Nuku Hiva is the largest island in the Marquesas archipelago with 330 sq. km. (127 sq. miles) of surface area. Its beauty from the sea or in the air high above the island is truly breathtaking. The 2,500 inhabitants live in Taiohae, Taipivai, Hatiheu, Aakapa, Pua, Hooumi, Anaho and Hakaui, where they work for the government, the community, the Catholic church or school system or for themselves chopping copra high in the mountains, fishing, raising cattle and other livestock or sculpting bowls, platters, Marquesan ceremonial clubs, "tikis" and ukuleles.

Taiohae is a pleasant village bordering the sea. It is the administrative, economic, educational and health center of the Marquesas Islands. The French and territorial administrators, the government buildings, police, post office, hospital, town hall, Air Tahiti office, banks, schools, stores and shops are located in Taiohae.

Sundays and holidays are just as busy as any other day. Villagers drive back and forth along the seafront road in their 4-wheel drive vehicles, calling out to their friends possibly stopping to join the on going game of petanque, a French ball game like bacci, played under a flowering flamboyant tree in front of the town hall. Nearby the women sit under a shelter and win money playing bingo.