June 20, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
RENOWNED ARCHAEOLOGIST LEADS EXPEDITION TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
HONOLULU – Imagine touring some of the most important archaeological and cultural sites in French Polynesia with a world-renowned archaeologist. This will become reality when Dr. Yosihiko Sinoto leads a Bishop Museum expedition to the Society Islands , French Polynesia from September 23 through October 1, 2006 . Sinoto, a living treasure of the Bishop Museum , honored with a Tahitian knighthood, Japan ’s Order of the Rising Sun, and Bishop Museum ’s Robert J. Pfeiffer Medal, is recognized throughout Hawai’i and the Pacific for his research in the Society and Marquesas Islands . He has conducted significant work on Huahine-Nui and Huahine-Iti.
During the eight-day expedition, Sinoto will be the group’s guide on the islands of Huahine and Rai‘atēa, visiting archeological and cultural sites where he has discovered and restored many important marae (open-air stone structures built for religious rites and ceremonies).
Huahine is known for its remarkable prehistoric village of Maeva , where all district chiefs once lived side-by-side and worshipped their ancestors at their respective marae. Sinoto will lead a circle island tour of Huahine, where travelers will visit Maeva, stop at Fare Pote’e, a reconstructed traditional meeting house now being used as a cultural center, and tour the Mata’ire’a Hill site complex. On the Mata’ire’a Hill trail, the partially restored remains of an island settlement that is an integral component of the Maeva Village Archaeological Complex, a unique Polynesian settlement like no other in the Pacific, can be seen. Following the tour of Huahine, Sinoto will present a slide lecture on the heritage of Polynesian navigators.
The second largest of the Society Islands , Rai‘atēa figures prominently in Polynesian prehistory. According to Polynesian oral traditions, the island (once called Havaiki) was the cradle of Polynesian civilization. Here, Sinoto will take the group to Opoa, ancient political and religious center of the Society Islands , to see the famous Marae Taputapuatea, Marae Hauviri and other ceremonial features including an archery platform.
Bishop Museum has a long-standing relationship with the islands in French Polynesia . In March 2006, Sinoto and other representatives from Bishop Museum traveled to Tahiti to sign a cooperative agreement with the Government of French Polynesia to extend the Museum’s relationship in researching and recording archaeological sites throughout French Polynesia . The agreement is the only agreement that French Polynesia holds with a private institution.
The expedition to French Polynesia includes roundtrip airfare from Honolulu to Papeete , Tahiti , luxury accommodations, ground transportation, and welcome and farewell dinners. Optional excursions are available for the group to enjoy at their leisure while they are in Papeete . This unique travel opportunity is priced at $3,450 per person, based on double occupancy. For more information or to book reservations, contact Travel Ways at (808) 597-1425.
A treasured resource of Hawaiian history and heritage Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. Located at 1525 Bernice Street , the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; $11.95 for youth 4-12 years, special rates for kama ‘āina, seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org .