Hanuabada Village

Traditional Motu stilt village at the edge of the city

Hanuabada is a large stilt village of the Motu people built partly over the sea just northwest of the city centre, one of the oldest settled communities on the coast. Traditional wooden houses on piles line narrow walkways above the water, making it visually unlike anything else in Port Moresby.

The community is welcoming to visitors who come with respect, and it is one of the few places in the capital where you can see something of traditional coastal Papuan life. Best visited with a guide or through a local contact. Do not wander in alone unannounced; a brief introduction through your hotel can make a significant difference.

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A story
Hanuabada means "Great Village" in the Motu language. The original settlement was built on piles over the sea, a design that provided ventilation, protection from insects, and safety from coastal flooding. It remains one of the few urban communities in Port Moresby where traditional Motu culture — including the legendary hiri trade voyages, which once sent outrigger canoes as far as the Gulf of Papua — is still discussed and remembered.