Last Updated: January 13, 2026
The Mentawai Islands are not just a surf destination—they're home to one of Indonesia's most unique indigenous cultures. The Mentawai people have lived on these islands for thousands of years, maintaining traditional ways of life while adapting to the modern world. Understanding and respecting their culture enriches your surf trip and helps preserve this remarkable community.
The Mentawai Islands are not an empty surf playground. These are ancestral lands of the indigenous Mentawai people. As visitors, we have a responsibility to respect their culture, support their communities, and minimize our impact. This guide will help you be a respectful and welcomed guest.
The Mentawai people are believed to have migrated from mainland Sumatra approximately 2,000-3,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest continuous cultures in Indonesia. Archaeological evidence suggests they arrived in successive waves, settling on the four main islands: Siberut (largest), Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai.
Isolated from the outside world for centuries, the Mentawai developed a distinct language, belief system, and way of life completely separate from mainland Indonesian cultures. This isolation preserved ancient traditions that have been lost elsewhere in the archipelago.
Total Population: Approximately 80,000 indigenous Mentawai people
Main Islands: Siberut (60%), Sipora (25%), North & South Pagai (15%)
Villages: Over 150 traditional villages (uma) scattered across the islands
The uma is the heart of Mentawai culture—a massive longhouse built on stilts from jungle hardwoods and roofed with palm leaves. A single uma can house an entire extended family clan of 30-80 people.
Structure: The uma is divided into family compartments along the sides, with a central corridor used for communal activities, ceremonies, and socializing. Built 2-3 meters off the ground for flood protection and ventilation.
Social Organization: The uma represents a single lalep (clan unit). Each clan has a sikerei (shaman) who leads spiritual practices and a rimata (chief) who handles community decisions.
Traditional Mentawai religion, called Arat Sabulungan ("religion of the leaves"), is an animistic belief system that predates the arrival of major world religions. Key concepts include:
Modern Context: While many Mentawai people have converted to Christianity (brought by missionaries in the early 1900s), traditional beliefs remain strong, especially in remote villages. Many practice a syncretic blend of Christianity and traditional animism.
Tattoos (Titi): Traditional Mentawai tattoos are among the most intricate in the world. Created using natural dyes and thorns, these geometric patterns cover much of the body and signify beauty, strength, and spiritual protection. Each design has specific meaning related to nature—waves, animals, plants.
Teeth Sharpening (Sipatiti): Traditionally, Mentawai people would sharpen their teeth to points as a sign of beauty and adulthood. This practice is increasingly rare but still performed in some remote villages.
Traditional Mentawai are expert hunters and gatherers. Men hunt wild boar, deer, monkeys, and birds using bows, arrows, and blowguns. Women gather sago (staple starch from palm trees), wild fruits, and medicinal plants. Fishing in rivers and coastal waters supplements their diet.
Sago palm is the traditional staple food. Processing sago is labor-intensive: the palm is felled, the pith extracted, pounded, washed, and strained to produce edible starch. A single palm can provide food for months.
Location: South Sipora, immediately adjacent to Hollow Trees surf break
Population: ~200-300 people
Access: Walking distance from La Belle HTs and other Hollow Trees resorts
Bosua (also known as Katurai) is the closest village to Hollow Trees. This is where your surf tax money goes—directly supporting the local community. The village has a mix of traditional and modern elements:
Community: Friendly and welcoming to respectful visitors. Many villagers work at nearby surf resorts or provide services to tourists (guides, boat drivers, housekeeping). Children are curious and often greet surfers warmly.
Location: South Sipora
Population: ~400-500 people
Characteristics: Larger village with more infrastructure
Silabu is one of the larger villages in the Hollow Trees area. It has a health clinic, larger school, and weekly market where locals sell produce, fish, and handicrafts.
Numerous smaller villages dot the coastline and interior:
Never enter a village or uma without permission from the village chief (rimata) or community members. Villages are not tourist attractions—they are people's homes. Uninvited intrusion is disrespectful and unwelcome.
When done respectfully, surf tourism benefits Mentawai communities:
Most Mentawai people speak Bahasa Indonesia (national language) in addition to traditional Mentawai language.
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Selamat pagi | se-LAH-mat PAH-gee |
| Good afternoon | Selamat siang | se-LAH-mat see-ANG |
| Good evening | Selamat malam | se-LAH-mat MAH-lam |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | te-REE-mah KAH-see |
| You're welcome | Sama-sama | SAH-mah SAH-mah |
| Please / Excuse me | Permisi | per-MEE-see |
| Sorry | Maaf | MAH-ahf |
| How much? | Berapa? | be-RAH-pah |
| Good / Beautiful | Bagus | BAH-goos |
| Delicious | Enak | AY-nak |
| Where is...? | Dimana...? | dee-MAH-nah |
| I don't understand | Saya tidak mengerti | SAH-yah TEE-dak men-GER-tee |
| Water | Air | AH-eer |
| Toilet | Kamar kecil / WC | KAH-mar ke-CHEEL / VAY-say |
| Help! | Tolong! | TOH-long |
The Mentawai language is distinct from Indonesian. Learning even a few words shows deep respect:
| English | Mentawai | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Greetings | Kalejat | General greeting |
| Thank you | Abe sakkala | Shows respect |
| Good | Malem | For food, conditions |
| Wave | Bubuk | Surf-specific! |
| Friend | Saukkui | Friendly term |
Traditional Mentawai ceremonies are sacred and typically not open to tourists. However, if you're respectfully invited to observe:
If invited: Dress modestly, be quiet and respectful, don't photograph unless given explicit permission, bring a gift for the sikerei or host family.
Hire local guides to trek into interior rainforest. You'll see:
Some villages offer informal workshops where you can learn:
Mentawai culture faces pressure from:
The Mentawai people have a deep spiritual connection to the ocean. In traditional belief, the sea has its own simagere (soul) and must be respected. For millennia, they've fished these reefs, navigated these waters, and lived in harmony with the waves.
When we surf Hollow Trees or any Mentawai wave, we're guests in their ancestral waters. The waves don't belong to resorts or to surfers—they belong to the Mentawai people and the spirits of their land.
Surf with gratitude. Be respectful. Support the community. Leave only footprints.
Visiting the Mentawai Islands is a privilege. You're traveling to one of the most remote and culturally unique places on Earth—not just for perfect waves, but to experience a way of life that has endured for thousands of years.
The best surfers aren't just the ones who get the most barrels—they're the ones who leave the lightest footprint, show the deepest respect, and give back to the communities that host them.
Be that surfer. Be a good guest. Honor the Mentawai people.
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time, and respect the people whose home you're visiting."