Raiatea: The Sacred Island

The Polynesian Creation Chants tells of Ta’aroa, the Supreme God who broke out of his shell and created all things. This is how Havai’I (Raiatea) was born. It was the birth place of land, the birthplace of gods, the birthplace of kings and the birthplace of man. And it was to Havai’I that the souls of the dead must return. This holy island became the cradle of royalty and religion as well as the center of Polynesian Maohi culture, history and heraldry.

Raiatea is both the largest and most populated island in the Leeward Islands, with a land area of 167.7 km² (64.7 sq. miles) and a total population of 12,024 inhabitants at the August 2007 census.

Ra'iatea is widely regarded as the 'center' of Polynesia and it is likely that the organized migrations to Hawaii, Aoteroa (New Zealand) and other parts of East Polynesia started at Ra'iatea. A traditional name for the island is Havai'i fanau fenua (Hawai'i birther of land).