Polynesia is made up of over a thousand islands in the Central and Southern Pacific Oceans. Even though the Polynesian islands have diverse national identities, inhabitants across the region share similar cultures, languages, and religions. Polynesians actively preserve their history in the form of complex myths and legends, many of which tell of an original homeland - Raiatea Island.As the progenitor of Polynesian civilization, Raiatea Island is a special place, charged with ancient, mysterious energy. Visitors have the opportunity to explore remote natural beauty while learning about one of the most pioneering cultures in human history.
A History Of Polynesian Civilization & Raiatea Island
A collage of DNA evidence and oral history confirms that South Pacific Polynesians originated from Taiwan. The initial excursion from Taiwan probably occurred around 3,000 BC, over 5,000 years ago. Legends recount that seafarers went on epic voyages of discovery, navigating with help of the pagan Gods of Nature. In demystified terms, the ancestral Polynesians used sophisticated celestial navigation techniques.
It's astounding to imagine that so many thousands of years ago, human civilization was so advanced as to master the ancient oceans and discover uninhabited islands using cloud reflections and bird watching. At the same time in human history, coastal civilizations throughout the world assumed that the ocean horizon was the end of the world. Maybe the initial seafarers had prior knowledge of bountiful islands out at sea?
More interestingly, mythological accounts suggest that the initial seafarers set out in reaction to overpopulation and resource constraints in Taiwan. This challenges the popular notion that human overpopulation only occurred due to the industrial revolution. Today, with all of the technological comforts of modernity, many people do not have enough resources to bear children. What technologies did the prehistoric Polynesians possess to achieve such wealth?
An alternate theory postulates that the initial seafarers were refugees escaping a catastrophe on the mainland. A catastrophe that sank entire islands and gave the human race amnesia, severing the connection with long-lost civilizations.
Geographically, it makes sense that Raiatea would be the first major island settlement in the South Pacific. They would have sailed from Taiwan to the Philippine islands, onward to the Indonesian islands, and finally to the South Pacific, where Raiatea was the first truly hospitable island they found.
Raiatea is a fairly small island, which might have spurred yet another migration to the rest of the Polynesian islands. The pattern of migration indicates some sort of centralized cultural principle regarding social organization and expansion.
Raiatea Island Culture
The native name of Raiatea is "Hawaiki". That sounds familiar because it is also where the name "Hawaii" comes from. In every Polynesian language, including Maori, Tahitian, Samoan, and Hawaiian, "Hawaiki" refers to both an ancestral homeland and an underworld. The two words essentially mean the same thing, as, according to Polynesian beliefs, ancestors are inherently dead and therefore live in the underworld.
Visitors can experience the seminal culture of Polynesia firsthand on Raiatea by visiting the many places of worship. Traditionally, in Polynesian culture, temples are called "Marae". Marae can be anything from a clearing in the woods to an ornate East-Asian-style temple. Over the years, archaeologists have uncovered several maraes scattering around the island. Raiatea is also home to an ancient tool shed and workhouse where weapons and supplies were crafted by early settlers, thousands of years ago.
Today, Raiatea Island is a part of France and has integrated some European characteristics. However, unlike nearby islands like Bora Bora and Tahiti, Raiatea is not a popular tourist destination and has therefore enjoyed increased protection and isolation. As a result, the culture of the 12,500 or so native residents is very much alive, and many mysterious historical messages are preserved through religious traditions.
Raiatea is a remote island. It is not a classic beach destination for relaxing and water sports, though that is now a part of the economy. The island is better enjoyed for the purpose of hiking, archeological exploration, and anthropology.
- A little known fact is that in the 1700s, James Cook, who discovered the Hawaiian Islands, was aided by a Raiatean navigator by the name of Tupaia, without whom Cook most certainly would not have made the discoveries that he did.
Global navigation is a specialty of the Polynesians, to the extent that there is growing evidence to suggest that the island hopping seafarers continued expanding past Polynesia and reached South America, making them the first discoverers of the New World. Further solidifying the significance of Raiatea, there are compelling theories suggesting that the Polynesian explorers reached, settled, and mapped much of Antarctica and the South Pole. This would explain the existence of prehistoric maps that perfectly chart Antarctica before it was frozen over.
Apart from religion and navigation, Raiatea's culture is closely tied with its economy. Today, much like back in the day, the island's biggest exports are vanilla, pearls, and rum. Visitors can take tours of expansive vanilla plantations, pearling farms, and rum factories. The terrain of Raiatea, and its neighboring island, Taha'a, are so suited for vanilla cultivation that they are called "Vanilla Islands".
From an ecological perspective, Raiatea Island is highly valuable and unique. This is exemplified at the botanical garden in the capital city of Uturoa, where there is a collection of rare and exotic plant species that are endemic to the island.
When And How To Visit Raiatea Island
The climate on Raiatea is consistent, rarely changing from month to month. However, the monsoon, which peaks in December, sees a lot of intense rain. The driest time of the year is September and might be the best time to visit, especially for hiking and other outdoor activities.
There is a small airport on the island. To get to Raiatea, there are regular flights to and from major islands like Tahiti and Bora Bora. Alternatively, motivated visitors can hitch a ride on one of the many cargo ships or even buy a room on a luxury cruise line.