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Nuku
Hiva is the largest island in the Marquesas archipelago with
330 sq. km. (127 sq. miles) of surface area. Its beauty
from the sea or in the air high above the island is truly
breathtaking. The 2,500 inhabitants live in Taiohae, Taipivai,
Hatiheu, Aakapa, Pua, Hooumi, Anaho and Hakaui, where they
work for the government, the community, the Catholic church
or school system or for themselves chopping copra high in
the mountains, fishing, raising cattle and other livestock
or sculpting bowls, platters, Marquesan ceremonial clubs,
"tikis" and ukuleles.
Taiohae
is a pleasant village bordering the sea.
It is the administrative, economic,
educational and health center of the
Marquesas Islands. The French and
territorial administrators, the
government buildings, police, post
office, hospital, town hall, Air Tahiti
office, banks, schools, stores and shops
are located in Taiohae.
Sundays and holidays are
just as busy as any other day. Villagers drive back and
forth along the seafront road in their 4-wheel drive
vehicles, calling out to their friends possibly stopping
to join the on going game of petanque, a French ball game
like bacci, played under a flowering flamboyant tree
in front of the town hall. Nearby the women sit under a
shelter and win money playing bingo.
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