Hideout Cave, not
15 January 2011 | S. W. shore of Fatu Hiva
Patrick
Walk the shore south of Omoa and you soon pass the cave which is pictured in Heyerdahls book as being the "hideout cave". At low tide, anyone walking this shore looking for large sea snails, as has been done through history, will walk past that cave. A short distance down the shore yet higher up on the cliff is another cave. That would be the cave to live in as it is high and dry, has a better view to the horizon and should have fewer biting insects. But much further down the shore, nearing the point that is blocked by a vertical wall, is the cave Heyerdahl marked in his book as being his "hideout cave". That cave has nearly no overhead protection. In fact that "cave" serves as the rock wall on the left of this picture where surfer Ben and his friends set up camp. Not even these guys have use for that "cave" . Any way, no one hides out from the natives on Fatu Hiva. This is a small island and the natives know and visit every accessible part of the island, even in 1930.