A truly remarkable day unfolded for us today in the village of Hapatoni on the island of Tahuata. An early morning search for the elusive and endangered kingfisher, restricted to only this island, gave way to an incredible welcome and performance from our hosts in Hapatoni. The beautiful culture of the Marquesas Islands and their amazing spirit of welcome and hospitality were showcased in full force during an incredible display of dancing and song. Guests were given opportunities to purchase local crafts and art before returning to the ship for lunch. We spent the afternoon snorkeling or taking to the island again for a walk to a gorgeous waterfall. We finished the day with a delicious barbecue dinner on the sundeck while our hosts from Hapatoni joined us on board. After dinner, we were treated to more song and dance from the islanders in a performance so moving that many were brought to tears.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 21 Feb 2025
Tahuata, 2/21/2025, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
James Hyde, Undersea Specialist
Pacific Northwest born James Hyde grew up immersed in the Salish Sea, on Vashon Island with Seattle as his backdrop. A passionate traveler from a young age, James explored four continents before finishing his degree at Western Washington University's...
Read MoreShare Report
Ancient Polynesia: Tuamotu and Marquesas Islands
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
2/25/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
Takaroa, Tuamotu
We have arrived at the atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago. This is a completely different landscape from the Marquesas and one that offers plenty of sun, snorkeling, and sharks. In Takaroa we had the opportunity to set up our snorkel platform for the day. We also visited the island. One highlight was the wreck of the SV County of Roxburgh , a four-masted iron ship that wrecked here in 1906. We walked inside the hull and explored its remains, including the footings from the masts and the rusted anchor chain. The other island highlight was a pearl farm where we witnessed the amount of work required to culture the black pearls for which these islands are famous. After dinner, we gathered on the bow – lights off – to learn about the night sky from Master Navigator Tua Pittman.
2/24/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
Day at Sea
We had an amazing calm day at sea on National Geographic Orion. We had a bittersweet feeling, as we just had some incredible days in the Marquéses Islands, but we also had to say goodbye to this amazing region for a while. The day was filled with very informative presentations from our onboard team of naturalists to educate us on all the incredible things in this part of the world. We had some spinner dolphins pay us a visit on the bow, and the day ended with an incredible dinner and the world-famous crew show.