Montagne Percée (Mou'A Puta Ou Mou'A Tapu)

The pierced mountain (Mou'a Puta) is a spectacular peak on the island of Moorea. Legend has it that one night, Hiro and his band of thieves from Raiatea came to Moorea. At that time, Moorea was called Aimeo i te rara varu (Aimeo of eight tentacles), because of there are eight chains of mountains on the island, like the eight legs of an octupus. The thieves had come to steal Mount Rotui, which is the mountain from where the souls of the departed ascend to the heavens. With the aid of long...