Ua Huka Island (Marquesas French Polynesia)

Ua Huka Island belongs to French Polynesia's Marquesas Archipelago and is approx 40 km / 25 mi to the east of Nuku Hiva Island (the group's largest). Ua Huka has total area 339 km2 (131 mi2) and highest elevation point (Tekao peak, in the island's northwest corner) 1224 m (4016 ft) above sea level. The island's entire population (around 700) lives in three villages located on the southern coast (Vaipaee, Hane, Hokatu). The island's administrative center (and most populated settlement) is Vaipaee.

Ua Huka was discovered in the late-18th-century and initially named "Ile du Solide" (in 1790 by Etienne Marchand/French merchant captain, during his voyage from Marseille France), "Washington Island" (in 1791 by Joseph Ingraham/American merchant captain, during his crossing from Boston USA to China around Cape Horn), and "Riou Island" (in 1792 by Richard Hergest/British British naval officer, during his expedition from Vancouver Canada).

In 1842, Ua Huka officially became a French colony. French Polynesia is one of France's overseas territories. It was proclaimed "overseas territory" in 1948, "overseas collectivity" in 2003 and "overseas country" in 2004.

As cruise port destination, Ua Huka/Vaipaee is included in the schedule of the cargo and passenger/cruise ship Aranui 5 (2015-built). Aranui Cruises visit Ua Huka mainly on 14-day roundtrips from Papeete to the Marquesas' 6 inhabited Islands (Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Tahuata, Ua Huka) where Aranui 5 delivers cargoes while tourists disembark to explore the exotic ports on price-inclusive shore excursions/land tours.

Next are listed all ports of call (scheduled day visits) on the ship's 14-day roundtrip itinerary from Papeete Tahiti.

• DAY 1 - embarkation in port Papeete at ~10 am. Activities include "Welcome Aboard" party with fruit punch and Marquesan dance show by the swimming pool.
• DAY 2 - Takapoto Atoll (Tuamotus Islands) - activities include swimming, lagoon snorkeling, scuba diving.
• DAY 3 - At Sea
• DAY 4 - Nuku Hiva Island. Activities include stops in ports Taiohae, Hatiheu, and Taiohae, cathedral tour, Kamuihei (archaeological site, sacred dance performance), ashore lunch at Yvonne's Restaurant (the traditional dish is Hima'a / pig cooked in an underground oven), meae (sacred ritual sites, sacred dance performance), paepae (huge stone boulders), optional hiking (trail to Paeke site).
• DAY 5 - Ua Pou Island (Hakahau-Hakahetau). Activities include stop in port Hakahau, the ship's crew unloads here supplies (including cement and sugar) and loads copra (dried coconut meat), Hakahau town exploration (handicrafts center, stone carvings shopping, church visit, ashore lunch at Rosalie's Restaurant (special dishes are breadfruit, island staple, curried goat, the poisson cru / raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk, also fei / red bananas and fruit poe). Dining includes traditional Bird Dance performance.
• DAY 6 - Tahuata Island, and Hiva Oa Island. Activities include a stop in port Vaitahu (Tahuata), visiting handcrafts center (bone carvings, shell carvings), stop in port Atuona (Hiva Oa), visiting Paul Gauguin burial site, ashore lunch at Hoa Nui Restaurant, visiting the "House of Pleasure" and museum, optional hiking tour.
• DAY 7 - Fatu Hiva Island. Activities include stops in ports Omoa and Hanavave, demonstration (local women make tapa), demonstration (kumuhei making / herbal bundles used by local women as perfume), visiting arts-crafts center (tapa, carvings, monoi coconut oil), optional hiking (16 km / 10 ml from Omoa to Hanavave), ashore lunch.
• DAY 8 - Hiva Oa Island. Activities include stops in ports Puamau and Hanaiapa, guided tour visiting Meae Ipona (archaeological site) and Puamau ruins.
• DAY 9 - Ua Huka Island. Activities include stops in ports Vaipaee, Hane, and Hokatu, optional (4x4 or horseback riding) tour, visiting a museum, gardens, ashore lunch, visiting woodcarving workshops black and white coconuts carvings), onboard "Polynesian Night" (themed events, traditional dancing and chanting lessons, buffet dinner on the pool deck, themed entertainment).
• DAY 10 - Nuku Hiva Island. Activities include morning stop in port Taiohae (arts-crafts center), afternoon stop in Hakahau (Marquesan souvenirs shopping).
• DAY 11 - At Sea
• DAY 12 - Rangiroa Atoll. Activities include lagoon swimming-snorkeling-scuba diving, pearl and shell jewelry shopping.
• DAY 13 - Bora Bora Island (Society Islands). Activities include white-sand beach, snorkeling, picnic lunch (with traditional Tahitian dishes), optional excursions (scuba diving, outrigger boat tour, swimming with sharks and manta rays, a helicopter tour over Bora Bora Lagoon).
• DAY 14 - disembarkation in Port Papeete at ~9:30 am.

Traditionally for the Marquesas, Ua Huka Island's economy is based on agriculture (horses, goats, fishing, copra production, citrus fruits), handicrafts (woodcarving/items from rosewood, ironwood, sandalwood; stone carving) and tourism (6x museums, 3x archeological sites, Pupuakeiha Arboretum/botanical garden, leisure activities like horseback riding, boat touring, snorkeling).