In the South Pacific Eons ago, volcanos erupted at sea, forming islands. Coral reefs were being born in shallow waters off shore. In time, the islands started to return to the sea, while their barrier reefs continued to grow, broke the surface and formed their own islands called Motu (in Polynesian). They are usually separated from their island mother by a turquoise lagoon.
The Song accompanying the video is entitled "A Reva" by Tahiti Cool. "A Reva" is defined as a sensitive woman who is naturally graceful and emanates an air of balance and harmony. Upon meeting, her shyness can make her appear distant, reserved and secretive; but she is actually very anxious to be liked. Deeply attached to her emotional, familial and social values, she is a generous lady who likes to make others happy and cannot bear violence or aggression.
Editor's Note: - Sandy Estabrook It all started after I saw Brando's 1962 version of Mutiny on the Bounty. A severe case of Island Fever hit me and more specifically the South Pacific variety. You know, beautiful islands, topless women etc etc. Add to that a visit to Ian Fleming's Jamaica and I wanted to taste more. As a result I subscribed to the monthly journal of the Seven Seas Cruising Association. I read every book I could on solo circumnavigators and retired sailing couples following the sun. I must of read close to a dozen sailing adventures by the likes of Joshua Slocam, Herman Melville, Eric Hiscock, Hal Roth all the way up through Robin Lee Graham and Tania Aebi. Then I lived life vicariously through the Hermit of Suwarrow who as a merchant marine retired to live out his days (and write a book) on an uninhabited atoll in the Cook Islands. I remember telling friends, "when I retire, I'm gona buy a shortwave transceiver, move to an island in the South Pacific and listen to the problems of the world." In all of the above my main focus was primarily the Maori Islands of Polynesia. Namely, the French Islands of The Marquesas, where Melville fell in love and Jacques Brel and Paul Gauguin spent their final days. The Society Islands (today French) of Captain Cook of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea etc. And also the English speaking Cook Islands and Western Samoa and the Island Kingdom of Tonga. They all are part of the Polynesian Triangle, which stretch their way from the northeastern tip of New Zealand to the aforementioned groups eastward to Easter Island and up to Hawaii. That's about 117,000 square miles! And buried in that sweeping expanse is little Pitcarin Island is where mutineer Fletcher Christian took to hiding. Note: Polynisia and its Maori peoples lies within the greater area of Oceania which is over three million square miles. It also include the familiar names of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Micronesia (group), Melanesia (group) the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. The peoples of Oceania are classified into four racial groups: They consist of Malaysians, Polynesians (Maori), Micronesians, and Melanesians. Back in the late 80's and what seems like a long time ago, we were afforded the opportunity on separate occasions to visit both Hawaii and its neighbors and a year later visited the Society Island group of French Polynesia; Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Raiatea. I'd say, then the latter group was 50 years behind Hawaii which was the appeal of this part of Polynesia. Here we made it our business to immerse ourselves in the Maori culture and took advantage of invites to native homes, events and visited their cultural centers.After arrival in Tahiti, prior to our departure to the out islands, we will always remember, chatting with a fellow at the then Beachcomber Bar. He too just arrived. What we didn't know initially and which eventually was revealed, was that this was his second trip with his first trip being only a month prior. Upon his return to Boston, he closed shop, rented his home and returned to Tahiti for a time to be determined. Talk about island fever! When we left Polynesia, I brought with me a bottle of Hinano which adorns my book shelf to this day. And I borrowed the name Motu Iti which I gave to my boat(s) and eventually this website baring its name. In regards to the latter, one day I got to playing with html, the code of the internet. Now what to do with this new knowledge? Well, I got creative and with some pictures I took or found on the web plus some music I purchased during my visit, came up with this simple page - MotuIti.com. That was in the mid '90's, the early days of the internet. From inception there has been little updating of this page except the addition of two more "selectable" songs, a change in a couple pictures. I then added this dissertation in Spring 2011 as the world tumbles into financial turmoil and social unrest. 2015 saw some reformatting to HTML5 to accomodate iPhones. And the world is still at unrest only for different reasons. Even prior to that, in 2007, I started to read and see TV documentaries on rising sea water levels impacting the fragile atolls of the region which necessitated its mention here. For those interested, do a Google search on the subject, there is plenty to read including Sitting by the Sea, a Poem by Jane Resture. Because of the aforementioned, I feel a sense of urgency and hope that sometime soon we should return to Polynesia, the most beautiful region in God's world. There are still places I hope to see; The Atolls of the Cooks and of course Suvarov where Tom Neale settled. The Tuamotus and Marquesas the final resting place or Paul Gauguin and where Herman Melville fell in love with lovely Fayaway, and finally the Island Kingdom of Tonga.
Jane Resture's Oceania . Here you'll find a wealth of info and all you need to know about the greater area of Polynesia and then some. It will take some poking around, as it is as vast at Oceania itself. Be sure to read her poem above it says it all.
UPDATE 2024: Hi Res (1920 x 1080) Slide Show. It is Here
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