Bora Bora Attractions

Bora-Bora is one of the islands in the Leeward group of islands, is one of the Society Islands of the French Polynesia. It is located about 260 km northwest of the capital Papeete. The real spelling of his name is Pora Pora (Tahitian first born). It is also called May te pora (created by the gods). It houses the airport of Bora Bora.

Located approximately 250 km northwest of Tahiti, this island of the archipelago of the Society is rather small dimensions of the main island is only 8 km from north to south and 5 km from east to west, the total area of Bora-Bora, including islands, is less than 40 km².

The chief town of the island is Vaitape. Tupai Atoll is an administrative dependency of Bora-Bora.

Bora-Bora is formed by an extinct volcano, surrounded by a lagoon and a fringe of reef. Its highest point is Mount Otemanu (727 m) located in the center of the atoll, another summit, Mt Pahia, also located on the main island, reached 661 m.

The main island is cut by three bays which open onto the lagoon: Faanui Bay, and the Bay of Tuuraapuo or Povaie Bay in the west, and the Bay Hitiaa north-west. Bay Tuuraapuo separates the main island by two volcanic islands: Toopua and Toopua-iti.

A necklace of coral protects Bora-Bora as a dam. It is a barrier reef, which only gives a window on the ocean from the Teavanui, west of the main island, allowing most of the big cargo ships to enter in the lagoon. They must, however, remain in a channel because the water is very shallow in other areas.

The barrier reef is very wide in places, it exceeds two kilometers wide southwest of the island. To the east and north of the island, the reef supports a series of islands composed of coral debris and sand (this kind of block is called Motu). It is located on a Motu in the north, the Motu Mute, which has the airport in Bora-Bora.

Bora-Bora is part of a group of islands linked to the volcanic activity of a ‘hotspot’. This is an extinct volcano which was active in the upper Pliocene (between 3.45 and 3.10 million years), and who has suffered at least partial collapse and severe erosion in a warm and humid tropical climate. Tuuraapuo Bay was the main crater of the volcano, whose southwestern border, collapsed, and now has no more than level patches.

Toopua and Toopua-iti, which rise respectively to 148 m and 17 m. Volcanic rocks are basalt type (mainly alkali basalts and some hawaiites and some gabbro intrusion, especially in the island Toopua). They showed overwhelmingly flows, but explosive episodes were very rare.

Formerly called Vava’u, the island was occupied from the fourth century by the Polynesians. It was discovered by James Cook who gave the first group of Europeans in 1777. In 1842, the island passed under french protectorate.

The United States set up a military base in Bora Bora during the Second World War. For five years, almost 5,000 people have relayed on this island. It was at this time that an airport was built on the Motu Mute.

Bora Bora — Pre-European Period

For Vavau (Bora-Bora) genealogies do not go back beyond Ofa’i-Honu first arii known, belonging to a royal lineage different from Havai’i (Raiatea).

There are still on the island, a large stone in the shape of a turtle Ofa’i, called Honu (Turtle-Pierre). This stone belonged to Ofa’i and symbolized sovereignty over the island. He married Hohora’i, who gave him a son, “Firiamata-o-Vavau. It was at the birth of this last name that was given to Vavau Island and the marae or Vaiotaha temple was built in his honor.

Vavau was generations, the first name of the island Porapora and the first Vaiotaha royal marae of the island on which Firiamata-o-Vavau was solemnly enthroned Ariinui or sovereign Vavau. This prince was better known under the name of Vavau, and married Crown Princess of Havai’i, Tetuamatatini i Vaeara’i, granddaughter of Taaroa tahi-nui-i-Tumu Vaeara’i.

Thus, from the beginning, the two dynasties of Havai’i and Vavau united in marriage, they should continue to rule over the islands and later in Tahiti.

These marriages were sought by the ruling families of these two islands in order to maintain peace between the two kingdoms.

Vavau, was a great warrior and navigator, having had a son, Te-mata-ohu-tua-o-Havai’i, could not resist the call of the sea. He embarked on a long journey across the deserts and ocean reached Nuku Tere (Rarotonga), where he met the beautiful To’amu, which gave him a son called Mana-tere-i-te-Po.

This son became his father as a great navigator and his PAHI (large double canoe) called Taaroa-nui-May-tu-Ra’i. He went to Hitinui (Tahiti), where he married Taurua-horo-po’ipo’i of Vaiare (Papeari).

Vavau but said the sea and managed to win Avarua (New Zealand) where he had two son: Tepou and Tu-ru-hoho’i. They grew close to their mother, because their father continued his voyages of exploration that led to Nukalofa (Tonga). In this island, he met Papauri and had a son named Papatie from her.

Upon returning from this long trip, Vavau visited the Tuamotu islands, where he met Te-arii-o-te-Ra’i vahine, were born of this link: Tiihopu, and Taehau Rere-i-Hotu. This last son like his father became a great navigator.

History tells us that he traveled a big ocean and came to Oahu (Hawaii), where he ultimately settled.

It was at the time of Firiamata-o-Vavau towards the middle of the ninth century, a large group of warriors heads left Havai’i (Raiatea) for political and demographic reasons. They arrived at Hitinui (Tahiti) and landed at the forefront of Taunoa in the district of Vaiare (Papeari).

The Manahune, the first inhabitants of the island, opposed the establishment of these settlers, but the families of Vaiare, Papara, Punaauia took exception, preferring an alliance with the newcomers, warriors whose superiority seemed bright . The struggle of small people manahune did not last long and after some fighting, the technical superiority of warriors Havai’i won.

The Manahune, who would not submit to the victors took refuge in the mountains, which are known as the ancestors of those who will be later called, the ‘taetaevao’.

Those who could flee became the servants of the conquerors and formed the last class of the society, that of Manahune. The winners in agreement with the heads of large families Manahune settled in the country. Hurimaavehi of Vaiare who was the head of the family the most powerful of the island, was the architect of rapprochement between the major families Manahune and heads Havai’i warriors.

Marriages took place between these two communities and formed a government modeled on that of Havai’i, which was called “Heads of Government warriors” and Vaiare became the political center Hitinui (Tahiti).

Back to Firiamata-o-Vavau who eventually return to his homeland where the Queen was waiting faithfully Tetuamatatini i Vaeara’i who had the régnence during his absence that lasted many lunar months. Their eldest son Te-oho-mata-tua Havai’i already existed, when had a second son named Firiamata-o-Hiti.

After the conquest of Hitinui by the heads of warriors Havai’i, Prince Firiamata-o-Hiti Vaiare came to where he married TETUANUI-Taurua-horo-po’ipo’i. From their union was born toa-Te-o-te-moana aka Teriitemoanarau who married Hitinui of Punaauia. They had a son, the famous “Tetuana’e hurt” later dubbed the legislature.

We can say that the dynasty of the former Tahitian king of the country, began with Tetuana’e really hurt, which was the first ruler of this line to gird the maro ura “and” Moroccan tea “on the marae of Farepu’a built for his coronation to Vaiare.

Tetuana’e hurt legitimately held two belts of royal red feathers and feathers clear – the equivalent of the royal crown – his grandfather Firiamata-o-Hiti, son of Tetuamatatini i Vaeara’i, princess heir to Havai’i ( Raiatea) and therefore holds two sacred maro.

The principle of legitimate transmission of Moroccan royal order of primogeniture is extremely important. The induction of Tetuana’e the sacred marae Farepu’a to the Xth century, marks the beginning of the reign of arii nui maro ura, the sovereign on the belt of red feathers on Tahiti.

Bora Bora Tourism

Each year, Bora-Bora is landing some 20 000 tourists. Pressure that appears to control the island since November 2007 in Paris, she received a Golden Marianne rewarding its action in protecting the environment.

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(Derived from a Wiki article)

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