While the men made quick work of carving up the beef, the woman decorated the cakes with chocolate and coconut. I took the opportunity to check out the “O’Connor Bay”, with its black sand beach. The compound consisted of a dozen structures up the canyon behind me in this photo.
There were seven cakes, one for each decade, and each had a photo of Pifa’s father in that decade.
There were many photos taken. This one is with the father and some of his twenty brothers and sisters. All that lived nearby attended, but many who like in Tahiti, France, and elsewhere could not.
The festivities were lively, with loud island music and dancing, including many spontaneous haka dances, which were different than the Maori haka I was familiar with from my time in New Zealand, particularly in the gutteral ”wild pig” sounds.
Besides the beef, fresh raw fish, cooked whole shrimp, and many rice dishes were served. The Mormon side of the family drank fresh juice and the Catholic side mostly beer.
Before I left, Pifa’s mother Ziella made sure I took some leftovers … including two pieces of cake. It was as a fabulous experience that I will not soon forget.
Sent from my iPhone