CC BY-SA 3.0, Semhur, Wikimedia CommonsLandmark· Nuku Hiva· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Taipivai Village Tohua and Tikis
8° 52.4′ S · 140° 3.8′ W
Taipivai is the Typee valley where Herman Melville lived for four weeks after deserting his whaler, the basis of his first book; the village tohua (ceremonial ground) has modern stone tikis, and the valley holds older paepae and temple platforms.
Practical
Coordinate is the OpenStreetMap node for Paepae Te A'itua in Taipivai village. The brief (2023) lists the handcraft centre, Paepae Te Aitua, Kuee Nui waterfall, the Paeke site and the Melville stele; it recommends meeting Anatine, who guides visitors and runs village activities. Walk inland from the dinghy landing on the concrete road. The tohua has toilets (2017). Ask locals or a guide for the older me'ae and tikis up the valley (the compendium's route notes say 'hike up the valley to see the tikis and maraes'). St Joseph's church is in the village. Post office: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7am-11am, Wed 7am-9am (2019); first right across the bridge, then right; on the left. In 1813 Captain David Porter's American force burned the Tai Pi villages here during the Nuku Hiva Campaign.
Best for
Melville's Typee and Marquesan stonework
Nearby
- Taipivai Valley Waterfall Hike0.2 NM away
- Anatine's Taipivai Village Activities0.3 NM away
- Magasin Kahei (Taipivai)0.3 NM away
- Taipivai Village Snack0.3 NM away
- Upe Marquesan Imperial Pigeon0.3 NM away
- Taipivai Landing Beach (Hakahaa)0.7 NM away
- Controleur Bay (Taipivai, Nuku Hiva)1.2 NM away
- Controleur Bay Night Bioluminescence and Mantas1.2 NM away