Montagne Percée (Mou'A Puta Ou Mou'A Tapu)

The pierced mountain (Mou'a Puta) is a spectacular peak on the island of Moorea. Legend has it that one night, Hiro and his band of thieves from Raiatea came to Moorea. At that time, Moorea was called Aimeo i te rara varu (Aimeo of eight tentacles), because of there are eight chains of mountains on the island, like the eight legs of an octupus. The thieves had come to steal Mount Rotui, which is the mountain from where the souls of the departed ascend to the heavens. With the aid of long vines attached to the top of the mountain, they began to pull it and succeeded in breaking off a part. That is how Moorea's two bays were formed. Encouraged by this, they continued to pull. Then the famous warrior, Pai, was woken by his parents and came to investigate. He climbed Tataa hill to get a better view and, realizing what the thieves were trying to do, he thew a warrior's spear of hibiscus wood at them. The spear pierced a hole in the mountain and the vibration woke up the island's cocks. They began to crow and the thieves ran away, fearing that dawn was breaking and they would be discovered. The original name of Moorea's sacred mountain was Mou'a Tapu, but it was changed by European storytellers to Mou'a Puta, the pierced mountain.
Today it can be reached by a hike of several hours, which should be taken in the company of a professional guide.