Begin Photo Tour
Oeno Island, one of the Pitcairn group of four islands, is a low atoll situated 76 miles northwest of Pitcairn at 23 degrees 56 minutes South, 130 degrees 44 minutes West. Squarish in shape, it is a little over two miles wide.
#1 - Holiday Island
Oeno has a colorful history, with a number of ships having wrecked on her reef. First discovered by Captain Henderson of the “Hercules,” Oeno is Pitcairn’s “Holiday Island,” to which the Pitcairners usually sail once a year for a week or more to enjoy a more relaxed way of life.
#2 - Anchored Longboats
As the Pitcairners enjoy their vacation at Oeno, their longboats are anchored safely inside the reef while the vacationers fish, gather coconuts, shells and thatch for making baskets, or just relax under the island’s many palm trees.
#3 - Camping Out
During holiday on Oeno the Pitcairners usually set up two camps which contain kitchens, bathrooms and other facilities to accommodate the campers. The camps consist of two tents made with ropes strung between two trees with large tarpaulins thrown over and stretched as far as possible for shelter.
#4 - Pumping Water
Fresh water for showering, washing clothes and dishes on Oeno is pumped out of a well dug in the sand, and into tanks. The water level is affected by tidal movement.
#5 - Climbing a Coconut Tree
On Oeno during their annual vacation, the Pitcairners gather hundreds of coconuts, which are not plentiful on Pitcairn Island.
#6 - Collecting Palm Fronds
Once the Pitcairners arrive on Oeno Island for holiday, they began preparations for their camp. Collecting palm fronds for shade is but one of the many tasks required.
#7 - Collecting Coconuts
Fresh, cool coconut milk in the midst of a hot day is a delight indeed!
#8 - Beach Wildlife
Land crabs, some with shells on their backs, are the bane of holiday camping by the Pitcairners on Oeno Island: the creature have very sharp claws!
#9 - Oeno Bird
Oeno is home to a number of birds such as the Murphy's Petrel, Kermadec Petrel, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy and other species.
#10 - Headstone of Thomas Knowles
Thomas Knowles was buried on Oeno Island by his brother, Captain Josiah Knowles. Knowles's remains were brought onto Oeno Island after Capt. Knowles' clipper Wild Wave crashed onto the reef in 1858. [Read Sea Tale about this wreck.]
#11 - Pitcainers' Longboats at Anchor off Oeno Island
While the Pitcairners vacation, their longboats wait off shore to begin the voyage home, out through the tricky opening in the reef, and then across miles and miles of open ocean back to the tiny dot that is Pitcairn.
#12 - Oeno Ocean Vista
Pitcairn longboats and canoes in the Oeno lagoon await use for fishing or other uses by the Pitcairners during their Oeno Island holiday trips.
#13 - Oeno Beach Scene
The peaceful, shaded shoreline of Oeno offers its relaxing beauty to the Pitcairn Islanders during their holidays on the island.
#14 - View of Oeno Reef
While distant waves crash and roar outside Oeno Island's reef, Pitcairn islanders on holiday enjoy the warm, calm waters inside as part of their holiday fun.
#15 - Oeno Island Beach with Coconuts
At Oeno Island, with its fish-filled lagoon and many coconut trees, the Pitcairners stock up with shells, coconuts and fish that will make their life on Pitcairn easier.
Contact Study Center:
PHONE: 707-965-6244
TEXT: 707-229-1340
EMAIL: info@pitcairnstudycenter.org
Contact Herb Ford:
PHONE: 559-592-0980 or
559-732-0313
EMAIL: hford@puc.edu
Live Online Chat
[California Study Center]