abstract:Nuku Hiva (sometimes spelled "Nukahiva") is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It was formerly also known as Île Marchand and Madison Island.
Arguably the most popular island, NukuHiva is where author Herman Melville jumped out of a whaling ship in 1842 and was captured by the local Taipa tribe.