Welcome to Hiva Oa

The Marquesas Islands are the most northernmost, closest to the Equator islands of French Polynesia.  Initially it was thought to have been settled thousands of years ago but now due to carbon dating techniques it is believed that settlers came from the west to these islands around 1000 AD.  From this point Hawaii, Easter Island and New Zealand were settled.  Traditionally the in habitants have been warriors.  We have seen two Marquesan dance troupes, both very similar and very much based on a warrior theme.  We are told that the inhabitants of these islands were very much feared by the other islands. They were noted to be combative and practiced ceremonial cannibalism eating portions of the most important person they killed in battle.  The Spanish first visited in 1595 and later Captain Cook in 1774.   The French arrived in 1842 bringing Catholicism, western culture (i.e. clothes) and disease.  Thousands of natives to these islands died from measles, chicken pox, cholera, etc.  Whaling crews also brought alcohol, firearms and syphilis.  The 1842 population of the islands, 18,000, dwindled rapidly and today only 300 live on Fatu Hiva.