page_title: Hiva Oa
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Hiva Oa / Overview
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Végétation au bord de la route d'Atuona à Puamau, ile de Hiva Oa, archipel des Marquises, Polynésie Française. Vue sur la baie des Traitres et le rocher Hanakee. English: Vegetation at the edge of the road from Atuona to Puamau, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Sight on the "Baie des Traitres" (Traitors Bay) and the Hanakee rock.
context_page_description: With its 320 square kilometres, Hiva Oa is the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Located at 9 45' south latitude and 139 W longitude, it is the largest island of the southern Marquesas group. Around 2,200 people reside on the island. A volcano, Temetiu, is Hiva Oa's highest point with 1,200 metres.
  According to local religion, the gods created the Marquesas as their home. Therefore, all islands have names that are related with the building of a house - Hiva Oa means long ridgepole.
context_section_description: Administratively, Hiva Oa is part of the commune (municipality) of Hiva-Oa, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. Atuona, on the coast of Hiva Oa island, is the administrative centre of the commune. Atuona was formerly the seat of government for all of the Marquesas Islands, but it has been replaced by Taiohae on Nuku Hiva island.
  The island is famous as the final home of French painter Paul Gauguin and Belgian singer Jacques Brel, both of whom are buried in Calvary Cemetery, overlooking Atuona. It is also home to the largest tiki sculptures in French Polynesia.
  In late pre-European times, the island was nearly evenly divided into two provinces—Nuku in the west, and Pepane in the east.
caption: Hiva Oa. View of Ta'a Oa Bay from the road between Atuona and Puamau.
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