. There, he will have to go to the port of Uturoa, to take a shuttle that will make him cross the lagoon... Provided that he is not required to wait until next morning: the shuttle schedules don't often correspond to those of aircrafts. It's also possible to rent a taxi-boat, provided you have thought to order it in advance and that the crossing is done in a day.

The other way to reach Taha'a is the boat. There are two regular maritime lines provided by "schooners", the name given to passenger-cargo ship in French Polynesia that supply all the inhabited islands.

An article of Julien Gué

Translated from French by Monak

Copyright Julien Gué. Ask for the author’s agreement before any reproduction of the text or the images on Internet or traditional press.