Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia.
Raiatea is lovely. Sometimes I think it is almost too perfect. Imagine a place with litter police yet a place that is still warm and friendly. For a special treat, the local dance group had their keiki (children) perform on the pool deck.
In the Polynesian creation myths, the island was named Havai’i, the birthplace of the world, and was the religious center of ancient Polynesia. This Havai'i is not to be confused with Hawai’i in the Sandwich Islands, which were settled much later.
Havai’i, Raiatea, is considered the starting point for the migrations to the Sandwich Islands, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Easter Island (Rapa Nui). Artifacts have been found that show ongoing sea voyages among the Polynesian Islands long after the original migrations.
During one of James Cook’s voyages to Polynesia, a Raiatean named Tupai, drew a map of the neighboring islands even though he himself had never left Raiatea. Tupai sailed with James Cook as a local navigator.
Ia Orana