Te I'i

Te I‘i is a traditional province of Nuku Hiva, in the Marquesas Islands. The province covers slightly more than the western two-thirds of the island.

The western coast is characterized by steep slopes which plunge directly into the sea, indented occasionally by small bays leading to short deep valleys leading to the interior.

Geography

The northern coast is indented by the four good-sized bays, Haka Ehu, Haka Ea (also called Haka Pu‘a), A‘a Kapa, and Haume.

The southern coast is, like the western coast, characterized by steep slopes, and even cliffs, that plunge into the sea. These are broken by a succession of bays, the deep bay of Haka Ui in the southwest, with its neighboring bay Ua Uka, and near the center of the southern coast, Ha‘a o Tupa, just west of the deep bay of Tai o Hae, location of the island's chief town, of the same name. To the east of Tai o Hae is a peninsula on the east side of which are the two small valleys of Haka Puu Vae and Haka Pa‘a. On either side of the entrance to Tai o Hae, are small rocky islands, called "the sentinels", named "Motu Nui" on the west side, and "Mata ‘Ua Puna" on the east side of the entrance to the bay.

The interior of Te I‘i is a high plateau, called Tvi‘i, which is covered primarily by a tall-grass grassland. The highest peak on Nuku Hiva Tekao is along the northwestern edge of this plateau, reaching a height of 1,224 m (4,016 ft.).

History

Te I‘i was formerly inhabited by a number of warring tribes, who were united only in times of war with the tribes of Tai Pi, the province covering the remainder of the island. There is some anecdotal evidence that indicates that the tribes of Ua Pu were sometimes united with the tribes of Te I'i in war against Tai Pi. Despite the fact that tribes from both the eastern and western halves of Ua Pu were often united in war against each other, however, it appears that such differences among them were not considered when members of tribes from either side of the island sought refuge among the tribes of Te I'i on Nuku Hiva.

Resources

Handy, E. S. Craighill. "The Native Culture in the Marquesas". Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Bulletin 9. B.P.B. Museum, Honolulu, 1971.