Loka Cave

The grotte de Loka sits at the western end of Alofi, the uninhabited island facing Futuna across a narrow strait, and it is not just a cave: Futunans have made it a shrine, and people cross from Futuna to visit it. Fresh water is part of why the place matters - Alofi has almost no surface water, and the cave holds some. Getting there means a boat across the strait and a walk along the coast, and the crossing and the walk are part of the visit.

What you actually see

• The cave shrine - a chamber Futunans have made a place of devotion.
• The crossing - the boat passage over the strait from Futuna.
• The coastal walk - the approach along Alofi's shore.
• The empty island - Alofi has no permanent population at all.

When to go

May to October is the drier and calmer season and the strait crossing is easiest. Boats are arranged from the Futuna side. Heavy swell stops the crossing.

Honest expectations

There is no signage, no schedule and no infrastructure; everything depends on arranging a boat and ideally a guide from Futuna. The walk is rough in places and water must be carried. This is a place of devotion for local people and should be treated with the respect a shrine is owed.

Nearby

Alofi's western coast is around it, and Futuna is across the strait.