No, but it might seem like that if you were able to look out
over Academy Bay today. A half dozen traditional
Polynesian boats sailed into the bay over the weekend, as part of a
"round the Pacific" journey designed to highlight the pan-Pacific
travels of earlier Polynesians. In their words: "we are doing
this to strengthen our ties with the sea, renew our commitment to
healthy ecosystems for future generations, and to honour our
ancestors who have sailed before us."
This brings back memories of 1953, when Thor Hyerdhal, the
famous Norewegian explorer (known for his Kon-Tiki Polynesian reed
ship that he sailed in the Pacific in 1947) visited Galapagos
looking for evidence of Polynesian settlements. The
locals on Floreana island decided to play a trick on
him. They had carved a face in a volcanic rock before
hand, and proceeded to show it to him as evidence that the
Polynesians had been to the island. It seems he was bright
enough to realize that it was a fake, and doesn't refer to it in
the report of his expedition.
The sculpture has become part of local lore - if you're
itinerary takes you to Floreana, ask your guide to take you to the
Easter Island head scultpure!
