Long ago, chiefs would come to the rock and scatter feathers
around it. The way the feathers fell would determine a
person’s destiny—whether or not they would be able to enter
Rohutu Noanoa, the gateway to paradise. Rohutu Noanoa is
place of supreme perfection, a place where water sparkles
like diamonds, abundant with fish. When a person died, they
became a bird and would fly all the way to paradise. If they
had been good, they allowed in. If not, they became a slave
and lived forever in darkness. Go here to learn more about
the hotels of Tahiti.
Hiro, god of thieves, plotted to steal the mountain of Rotui
of Moorea and take it to Raiatea. Pai—who was half god, half
man, and had great strength—was warned of Hiro’s evil intent
by the gods. So he kept vigil from Point Tata’a on Tahiti.
When the thieves attempted to steal the mountain, Pai threw
his spear through the top of Mouaputa, wakening the roosters
who sounded the alarm and drove off the robbers. However,
the thieves managed to steal a piece of the mountain, and
with it some toa trees, which today can be found isolated on
a mountain in Raiatea. And Mouaputa, one of Moorea’s three
mountains, still has the needle hole from Pai’s spear. Go
here to learn more about the
hotels of Moorea.
In 1893, Gauguin returned to France from his first journey
to the Pacific and decided to compose an illustrated book
entitled Noa Noa on the ancient culture of the Polynesians.
It told the story of the Areoi, and the world as created by
the gods, believed to be resident on Bora Bora. According to
ancient myth, Noa (fragrance) was the first miracle of
creation. Legend has it that this feat was followed by Le
Tagaloa, the supreme god, rolling gigantic stones from the
heavens into the sea to form islands. Flying clouds then
married clear heavens to create offspring—including shadow,
daylight and sunset. Creatures of the land and sea
eventually gave rise to people, and chiefs were descended
directly from the gods. Go here to learn more about the
hotels of Bora Bora.
The ancient cultural, religious and royal heart of
Polynesia, Raiatea was, according to legend, the birthplace
of the gods. From here the great canoes set out for Hawaii
and New Zealand, entire tribes sailing off to colonize new
shore. Long ago the people called the island Hawai’I (“the
homeland”) and believed it was the place where spirits live
on after death. And it is only here, on the slopes of sacred
Mount Temehani, that one can glimpse the rare Tiare Apetahi,
a flower found nowhere else on earth. Go here to learn more
about the hotels of
Raiatea and Taha'a.
Taha’a is so named for its numerous
plantations of this fragrant plant, whose sweet aroma
lingers
In the air, seeping into
every nook and cranny of the island. While fishing and
farming are its main livelihoods, what seduces visitors are
its pretty beaches, coral gardens, and the sandy motu which
pepper the lagoon it shares with Raiatea.
Looking across
the lagoon to the island of Huahine, one can see the form of
an outstretched woman. According to legend, this was the
princess Hutu-Hiva, daughter of Tutapu, long ago the chief
of Raiatea who, following divine revelations, sent Hutu-Hiva
in a pahu (sacred drum) across the ocean to Huahine, to look
for a husband. Landing on the sands of To’erauroa, in the
northernmost part of the island, she was stranded for many
years until finally a young warrior named Te-ao-nui-maruia
came to her rescue. They married, forming the Te-pa’u-i-hau-roa
Dynasty. Ten sons were born from their union, and their
names were given to the ten districts of Huahine. Go here to
learn more about the hotels of Huahine.
Throughout
our site you’ll find snippets of Polynesian information
designed to introduce you to the culture and history of
French Polynesia, it’s flora and fauna, and some of the
people and events which have become as legendary as the
islands themselves.
We
hope that it will give you a greater understanding of the
Tahitian people, their way of life, and the richness of
their culture.
Because,
it is much more than Tahiti’s unsurpassed natural
beauty which has seduced people to the magic islands for
centuries. Above all, it is its fascinating culture of myths
and legends, and the warmth and friendliness of its people,
which make Tahiti the ultimate destination…