Exploring the island of Niue: Sacred, ancient burial cave

[@VicStefanu]

I have received many negative comments regarding this video from locals and from Niue citizens from around the world. It seems that this is a sacred place (understandably) and that no photos or videos were allowed.. Please understand the following: this site is being advertised as a site for TOURISTS TO VISIT, there are signs on the road for tourists to find the site, explaining the site, its purpose, history, etc. I receive negative comments for filming a site that the local government advertises for people to see... Also, note that I DID NOT enter the caves and did not disturb anything!! NO PERMISSION WAS REQUIRED for visiting this site, this site is open, unguarded and the tourists are ENCOURAGED to visit it.. NO SIGNS are (or were, when I visited the site) visible anywhere prohibiting the taking of photos or videos.. NO DISRESPECT was intentionally shown or meant.. I understand your messages and what you are telling me (regarding permission, etc) but I wish you could understand my points (mentioned here) as well. If you want this site to remain secret and sacred, the best thing to do is to go to your local politicians AND A): ASK THEM TO REMOVE IT FROM THE LIST OF SITES FOR TOURISTS TO VISIT, and B): PLACE LARGE AND VERY VISIBLE SIGNS INFORMING PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE PHOTOS OR VIDEOS - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@immenseahmu3767]

I just say thanks for showing very acient stories of the Pacific. Lived in Samoa and never knew about the sites you have shown. Owing to your videos I will be visiting the Pacific ancient sites. 👍🏽

[@VicStefanu]

@@immenseahmu3767 Hello, thank you for watching my videos and for your wonderful comments!! 👍👍👍

[@dontlosehope1]

What are they hiding?

[@VicStefanu]

@@dontlosehope1 They are not hiding anything.. It is a sacred place for the locals and no non-locals are supposed to visit, however, the tourism bureau listed it as a 'site' to visit and posted signs on the road.. that's how I found it.. .

[@moanat6701]

I am New zealand Niuean. In fairness to this man ( vic ) ...If the sign of the site says what vic has mention, than what harm to learn and explore the myth ( no disrespect to the bones )...yes it's taboo,..the curisity is that mysterious resting place is a migrated bones of the unknown is not to be spoken of .( thankyou for showing the site ). To have seen this forbidden plot is a place of origin histories to the eyes of unknown visitories a myth , of respecting the culture value to😢 handle with care ( no disrespect to the bones ) the site is a navigating mysterious mention to obey the resting place also left to exposed with out burial why??? A forgotten bones with no names ( no retrospect to the bones ) the scatter plot is alarming ( in a good way ) sinister a painful histories never to mention or heard of is forgotten. This site is lay to rest with out recognition for there origin histories has not to be seen or heard of has unknown burial resting places ( the bones with no names )...Are these someones love one or relation or no one cares who they are is left to exposes has a site to be never heard of ever a resting place the " bones with no names ". To wish the soul of these decedent eternal rest and peace... Amen

[@VicStefanu]

Hello my friend, thank you for sharing with us these very interesting comments!! 😊😊😊

[@jayvee3036]

Vic,i enjoy your videos on our culture i am tongan and have viewed alot of your work,thank you for what your doing it is a shame that others can not appreciate the work your doing to shed light on our history(Polynesian,Melonesia, Micronesia etc.) and our contribution to humanity pls.continue to visit our islands in the pacific and share our stories before time, neglect and global warming destroys whats left,ofa lahi atu....manu eteaki kalekale....

[@VicStefanu]

Hello my friend, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

[@thundragurcharan]

Wow this is so amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@VicStefanu]

Thanks for watching! 👍👍👍

[@tarvisscotch6266]

did you get permision

[@oliwiereb]

Very sensitive topic - but thank you for the insight to this place.

[@LL-sq8se]

You are very brave and not at all squeamish.You do whatever it takes to make a documentary of history for the ages... Thanks Vic!

[@VicStefanu]

Thank you for your comments. Concerning this particular video, I did not mean any disrespect for the locals, this cemetery was included in a tourist brochure and this is how I found out about it..

[@mcfrdmn]

Very interesting and informative video of the human bone remnants in the Anaana Burial Cave on the Island of Niue in the South Pacific. Would you not consider the mere fact of filming the cave with the bones inside an act of disturbing the sacred burial cave of Anaana Approximately how old would you estimates the human bone remnants inside the burial cave of Anaana are?

[@VicStefanu]

+Michael Friedman Some go back to 300 years!!

[@VicStefanu]

+Michael Friedman Good questions Michael... I was very careful in filming inside this cave, I was careful where to step and to make sure that I did not touch anything!! The age of the bones are at least 300 years old (the bottom of the cave may have bones that are 500 years old or possibly older)...

[@Mateice2000]

what an awesome videos you make!! i enjoy watching every one

[@VicStefanu]

+matea krivic Thank you for watching my videos!!

[@Grandpadew]

Vic I have a couple of questions......is this burial ground still used? Could the remains here be of victims of cannibals? Amazing place you have visited.

[@VicStefanu]

+Grandpadew This cave has not been used for burials for at least 100 years... As far as cannibalism goes, I would say no; if cannibals were to eat a person, they would not honor that person with such a burial..

[@rolinasvase1077]

Some things are best untouched.For your wellbeing I hope that spirits never followed you around

[@VicStefanu]

I have received many emails about this video and I have explained to people that this site was advertised as a touristy site by the local government (there are signs posted as well on the road)... No, nothing happened to me so far, thank you for your comments!!

[@slap_A_flamingo]

As long as you are being respectful and trying your best not to disturb them or move anything I think it would be ok.

[@slap_A_flamingo]

Absolutely fascinating how old traditions were. Must have been an absolutely mind blowing place to be. Just the amount of his in there.

[@VicStefanu]

It really is, thank you for watching!! 👍👍👍

[@slap_A_flamingo]

@@VicStefanu not a problem. It was interesting.

[@VicStefanu]

@@slap_A_flamingo Thank you!! 👍👍👍

[@slap_A_flamingo]

@@VicStefanu no worries 🙂

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

@VicStefanu...This video is consistent with your highlighting different forms of burial within the human community, the last being, if I remember rightly, the remains of loved ones buried in what appears to be "houses." This, of course, goes back awhile in your video presentation. But thank once more, Vic. It's indeed interesting to see how the various branches of humankind handle their dear departed!

[@VicStefanu]

+Jay Young Thanks Jay, it took lots of effort to videotape this one, you can see how dusty my clothes became.. What a historic place indeed, very rarely visited by anyone since it is not on any f the maps - the reason is because two Europeans visited a few years back and took some of the bones, so this place is a secret one, not to be found anywhere on the recent maps of Niue..

[@manogimai]

Who took the bones?

[@VicStefanu]

I have no idea who took the bones. I was told by a local that they came via a boa, two years ago, and that they removed some bones which is, to say the least, very disrespectful..

[@joshualeilona3084]

There are caves like that all over niue... I know im from niue

[@antjetautkus5506]

No canis...the Niue ppl.....❤.... have often there love ons buried in front of there houses& looking after them very well.... ..... lots of caves on Niue thnX Vic ....for showing THe Rock isl....

[@Jaycee485]

its niue not nui

[@nitamorgan4265]

More people like this visit Niue honestly in future the Niue history will slowly remove look around the whole world its slowly change.. the Niuean family will have no clue who they are or where they from.. Those bones there have storys behind it..pray that the government of Niue have some respects for the Niuean history.

[@VicStefanu]

Please read my comment about this site, my comment appears on the top of comments, thank you!

[@captaintulikiva1258]

Just goes to show that the Niue Tourism don't do their research properly,the place where this gave is located is called Anapoupou and Anaana is about 200m to the south. The rock formation in the cave is just a barrier to try and keep the bones in piles. In the past they use to go in every 2 to 3 months and neatly put all the bones back behind the barrier...question is,who moved the bones from behind the rock barrier to the entrance of the cave😂😂😂...

[@VicStefanu]

Hi and thank you for your comments. I have received many negative comments for creating this video even though I have explained many times that it was one of the 'sites to visit', plus, there was a sign on the road pointing to the cave.. and no point in time I entered the cave or disturbed the bones..

[@captaintulikiva1258]

@@VicStefanu you should've gone inside the cave at night when it's raining and no moon,i guaranteed you will see some pretty big coconut crabs sitting on those bones😂😂😂😂...no bullshit..

[@rauladrian7569]

foarte interesant videoclipu'

[@VicStefanu]

mulțumesc

[@atelijames5751]

so glad you got declined entry to tokelauan people. these are not objects

[@loganbrady5164]

What happened to the dead people before they died

[@m.m.3413]

i will be going that way soon. I cant wait to explore

[@jesselaa9397]

Just because you CAN.... DOESN'T mean you SHOULD! A'OLE

[@Rocio1988]

I think today the government of Niue protect these caves, due for being considered as sacred burial from ancient times. Thanks for sharing was amazing video.

[@albertstone1545]

AnaanA what is it mean

[@BustaBunny3045]

Why are the bones scattered? An ancient serial cannibal? I have so many questions

[@VicStefanu]

I do not recall seeing scattered bones, from what I remember the bones were stacked on top of each other..

[@BustaBunny3045]

@VicStefanu ok they kinda looked like they were all over the place. Such a strange way to bury the dead

[@VicStefanu]

@@BustaBunny3045 Each culture has its own way of burring people...

[@missymason2377]

My ancestors

[@VicStefanu]

Hello, thank you for watching my videos!!

[@hinganokalauta6938]

Niue is part of Tonga through blood and all ways very close like family ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@VicStefanu]

Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

[@peterlatoa6028]

niue never had any historical cannibalism.

[@VicStefanu]

+Peter Latoa I do not think I am saying anything about cannibalism here, am I??

[@jo3546]

Didn't those people eat captain cook and his crew when they tried to get on the island. Also, it's mentioned that during the transition to become part of colonies of great Britain all those who tried to bring religion to the island, language and education were eatin to. Nice,

[@VicStefanu]

I believe that Captain Cook died in Hawaii..

[@nesianxx]

No we did not eat Captain Cook. He had tried to land his boat in Niue. But We Niueans scared him and his crew off, hence why Captain Cook gave Niue Island the name "Savage Island". When we scared Captain Cook off he left to Hawaii and I'm not sure what happened then in Hawaii. 😊.

[@VicStefanu]

@@nesianxx Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

[@nesianxx]

@@VicStefanu No Worries. 😊

[@captaintulikiva1258]

@@nesianxx your family home in Niue is a 3 minutes drive from this cave😂😂😂😂...

[@peterlatoa6028]

replying to Granpadew

[@mohevaenuku1009]

Guess you take it as an opportunity to film without asking for permission from locals who are the rightful owners to this cave or even asked the tourism office For permission. All for the views and hopefully you'll send some money back to the locals who owns the cave from this video of yours I know KZbin do pay 🤣

[@VicStefanu]

You have guessed wrong.. Here are my comments published on top of this video.... I have received many negative comments regarding this video from locals and from Niue citizens from around the world. It seems that that this is a sacred place (understandably) and that no photos or videos were allowed.. Please understand the following: this site is being advertised as a site for TOURISTS TO VISIT, there are signs on the road for tourists to find the site, explaining the site, its purpose, history, etc. I receive negative comments for filming a site that the local government advertises for people to see... Also, note that I DID NOT enter the caves and did not disturb anything!! NO PERMISSION WAS REQUIRED for visiting this site, this site is open, unguarded and the tourists are ENCOURAGED to visit it.. NO SIGNS are (or were, when I visited the site) visible anywhere prohibiting the taking of photos or videos.. NO DISRESPECT was intentionally shown or meant.. I understand your messages and what you are telling me (regarding permission, etc) but I wish you could understand my points (mentioned here) as well. If you want this site to remain secret and sacred, the best thing to do is to go to your local politicians AND A): ASK THEM TO REMOVE IT FROM THE LIST OF SITES FOR TOURISTS TO VISIT, and B): PLACE LARGE AND VERY VISIBLE SIGNS INFORMING PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE PHOTOS OR VIDEOS - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@moanat6701]

Taboo..wow

[@moanat6701]

No one ever talk about this..why is it taboo or we not to mention about these bones.. how is it not mention or talk about it

[@VicStefanu]

@@moanat6701 The site used to be listed on a brochure given at the city hall of the capital of Niue.. That's how I found it.. But since this video was published, the site has been off limits to tourists..

[@in-youngjoung1551]

this is stunning. it seems these people did not regard their afterlife important.

[@VicStefanu]

Hello, thank you for viewing my videos!!

[@mahonripagofie189]

As long those bones are Tongans than I'm ok with the video lol jks jks . Nah I don't see nothing wrong with the video guys. Calm down we are christians now no need to put your minds back to the old ways . Alofa atu peeps

[@VicStefanu]

Thank you for viewing my videos!!

[@DSWK_]

This comment though.. What the..

[@RastasNevaDie]

Mahonri Pagofie they had respect to Atleast bury Tongans. Samoans would’ve been thrown to the sharks 🤣🤣 jk jk ufa atu