Taiohae, Nuku Hiva (French Polynesia)

We spent a few hours walking along Taiohae bay in Nuku Hiva, the largest of the Marquesas islands in the south Pacific. French control began in 1842. The island is sparsely populated, with only 2500 inhabitants, so there were no tour guides or buses.   The island is dotted with carved wood and stone tikis, the largest of which is at the top of the hill near the port.

After tendering to the dock, we walked down to the Notre Dame cathedral (Cathedral of our Lady of the Marquesas Islands), built in 1977.  It is decorated with carved wooden statues and stations of the cross. We then walked to the end of the point in Taiohae bay to find a lovely little museum curated by Rose Corser.  Rose and her husband came to Nuku Hiva years ago from California to study Polynesian art, fell in love with the island, bought property and now own the Te'e Tai Inn, Museum and Art Gallery.

Old section of the Cathedral of Notre Dame of the Marquesas

Large stone tiki on top of the hill

Lectern of carved wood at the Notre Dame cathedral

The Taiohae Bay on Nuku Hiva

A carved wooden canoe with  at the Nuku Hiva museum