The word tattoo comes from Polynesia. In Marquesan it is tatu. This amazing part of Marquesan culture was nearly lost after it was banned by Catholic missionaries and outlawed by the state. We were lucky enough to attend a festival in Taiohae dedicated to passing along the beautiful traditions of tattooing, sculpture, painting, and dance …
Back in Taiohae, Nuku Hiva
We returned to Taiohae to pick up a part for our generator. Work on a boat is never ending. Thankfully, the part did it’s job and now we have a working generator. We saw a local festival to celebrate tattooing, dancing, sculpture, and traditional arts. The hikes continue to be amazing and hanging with friends …
Daniel’s Bay, Nuku Hiva
The final bay on our small circumlocution of Nuku Hiva was Daniels’s Bay. So named for Daniel who lived there for many many years. The story goes, as told by his granddaughter, that Daniel was told cruisers needed fruit and veggies and citrus after a long voyage. So, he planted fruit trees. Every cruiser that …
Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva
The calmest anchorage at Nuku Hiva, Anaho boasts an easy beach landing, some coral to snorkel, a farm to buy fresh produce from Roger and his family and beautiful hikes. Rachel broke out the silks and we joined Pablo for a beach bonfire. We hiked over a ridge to the neighboring village of Hatiheu and …
Controller Bay, Nuku Hiva
Next we anchored on the center lobe of Controller Bay off the village of Taipivai. Sometimes you can get your dinghy up the mouth of the river to the village. Other times it’s a beach landing. Our beach landing skills were very rusty. We managed to swamp the dinghy coming and going from the beach. …
S/V Pulsar 