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.