Tahiti and Tuamotus: Huahine

Our ship, Windstar’s Wind Spirit, didn’t have to travel far — just over 31 nautical miles — to reach Huahine (see NASA map at left) from our last port of call — Taha’a. Huahine, also a part of the Society Islands, is sometimes nicknamed the “Garden of Eden” for its lush, tropical landscapes.

In researching the ports we would visit on our 10-day Windstar Cruises Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise, I read that Huahine, while not well-developed as a tourist destination, is one of the best places to get a glimpse of the authentic South Pacific and to learn about Polynesian history.

Upon reviewing Windstar Cruises’ excursion choices, I chose “Sacred Sites & Cultural Walk.” This half-day eco-excursion is ideal for those who are ready to take a temporary departure from diving into Tahiti’s turquoise waters and to, instead, perhaps come away with more knowledge of Polynesian history than your vacationing brain can hold.

Being with our knowledgeable anthropologist guide, Manava, a Huahine native, was like taking a half-day crash course in French Polynesian history. From the time we boarded an open-air vehicle, he began a running narrative on the history and development of the islands, its people, its maraes, and the need to protect their heritage.

Manava was our knowledgeable guide for the “Sacred Sites and Cultural Walk” excursion.

Our first stop was at a bridge to view the 500-year-old v-shaped fish traps; some are still used today.

We then moved on to Maeva Village, home to the densest concentration of archaeological sites in Polynesia, where we spent time inside the Fare Pote’e Museum. Objects collected during numerous excavations are housed in the restored Polynesian meeting house.

Fare Pote’e Museum in Maeva Village, Huahine

History of the Marae signs outside the museum

Next, a walk through the forest brought us to Mata’irea Hill, home to over 200 stone structures, including marae (which were traditional temples dedicated to social and ceremonial religious activities), agricultural terraces, house foundations, fortification walls, and burial platforms.

Time for ice cream! After a somewhat strenuous hike, the timing was perfect to stop at a small family vanilla plantation, which sold homemade vanilla and coconut ice cream, as well as vanilla products and craft items.

Stephen and I with our homemade vanilla ice cream on Huahine.

Blue-eyed eels! Our excursion’s next stop was at the Faaie river in the southeast of the island, home of the “sacred” blue-eyed eels. A long-ago legend has somehow elevated them to “sacred” status. They are now a “must-see” for visitors and have become quite accustomed to being hand fed cans of mackerel from island guides and tourists on a daily basis. The Polynesian long-finned freshwater eels range from four to six feet in length and really do have bright blue eyes.

Manava feeding mackerel to the “sacred” blue-eyed eels of Huahine.

Close-up of the blue-eyed eels.

Before returning to the pier, we had one last “photo op” at the Belvedere Lookout on Mount Turi overlooking Maroe Bay for a panoramic view of the island.

Another Windstar excursion, “Safari Expedition,” visited the Huahine Pearl Farm & Pottery. Since I collect blue pottery (theirs is made from a glaze found at the bottom of the lagoon while pearl farming), I asked a fellow passenger to purchase a piece of the pottery for me. Love it!

© All photos Debbra Dunning Brouillette

Next in the series:

Tahiti-Tuamotus: Bora Bora

Earlier in the series:

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Taha’a and Motu Mahaea

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Rangiroa — our second port of call

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Fakarava — our first port of call

Tahiti and Tuamotus: On board Windstar’s Wind Spirit

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Choosing to cruise