TX7N – Hiva Oahu

The TX7N team will begin activities in January 2025 from IOTA OC-027, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands.
Team – F5VHQ, F8GGV, F6BCW, F5SDD, SP5APW, HB9GWJ, F8ATS, EA1SA, F6FMC, F1MNQ, OK2WX, F4GLD, F4ISZ, F5LRL.
Nearest DX Point TX7N
TX7N Log Searchsearch They will operate on the HF band.
More information will be provided later.

Hiva Oa Island, Iceland

Hiva Oa is the second largest and most famous island of the Marquesas. Getting here is not easy: it is less than 5,000 km from the nearest continent and less than 1,500 km from Tahiti. Despite this, Hiva Oa is a popular holiday destination. Tourists come here not only for the pleasant climate and the opportunity to swim in the Pacific Ocean, but also for the beautiful natural scenery and interesting sights on the island.

Fatu Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands. Author – Chris.

Historical Overview

The Marquesas Islands, including Hiva Oa, were discovered by the famous navigator Álvaro Mendanha de Neira in 1595. However, for a long time, Europeans were not eager to settle on the islands. The reason was not only the distance from civilization to the Marquesas Islands, but also the aggressiveness of the local indigenous people and the endless wars between indigenous tribes.

France annexed the island in 1842 and began to introduce Christianity to the local population for the first time in 1855.

In 1904, Hiva Oa became the administrative center of the Marquesas Islands, and in 1940 the capital was moved to Nuku Hiva.

TX7N. Marquesas Islands DX Expedition logo.

Gauguin’s final resting place

One of the most famous residents of the Marquesas was French painter Paul Gauguin. The artist spent the last years of his life on Hiva Oa, where he created many of his world-famous paintings.

One of the most important attractions on the island is the Paul Gauguin House in the center of Atuion. The house was restored in 1994 and is now a museum.

Both floors of the building are made of bamboo. Above the front door are two inscriptions: “Keep it secret” and “Keep it happy”. Above is the inscription “Happy House”. Gauguin and his young Tahitian wife spent their last two years here: from 1901 to 1903. Gauguin led a dissolute life and never had a conflict with the church authorities in Tahiti and Hiva Oo, and in his “Happy House” he hosted feasts with absinthe, which was brought to the artist by sailors.

Although Paul Gauguin lived in extreme poverty (he became famous only after his death), suffered from diseases such as leprosy, and suffered from chronic depression, the artist’s best works were created on the island of Hiva Oa.

Not far from the House of Pleasure is Gauguin’s grave. The painter who celebrated the nature, customs and beauty of Oceanic women is buried on a hillside with a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. The tombstone is decorated with a replica of one of Gauguin’s sculptures.

Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands. Author – Philip Reichert.

Oceania’s stunning scenery

Hiva Oa Island is a perfect place for those who love seclusion. With a population of less than 2,000 people, the island has few hotels but beautiful scenery.

Here you can admire steep cliffs and lush tropical vegetation, stroll along the coast where sandy beaches give way to rocky coves, and admire the often misty Termetia on the top of the mountain.

It will be interesting to learn about the customs of the locals. Many of them still live in traditional houses built with bamboo and wood. One or two hundred years ago, the ancestors of the aboriginals lived in similar buildings.

Part of the population works in agriculture, and part of the population works in hotels.

Hiva Oa Island Entertainment

The island offers excellent conditions for various sports. You can go hiking, cycling or motorcycling, diving or mountain climbing. Visitors can also go horseback riding, as well as visit neighboring islands.

Of course, you should also try the delicious Polynesian cuisine. There are many restaurants and cafes on the island, serving rice, seafood, meat and fish dishes and of course surprisingly delicious exotic local fruits.

Main attractions on the island

In addition to the Gauguin House, there are quite a few other interesting sights on the island. Most of the sights are concentrated in the main town of Atuona. This settlement sits on the shores of a picturesque lagoon and it is worth strolling along its streets, which have hardly changed since the days when Paul Gauguin walked through them.

There is a restored Tau’a temple in Otun where people once prayed to local spirits. Outside the town, in the rainforest, there are basalt statues. These are idols worshipped by local tribes.

Another interesting site in the east of the island is the village of Kuama’u, which preserves buildings from the site of a Mare Indian gathering, as well as wood and stone sculptures of the Tiki people.

Generally speaking, people don’t come to Hiva Oa for sightseeing. This corner of the world attracts visitors with its picturesque natural scenery, unique culture and opportunities for solitude.

TX7N. Where is Hiva Oa? Map.