Bora Bora, pearl of the Pacific, is graced by the presence of one of the largest luxury hotel chains for its grand re-opening. The Conrad, named after its illustrious owner, Conrad Hilton, is no stranger to luxury destinations. The Conrad franchise is present in 26 destinations and perfect for “smart luxury worldwide travelers “. E-Tahiti Travel has selected the Conrad as one of its quality establishments in Bora Bora. It has been redesigned and is ideally located on the west of Bora Bora, one of the most preserved areas of the island.

114 suites and luxury villas, with views!

With the beautiful backdrop of black volcanic rock of this small peaceful island and the myriad shades of blue, the lagoon of Bora Bora is known for, the Conrad has the perfect location…as well as the most beautiful white sand beach in the area.

Contrary to all the other luxury establishments of Bora Bora, mainly located east of Bora Bora – the Conrad is located in the southern tip of To’opua, just west of Bora Bora. Come dusk, you will soon understand why this detail makes all the difference: it is here, and only here, will see the sunset over the Pacific from your suite or from the private motu (islet) of the hotel, exclusive only to Conrad guests. A must …

Contact us to take advantage of special opening rates of the Conrad Bora Bora Nui for stays booked between January 25 and March 31, 2017.

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For the common man, the tiki is primarily this anthropomorphic statue carved in stone or wood. Originally from the Marquesas, the tiki embodies the spirit of a deceased person, a deified ancestor. Even if all the tikis resemble each other more or less, their sculpture is highly codified: its meaning is meticulously engraved in each pose and each pattern, especially in terms of social hierarchy. On a more esoteric perspective, one attributes a certain “mana”, a virtuous divine charge conferred to the statue by the recitation of the divine genealogy. The tiki statue, quickly becomes a protective entity of a place and its hosts. It is venerated upon to bestow security and abundance…

Behind the mask, the demi-god

The tiki is so much more than the evocation of an ancestor, as respected as it is. We find this figure in countless themes in Marquesan art, each containing its share of Polynesian mythology. Because the tiki was, above all, one of the main figures of the founding Polynesian mythology. Half-man half-god, it is found in all the eastern Polynesia in the role of the demi-god, the creator deity of the world …

Behind every fiber of each tiki, unfolds a chapter of the mythological origins of Polynesia … the creative force embodied by the tiki, the father of all Polynesians.

Can you unlock its mysteries? Visit at the Musée de Tahiti & ses Iles to find out. More than 100 new artifacts, a beautiful tribute to this pillar of Polynesian culture.

Useful information:

Tiki exhibition, Musée de Tahiti & ses Iles – Te Fare Manaha
Until March 19, 2017
Open from 9am to 5pm, everyday except Monday.
Admission: 800 Fcfp for exhibition, 1000 Fcfp all access pass. Free for students and children under 18 years.

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Moorea can be easily visited from Tahiti, either by boat (35 mn) or plane (10 mn).  Depending on the ferry company you will select, you will disembark either at Vaiare village that stands at the foot of the mount Mouaputa (830 m) – also called the « Pierced or Sacred mountain » due to its hole situated at its peak, or at the bottom of Cook’s Bay. Strangely enough, Captain Cook did not actually anchored his ship in the bay carrying his name today but in Opunohu’s bay where he remained from September 30^th to October 11^th, 1777.

Moorea, sometimes described as a huge garden with tropical scents, is covered by trees, carefully maintained gardens, beautiful fare with pandanus roofs, cool rivers and waterfalls. Many beautiful white sand beaches can be found around Temae (near the airport) and Haapiti – the northern coast between Papetoai and Haapiti gathers the most tourists with many hotels and two gorgeous motu (islets) facing Hauru’s point.

Moorea is surrounded by a reef barrier offering 12 different passes among which the pass of Vaiare used by the ferries. Many dolphins can be seen near the Moorea passes and every year, the whales attracted by their natural curiosity come to swim with their babies near the reef (they can be observed from July to October). Moorea lagoon is perfect to practise all kind of nautical activities (snorkelling, diving, jet-ski…). And for those looking for pedestrian or 4×4 excursions, Moorea offers several beautiful and deep valleys.

To discover the inner-island, tourists will be able to choose between an island circle tour or a ride over mount Rotui (899 meters). Don’t forget to have a look at the waterfalls of Afareaitu. A visit to Opunohu and Cook Bay is obviously recommended – both bays can be admired from the Belvedere viewpoint.

The many marae spread on Moorea testify the presence of many people in the ancient times. The first European to explore it was James Cook. Wallis had already baptized it “Duke of York island” but he did not take the time to visit it during his 1767 trip. In his 1769 voyage, Cook entered the lagoon through Opunohu’s bay but didn’t visit the island thoroughly.

In 1790, Chief Pomare I (the First) conquered the island of Moorea and left the control of Tahiti to his son Pomare II. However, Pomare II was too young and dictatorial to maintain order and he had to run away from Tahiti and to look for protection in Moorea after the general riots of 1807.

Protestant missioners (from the LMS – London Missionnary Society) settled at Papetoai in 1808 ; a starting point for the evangelisation of the other islands. The octagonal church of Papetoai was built on ancient maraeTaputaputuatea in 1827 – the oldest European building of the South Pacific. It was renovated at the end of the 19^th century.

Pomare II, converted to Protestantism, regained his power in 1815 thanks to the missioners. French protectorate was established in 1843.

Meanwhile, the missioners tried to develop textile and cane sugar industries but their efforts remained unsuccessful. In the 20^th century, Chinese were hired to take care of the coprah and later in the 70’s, some pineapple plantations were cultivated in Opunohu’s valley. Moorea is today well-known for being the pineapple-growing center of French Polynesia. Don’t forget to taste them at one of the stands along the road or at Vaiare ferry docks prior to departure (around 1,000 xpf for 3-4 pineapples).

After Tahiti and Bora Bora, Moorea receives the greatest number of visitors, not only tourists but also inhabitants of Tahiti who enjoy spending their weekends and vacations on its white sand beaches.

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1- Introduction

Tahiti, Otahiti for the first Europeans, the “Island of Love”, the “New Cyther” for Bougainville, the myth of paradise, of Rousseau’s “good savage”, all those names to describe the same beauty of this island, symbol just by itself of the entire French Polynesia.

Two volcanos emerged from the waters compose the island of Tahiti : 3-million year old for the Tahiti Nui (the Big Tahiti) volcano, and only 500,000 years for the one of Tahiti Iti (the Little Tahiti) also called the Peninsula (Presqu’ile). Those two extinct volcanoes are joined together by the Taravaoisthmus. Not only one of the most recent island of Polynesia, Tahiti is also the largest (1,045 square kilometres) and the most populated (150,371 persons).

Beware ! Expected white sand beaches bordered by coconut trees and overwater bungalows will be encountered at Bora Bora or in the Tuamotu islands rather than Tahiti. However, Tahiti is full of pleasant surprises for those taking the time to observe it and to discover its secrets…

Circle shape, Tahiti is entirely surrounded by a lagoon except for a north coast part going from Mahina to Tiarei. Its reef barrier is cut by 33 passes, the one of Papeete being the largest. From the Taharaa viewpoint(Mahina), you will overhang the Matavai Bay where the first explorers anchored more than 250 years ago.

Tahiti Nui is dominated by abrupt mountains like Mount Orohena (2,241 m), famous Mount Aorai (2,066m) and Diadem (1,321 m) – names given by Dumont D’Urville – and Mount Marau (1,493 m) cut by deep inhabited and luxuriant valleys. Those valleys – described by French writer Loti – feature numerous waterfalls pouring into refreshing basins which will be highly appreciated by curious visitors. Tahiti also conceal many archaeological sites and mysterious caves.

Tahiti Iti is dominated by Mount Ronui (1,332 m) and Mount Meirenui (1,306 m). Surrounded by a coral reef and a lagoon with white sand beaches, Tahiti Iti is bordered by the “Te Pari”  vertical cliffs which are accessible only by boat or by foot (with a guide !) and it offers many treasures such as the “Devil Pass”, the “Giant Umete of Taapeha”, caves, petroglyphs, archaeological sites full of legends, hollow rocks called the “Honoura Drums” … all this taking you over to some enchanting spots at the edge of the world.

Tahiti offers splendid diving excursions, especially in Tahiti Iti, and spectacular basalt black sand beaches around Papara and on the east coast, both spots being suitable for surfing.

But Tahiti is also the economic heart of French Polynesia. Papeete, its capital, is built along a friendly waterfront (recently renovated) welcoming many shops and luxury ships. It is the unique city at 4,000 kilometres around (!!) and one will find here everything he needs, market (a must), jewellers, bars, nightclubs, restaurants (French, Chinese, Italian…), hospitals…

2 – Brief history

Tahiti was not the first island to be settled by Polynesians. According to the legend, it would have been populated around 850 AD by people coming from Raiatea, the “Sacred Island”, cradle of the Polynesian civilization.

The supremacy of Tahiti over the other islands came with the first Europeans’ arrival. At that time, the island was divided into 6 large districts ruled by chiefs (ari’i). The Pomare dynasty is issued from the district of “Te Porionuu” (Pare, Arue) and it imposed itself thanks to the assistance of the navigators remaining in Matavai Bay.

On June 17, 1767, English captain Wallis aboard the “Dolphin” ship was the first European to visit Tahiti. He baptized it “King George Island”. The first contacts with the local population were stormy and required Wallis to make use of his cannons. That date changed forever the social balance existing between the 6 ruling clans and it was the beginning of a violent fight cycle that ended only 50 years later in 1815.

One year later (1768), Bougainville also annexed Tahiti, this time for French king Louis XVI. Then cameCaptain Cook whose precious written testimonials largely contributed to Polynesian culture learning.

All those navigators were quickly followed by English missioners of the London Missionary Society (LMS). They first came in 1797 but were first forced back after they tried unsuccessfully for many years to implement Christianity.

In 1815, King Pomare II definitely came to the throne after winning the battle of Narii (from a Punaauia temple holding the same name) or Fei Pi (the Green bananas), thanks to the help of Leeward islands warriors. This last battle was the end of the ancient Polynesian aristocracies ruled by the ari’i and is synonymous to the defeat of paganism versus Christianity. Moreover, the pre-eminence of Tahitian kings who were already dominating the Tuamotu islands was slowly accepted by a growing number of islands like Tubuai and Rimatara.

Following Pomare II request, a 19-law code baptized “Pomare Code” was established and approved in 1819.  It was inspired by puritan concepts of the English missioners and tried to put an end to old customs such as human sacrifice, infanticide and licentious behaviours.

In the middle of the 19^th century, Moerenhout, American then French Consul, first asked Queen Victoria to take control over the island in order to maintain order but she refused. So he asked the French …

On September 9, 1842, a convention establishing a French Protectorate is signed between Queen Pomare IV, the regent Paraita and French admiral Dupetit-Thouars. But this status became effective only 5 years later in 1847. Indeed in 1843, Pomare IV who was under the influence of Pritchard, English Consul, denounced the treaty.
On November 1, 1843, Dupetit-Thouars reacted : the queen was overthrown, the annexation of Tahiti was proclaimed and French troops invaded the island. The franco-tahitian war began at Taravao on March 21, 1844 and ended on December 18, 1846.

On June 29, 1880, King Pomare V gave definitely all his territories to France. The French protectorate became the Etablissements Français d’Oceanie (E.F.O.) – French Establishments of Oceania – with its capital Papeete. The transfer to France of the Tahitian kingdom (Society Islands, Tubuai Islands and the Tuamotu) was ratified by the Law of December 30, 1880 that gave the French citizenship to all King Pomare subjects.

The Law of July 26, 1956, transformed the E.F.O. into French Polynesia, giving a more effective autonomy to the territory.

Tahiti has been most concerned by economic and social developments of the 60’s (construction of Faa’a International Airport, development of the Papeete harbour, evolution of the urban landscape). This development generated strong migrations towards Tahiti that gathers today 70% of the total population of French Polynesia.

Although the government is trying to inverse that trend by focusing on the development of activities in other islands, Tahiti remains today the economic, political, administrative, social and cultural center of French Polynesia.

Source :
– History of Tahiti, by Ph. Rey Lescure
– Le mariage franco-tahitien, by Pierre-YvesTOULLELAN & Bernard GILLE
– Presidency website ( www.presidence.pf )

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