Arrival on Raiatea, the sacred centre of the Polynesian world.
Said to be the place the Polynesian wayfinders of old sailed their vaka from the East, and landed on Raiatea before spreading to the three corners of the Pacific triangle – Hawai’i, Rapa nui Easter Island and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Taputapuatea, Tapu – meaning sacred and where the word Taboo comes from is a site like no other…
Welcomed on with floral ei, necklaces placed around each of our necks and sharing a “breath of life” with our guide Susan. The beautiful ei and its flowers are to protect us from spirits, connect us to our tipuna, ancestors, as we walk the grounds of Taputapuatea. The spirit of place is thick in the air, but not heavy, a light and sacred presence gently sits on us all as we all hear stories about the sacred marae site, dedicated to the Polynesian God ‘Oro. Encouraged to slow down and take a breath and reflect on our own heritage as we learn about the Polynesian history… each of us come from somewhere different but here in Taputapuatea we can connect to the place, each other and the people who walked through history so we could stand here today.
The place where Te Ao meets Te Pō, where the land of the living meet the land of the Gods and ancestors will live long in everyone’s memories.
The afternoon gave us a scenic cruise through the lagoon that surrounds both Raiatea and its sister island Taha’a. Weaving through crystal clear waters seeing the coral and sea life pass by us at their relaxed island pace.
Once safely at anchor in Apu bay the voyage crew went for a swim in the tropical waters. Washing off the days work and settling into a relaxed boat and island tempo, making new memories and new friends aboard.
