Landmark· Maupiti· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Marae Vaiahu
16° 27.2′ S · 152° 15.5′ W
Maupiti's royal and only national marae, a coral-slab platform on the lagoon shore. Legend says four giants built it, and nine kings from across the Pacific were invested here. The fish-stone pit and the king's seat are still visible, and Tatuapuha rock, where the royal canoe landed, is nearby.
Practical
Coordinate from Tahiti Heritage (OSM has it about 60 m away, at -16.454, -152.25739). On the ring road southwest of Vaiea, about 1.5 km from the quay, so walk or bike there. Features (Tahiti Heritage): the standard-hole stone, the king's freshwater well Mapunatoerauroa, the torch stone, the king's seat, the sacrificial stone by the lagoon, and the sacred fish pit (ofai puna), where priests turned a fish-shaped stone to call fish in or out through the pass. This is a sacred site: don't climb on the stones or move anything.
Best for
Polynesian history on a bike loop
Nearby
- Loretta Bakery (Maupiti)0.4 NM away
- Maupiti Water & Fuel (jerrycan)0.4 NM away
- Mount Teurafaatiu Summit Hike (Maupiti)0.4 NM away
- Ofai Tairi Manu (Bird-Drum Stone)0.5 NM away
- Vaiea Quay (Maupiti)0.5 NM away
- Maupiti Round-Island Road0.6 NM away
- Heiva i Maupiti (July Festival)0.7 NM away
- Maupiti Infirmary (Infirmerie)0.7 NM away