Santa Ana

Owaraha or Owa Raha is

its real name

Santa Ana is a relatively small coral island (5.6km long and 4.5km wide, located at the eastern end of Makira (San Cristobal). The island has two main villages, Gupuna and Nafinotoga. Upon our arrival at Port Mary on Santa Ana Island we were taken to the village football pitch and welcomed by pan pipe musicians and dancing by the villagers and visiting villagers, with spears and mud face masks. The Afuri dance was performed with the women, blowing conch shells. The Ai-matawa-Aifono-fono is a traditional performance depicting the challenge between two races – the Melanesians and Polynesians. We walked to a local school and sheltered in a local’s kitchen during a heavy downpour of rain.