Arahurahu is the only marae -- an ancient temple or meeting place -- in all of Polynesia that has been fully restored, and it is maintained like a museum. Although not nearly as impressive as the great lagoonside maraes on Huahine and Raiatea, this is Tahiti's best example of ancient Polynesian temples and meeting places, and its exhibit boards do a good job of explaining the significance of each part. For example, the stone pens near the entrance were used to keep the pigs before being sacrificed to the gods. Arahurahu is used for the reenactment of old Polynesian ceremonies during the July Heiva Nui celebrations.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Tahiti & French Polynesia, 2nd Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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