I have run that question around my head several times during this first week on Kauehi. I think the lifestyle here is quite similar to that in the San Blas and I never really figured that one out either. How and why do people live here. There is nothing much in the way of resources or activities. They traditionally lived off fish and coconuts and because the motus don't have any soil to speak of, most of the land being hard packed dead coral pieces resembling a rough gravel, there aren't too many other types of plants. But it seems they were content to eke out a living on these bits of land, paddling their little boats to other islands now and again, just passing time I guess.
Then the Brits, the Spaniards and the French arrived full of ideas for enterprises to export goods such as coconuts and pearls, discovered phosphate deposits and started mining that, and when the natural pearls became nearly extinct, developed pearl farming. Now we see the rise of tourism with inter island cruises and regular flights from Tahiti with tours offering activities such as scuba diving, visits to pearl farms and lazing on your own private motu. But the lifestyle of the local people hasn't changed a great deal it seems. Long lazy stress free days, never in a hurry, never in a panic.
However, I have this deeply ingrained need to be somewhat productive and after five consecutive days of looking at a beautiful scenic beach and snorkelling the crystal clear waters I am just about ready to jump out of my skin, just for something to do. Time to move on...next stop, Fakarava.
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