Tautira

{{Infobox French commune |name = Tautira |INSEE = 987 |postal code = |type = Associated commune |commune = Taiarapu-Est |coordinates = {{coord|17|44|50|S|149|9|40|W|region:PF|display=inline,title}} |utc offset = −10:00 |adjustable map = {{Location map|Tahiti|caption=}} |map caption = Location within Tahiti |elevation m = |elevation min m = |elevation max m = |population = 2527 |population date = 2022 |population footnotes = <ref name=pop2022>{{cite web|url=https://www.ispf.pf/content//uploads/RP_2022_Decret_n_2022_1592_du_20_decembre_2022_authentifiant_les_resultats_du_recensement_de_la_population_2022_JOPF_778cd9be0e.pdf|title= Les résultats du recensement de la population 2022 de Polynésie française|language=fr|trans-title=Results of the 2022 population census of French Polynesia|publisher=Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française|date=January 2023}}</ref> |image = Plage de Tautira.jpg |caption = Tautira Beach and surrounding mountains }} '''Tautira''' is a Polynesian beach village, valley, and point on the south-east coast of the island of Tahiti in the Pacific. It is part of the commune Taiʻarapu-Est. With a population of 2,527 (in 2022), it is located 49 kilometres southeast of the Tahitian capital of Papeete on the coast of Tautira Bay, at the end of what is the largest valley of the Taiarapu Peninsula. Domingo de Bonechea visited the area in 1772 and attempted to spread Christianity here; James Cook landed at Tautira Bay during his voyage. Robert Louis Stevenson referred to the village as “The Garden of the World”, staying here to recover from illness in 1886. The village contains a Catholic church.

==History==

[[File:Robert Louis StevensonJune 1885.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson, 1885.]] Tautira is where Catholic missionaries first landed which eventually led to the takeover of Tahiti by the French people, and which also ended Protestants' hold on Tahiti: In 1773 the Spaniards established a catholic mission, of two friars, in the bay of Tautira, which was abandoned at eleven months. Earlier, in 1772, Domingo de Bonechea, the Basque captain landed at Aguilla near the Aiurua River, about {{Convert|10|km}} from Tautira. He had left two missionaries to try convert the indigenous people to Christianity, in 1772. However, when he returned from Peru in 1775 he found that the two missionaries he had left behind on Tahiti failed to convert the natives, and eventually they preferred to return to Peru. However, de Bonechea died on Tahiti during this campaign and he is buried in the Catholic Church in Tautira, which is now named after him. James Cook had landed at Tautira Bay (or "Cooks Anchorage") during his voyage.<ref name="BlondBrash2006">{{cite book|author1=Becca Blond|author2=Celeste Brash|author3=Hilary Rogers|title=Tahiti & French Polynesia|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781740599986|url-access=registration|accessdate=28 June 2011|year=2006|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74059-998-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781740599986/page/26 26]–,110-}}</ref> The chiefs of Tautira were reportedly once replaced by the chiefs of Teahupo'o after conflict.<ref name="Campus1979">{{cite book|title=Pacific studies|url=https://archive.org/details/pacificstudiess7900poly|accessdate=29 June 2011|year=1979|publisher=Brigham Young University, Hawaii Campus.}}</ref>

In 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of ''Treasure Island'', ''The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' and other children's books, stayed here for two months to recuperate from his illness. Stevenson had moved to the village from Papeete and lived in a hut called the "bird-cage house" where the beautiful Princess Moe, an old lady of royalty, tended him back to good health, bringing him dishes of raw fish in coconut milk, lime juice, sea water and chilli.<ref name="StevensonJolly2003">{{cite book|last1=Stevenson|first1=Fanny Van de Grift|last2=Jolly|first2=Roslyn|title=The cruise of the Janet Nichol among the South Sea Islands: a diary by Mrs Robert Louis Stevenson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhzUjdD7KWgC&pg=PA25|accessdate=1 July 2011|date=1 October 2003|publisher=UNSW Press|isbn=978-0-86840-606-0|pages=25–}}</ref> The local chief, ''Ori O Ori'', befriended him and kept him in his house, and they had even exchanged names as “Rui” and “Terii-Tera”. It was during his stay here that Stevenson wrote to his friends calling Tautira as “The Garden of the World”.<ref name="StevensonRobinson2004">{{cite book|author1=Robert Louis Stevenson|author2=Roger Robinson|author3=Albert Wendt|title=Robert Louis Stevenson: his best Pacific writings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lhOcOJNZuDUC&pg=PA62|accessdate=28 June 2011|date=30 May 2004|publisher=Univ. of Queensland Press|isbn=978-0-7022-3429-3|pages=62–}}</ref> In 1915, Tautira was described as being "the second town of the island".<ref name="Project1915">{{cite book|author=Making of America Project|title=Overland monthly and the Out West magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ypHNAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=29 June 2011|year=1915}}</ref>

==Geography==

It is located at a distance of {{Convert|49|km}} from Papeʻete, the capital city of Tahiti. The coastal stretch of the mountainous road extends from Taravoa to Tautira via Pueu. This stretch of the coast also receives the highest rainfall.<ref name="BlondBrash2006"/> An {{convert|18|km}} stretch of highway links Tautira with Taravao.<ref name="Stanley1989" /> The Tautira River runs nearby,<ref name="Overland1911">{{cite book|title=The Overland monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9VUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA23|accessdate=29 June 2011|edition=Now in the public domain.|year=1911|publisher=Samuel Carson|pages=23–}}</ref> and there is a beach at the mouth of the Vaitepiha River nearby as well.<ref name="Stanley1989">{{cite book|last=Stanley|first=David|title=Tahiti-Polynesia handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vF4DdxiaID8C&pg=PA99|accessdate=29 June 2011|year=1989|publisher=David Stanley|isbn=978-0-918373-33-5|pages=99–}}</ref>

[[File:Afterglow in the Tautira Valley Henry Adams 1891.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Henry Adams, "Afterglow in the Tautira Valley ", 1891]]

Tautira is the largest valley of the Taiarapu Peninsula, resembling Papenoʻo in that its innermost areas consist of the principal crater-basin. The valley runs outward in a direction a little to the west of north, and is traversed by a large river. The boundaries of the Tautira Valley are high and well marked.<ref name="Crampton1916">{{cite book|last=Crampton|first=Henry Edward|authorlink=Henry Edward Crampton|title=Studies on the variation, distribution, and evolution of the genus Partula ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LScwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA164|accessdate=29 June 2011|edition=Now in the public domain.|year=1916|publisher=The Carnegie Institution of Washington|pages=164–}}</ref> Aionifaa Valley lies between Tautira and Aiurua.<ref name="Crampton1916" />

thumb|right|300px|Map of Tahiti, with Tautira near bottom right

Tautira Point is a tongue of low wooded land about 600 yards wide, extending northward {{convert|.75|mi}} from the general line of the coast and from the foot of the mountains. It is formed by the deposits from the Vaitepiha River, one of the largest streams in Tahiti. The barrier reef fronts the coast from Aiurua Pass to Tautira Point at {{convert|3000|ft}} and less from the shore. It encloses channels and basins of deep water. From Vaionifa Pass, barrier reef trends northwestward in a straight line, rounding Tautira Point at only {{convert|1200|ft}} and breaking off abruptly just westward of the point, where there is a gap with very deep water {{convert|2400|ft}} wide before the reef begins again. Between Vaionifa and Tautira, there is a smaller gap about {{convert|1200|ft}} wide in which there is only {{convert|9|ft}} of water. Between this pass and Tautira, there is a channel from {{convert|1200|-|1800|ft}} wide and {{convert|2.5|mi}} long which ends in a cul-de-sac at the northern end, with the exception of a small boat passage to the village. [[File:La Farge, John, Study of Afterglow from Nature (Tahiti, Entrance to Tautira Valley), 1891.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John La Farge, ''Study of Afterglow from Nature (Tahiti: Entrance to Tautira Valley)'', 1891, Princeton University Art Museum]]From 19 to 37 fathoms there is mud almost everywhere. At the northern end the soundings decrease gradually to 16 and 8 fathoms. From Tautira Point, the coast trends westward {{convert|5|mi}} to a short distance beyond Pueu village. The general direction is straight, but two low and wooded points, Pihaa and Faraari, project about 500 yards to seaward; the first at {{convert|2.5|mi}} from Tautira, the second about {{convert|1|mi}} farther on. The mountains behind, from which numerous cascades descend, are steep and cliff-like.<ref name="Hydrographic1916">{{cite book|author=United States. Hydrographic Office|title=Pacific islands pilot|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IHUwAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=29 June 2011|edition=Now in the public domain.|year=1916|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IHUwAAAAYAAJ/page/n122 106]–107}}</ref>

When Stevenson had visited Tautira in 1888 cruising through the South Seas, he had described the setting of the village as "...in a cloudy moonlight, on the forest lawn which is the street of Tautira. The Pacific roared outside upon the reef. Here and there one of the scattered palm-built lodges shone out under the shadow of the wood, the lamplight bursting through the crannies of the wall.” The present scene, however, in Tautira is one of “neat bungalows of wood or cinder block with metal roofs" in the backdrop of the hills of the Vaitepiha River Valley.<ref name=Tahiti>{{Cite web|url=http://www.samlow.com/sail-nav/TahitiLog.htm|title=Tahiti Log|work=The Voyage Home 2000, Hokule'a Sails from Tahiti to Hawaii, January – March, 2000|accessdate=30 June 2011|publisher= samlow.com}}</ref> About one km of trekking along hilly terrain leads to the Vaitepiha River where three maraes (communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies) were restored in 1960s. However, they are again in ruins.<ref name="BlondBrash2006"/>

==Climate== According to the data recorded at the NOAA Station Id: FP91000987470110, the climatic conditions at Tautira are reported as: Annual average monthly precipitation is {{Convert|299.11|mm}} with a maximum of {{Convert|474.1|mm}} in December and a minimum of {{Convert|133.7|mm}} in August, with average annual incidence of rainfall being {{Convert|3590.3|mm}}. The average high temperature over the year is {{Convert|28.59|C}} and minimum over the year is {{Convert|22.87|C}}. The effect of global warming due to climate change has been predicted an increase of {{Convert|1|C}} and {{Convert|2|C}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/f/FP91000987470110.php|title=Tautira, French Polynesia:Climate, Global Warming, and Daylight Charts and Data|accessdate=28 June 2011|publisher=Climate-Charts.com|year=2010}}</ref>

{{Weather box |location = Tautira, French Polynesia |single line = yes |metric first = yes | Jan high C = 29.4 | Feb high C = 29.6 | Mar high C = 30.0 | Apr high C = 29.8 | May high C = 28.9 | Jun high C = 27.3 | Jul high C = 27.1 | Aug high C = 27.8 | Sep high C = 27.8 | Oct high C = 27.9 | Nov high C = 28.5 | Dec high C = 29.0 |year high C = 28.6 | Jan low C = 23.0 | Feb low C = 23.1 | Mar low C = 23.3 | Apr low C = 23.6 | May low C = 23.0 | Jun low C = 22.7 | Jul low C = 22.6 | Aug low C = 22.0 | Sep low C = 22.4 | Oct low C = 22.8 | Nov low C = 22.8 | Dec low C = 23.1 |year low C = 22.9 |precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 456.8 | Feb precipitation mm = 374.5 | Mar precipitation mm = 325.0 | Apr precipitation mm = 313.2 | May precipitation mm = 246.2 | Jun precipitation mm = 223.5 | Jul precipitation mm = 170.8 | Aug precipitation mm = 133.7 | Sep precipitation mm = 145.6 | Oct precipitation mm = 299.7 | Nov precipitation mm = 426.9 | Dec precipitation mm = 474.4 |year precipitation mm = 3590.3 |source = World Climate <ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/f/FP91000987470110.php |title = Climate Statistics for Tautira, French Polynesia |date = May 12, 2006 |accessdate = January 1, 2012}}</ref> |date=April 2012}}

==Flora and fauna== left|thumb|Coconut palm tree The Feʻi, similar to a red banana, is found here and has to be cooked, as the red skin cover in its raw state an inedible pulp.<ref name="Overland1911" />

Coconut palm with ironwood, milo, mango tree and ulu trees fringe the coastline. Mango tree, ferns and groves of hala trees are seen in the interior valley.<ref name=Tahiti/>

''Partula otaheitana rubescens'', an IUCN Red List endangered animalia species, is located in Tautira.<ref name="Crampton1916" />

==Demographics== The demographic evolution of Tautira : {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; font-size:90%;width:60%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;" |+ Demographic evolution |- ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:11% ; color:#000000;"|1977 ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:11% ; color:#000000;"|1983 ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:11% ; color:#000000;"|1988 ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:11% ; color:#000000;"|1996 ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:11% ; color:#000000;"|2002 ! style="background: #F5F5F5; width:12% ; color:#000000;"|2007 |- | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|1 163 | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|1 411 | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|1 763 | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|2 447 | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|2 343 | style="background: #D1E8FF; color:#000000;"|2 338 |- | colspan="9" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| <small>Sources ISPF,<ref>ISPF, ''[http://www.ispf.pf/(ou0itg553lfxvx45xjhe3lqt)/stat/demo/fr/defaut.htm#myBody Démographie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216172028/http://www.ispf.pf/(ou0itg553lfxvx45xjhe3lqt)/stat/demo/fr/defaut.htm |date=2014-12-16 }}''</ref> Mairie de Tautira<ref>Mairie de Tautira, ''[http://www.taiarapu-est.pf/pages/Tautira.htm Chiffres Clés] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607080554/http://www.taiarapu-est.pf/pages/tautira.htm |date=2009-06-07 }}''</ref><br />* : estimation</small> |}

==Culture== [[File:Tahiti-Oro.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A depiction of the god figure 'Oro whose temple in Tautira was destroyed by Pōmare II.]] In the 19th century, Tautira boasted a Chinese store and a church. The Catholic Church, Protestants, and Mormon missions were in juxtaposition in the village.<ref name="Overland1911" /> When Pōmare II returned to kingship in Tahiti, he became a Christian, and destroyed the temple and idol of 'Oro, the national god of Tahiti, at Tautira.<ref name="StevensonBalfour1903">{{cite book|last1=Stevenson|first1=Margaret Isabella|last2=Balfour|first2=Jane Whyte|title=From Saranac to the Marquesas and beyond: being letters written by Mrs. M.I. Stevenson during 1887–88, to her sister, Jane Whyte Balfour|url=https://archive.org/details/fromsaranactoma00balfgoog|accessdate=29 June 2011|year=1903|publisher=Methuen|pages=[https://archive.org/details/fromsaranactoma00balfgoog/page/n340 298]–}}</ref>

==Transportation==

===Air=== The Faaa International Airport close to Papeʻete is the main use of transportation in Tautira. Air Tahiti serves inter-island flights to other islands within French Polynesia. Air France takes passengers to Los Angeles, California. Other destinations are Honolulu, Hawaii; Tokyo, Japan; and Paris, France. The residents of Tautira would drive to Teahupoo and drive northbound toward Faaa. One helipad is nearby and some helicopters drop off passengers.

===Road=== Only a few streets of Tautira are paved while the rest are dirt.

===Sea=== The Papeete Wharf in Papeʻete has 3 main ships. They are the Aremiti 5, the Aremiti 7, and the Moorea ferry. The Aremiti 5 is the largest of the ships. It has red stripes with a red background. The Aremiti 7 has the same color but is smaller and faster than the Aremiti 5. The Moorea Ferry is white on the top and blue at the bottom. It is the slowest of the 3 ships. Tautira has a smaller port with a few private docks.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

Category:Populated places in Tahiti