Hiva Oa Island in the Marquesas - Tahiti and French Polynesia

Travel

French Polynesia - Marquesas Islands - Hiva Oa, Home of Paul Gauguin

With almost 2000 residents, Hiva Oa is one of the more populated islands in the Marquesas. The village of Atuona is the capital, and it had two famous residents--the artist Paul Gauguin and the Belgian singer-poet Jacques Brel. Both of these men wandered the earth before choosing Hiva Oa as their last home. The Aranui 3 made three stops in Hiva Oa--Atuona, Puamau, and Hanaiapa. We toured Atuona first, visiting the cemetery, the Paul Gauguin museum, and the Cultural Center. We ate a Marquesan buffet lunch at Chez Rosalie's, and stayed at the dock until almost midnight, giving some of the passengers an opportunity to go ashore for dinner or exploring. After sailing to the southern Marquesas, the Aranui returned to Hiva Oa, and we anchored at Puamau, home of one of the most important archaeological sites in the Marquesas. The last port on Hiva Oa was the northern village of Hanaiapa. Click on each thumbnail photo to enlarge and read more about Hiva Oa.

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