The Island of Futuna

Futuna, lying some distance from Wallis and reached by a short flight, is the wilder and more mountainous of the territory's two main islands, and in many ways its most traditional. Unlike the flatter, lagoon-ringed Wallis, Futuna rises steeply in lush green volcanic mountains that plunge towards a coast fringed by reef, with the small island of Alofi lying just offshore. Life here is deeply rooted in Polynesian custom and Catholic faith, the island retaining its own customary kings and famous as the place where a nineteenth-century missionary, later canonised as the Pacific's first saint, met his end, commemorated by a striking basilica. Remote, verdant and steeped in tradition, Futuna offers a rare and authentic glimpse of an unspoiled Pacific island world.

History

The first Europeans to map Futuna and Alofi were Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire in 1616, sailing round the world on the Eendracht, and they named them the Hoorn Islands after Schouten's home town. Islanders traded coconuts, yams and pigs with them for iron nails, beads and knives, and in the 19th century American and other whaling ships called for water, wood and food, the first known being the Independence in 1827 (Wikipedia, Futuna (Wallis and Futuna)).

Highlights

• The green mountains - the steep lush volcanic peaks.
• The island of Alofi - the uninhabited islet just offshore.
• The basilica - the shrine to the Pacific's first saint.
• The living tradition - the customary kings and deep faith.

When to go

May to October, the drier, cooler season, brings the most pleasant weather for exploring the mountainous island, avoiding the hotter, wetter months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. Sundays and religious feasts are devoutly observed, a special but quiet time.

What to expect

Futuna is remote and little-visited even by the standards of the territory, reached by small aircraft with very limited facilities and a deeply traditional community, so it suits respectful travellers seeking authenticity over comfort.

Nearby

The uninhabited island of Alofi lies just offshore, and Wallis to the northeast.

Key facts