The "sister island" to Tahiti is a land of history and legend. Tradition has it that Moorea was the dorsal fin of the great fish of Tahiti. History tells that the god Hiro, desirous of Rotui the most beautiful mountain of the island and the place where spirits of the dead pause before their descent into the underworld, wished to make off with her one night to his home in Raiatea. But the warrior Pai put him to flight, throwing his spear which passed through the other famous mountain known from that day on as Moua Puta (Pierced Mountain). The hole thus caused can still be seen to this day. The sculptured beauty of Cook's Bay ranged with chiseled mountain peaks, including the very lovely Rotui, is paralleled by its twin bay of Opunohu whose dark waters reflect the steep mountain sides, will always attract artists, lovers of truth and beauty from around the world.
Formerly known as Aimeo, a high priest gave her the name of Moorea after having had a dream of a very beautiful giant yellow lizard. An important Domain of the royal Pomare family, Moorea was the birthplace of the Protestant Church with the printing in the nineteenth century of the first Bible in the Tahitian language.
The scenic beauty and its history are not the only attractions of this island also known for its gentle, easy life style and its high quality pineapples. Its many white sand beaches, the wide variety of its coral sea bed and the richness of its underwater life make Moorea a very special destination. Moorea is very well endowed with hotels and pensions of all categories, generally situated at the water's edge. The numerous restaurants and snack bars sometimes offer a traditional hima'a, Tahitian earth oven, which is an absolute must.
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