Mouaputa is the slimmer, sharper of the two great peaks of Moorea, on the eastern side of the island opposite Mouaroa. Its distinctive feature is a near-circular hole punched through the summit ridge near the top — visible from much of the eastern coast and from the air on the approach to Tahiti. A hiking trail leads to the saddle near the hole; the trail involves a fixed rope on the final section and is steep throughout, but the views from the saddle, with the hole framing the open Pacific behind, are among the best on the island. Allow five to six hours round-trip and go with a guide if you have any doubts.
Mount Mouaputa
A story
Tahitian legend says the hole through Mouaputa was made by the spear of the demigod Pai, who threw the weapon from Tahiti to kill the war god Hiro before Hiro could carry off Moorea by hand. The spear missed the god but tore clean through the mountain, leaving the daylight-visible window in the summit ridge.