Navigating the South Pacific Ocean between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn where lies a pearl pf a luxury destination, the European explorers of centuries past discovered a world far removed from civilisation, a utopian paradise both enigmatic and beguiling. The islands of Tahiti, even today, are as rich in culture and tradition as they are in majestic beauty. And for the island people themselves, these are the treasures they are determined to preserve.
The 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia are grouped into five archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Austral and Gambier). The most visited are the Society Islands, of which Tahiti is the largest and most populated, while the Tetiaroa atoll is a very private affair. Bora Bora’s dramatic landscape and five-star resorts attract honeymooners, making it the most touristy and least authentic, while the quieter Taha’a and Huahine islands are just as stunning.
Arriving at Le Taha’a Resort, the twinkling lights illuminating the jetty and overwater villas make everyone swoon. The lobby’s design and furnishings represent authentic Polynesian tradition and true luxury destination. My beach villa sprawls into a main receiving area, an en suite bedroom with four-poster bed, and a lounge that opens out to a patio with a plunge pool.
Every detail, down to the ancient motifs on the wooden doors, brims with Polynesian-style luxury. A road trip along Taha’a’s coast reveals an abundance of hibiscus, bougainvillaea, frangipani and camellia. Valleys and hillsides blanketed in plantations and dense jungles create a pre-historic backdrop; a vision of dinosaurs roaming the slopes wouldn’t be out of place here. My guide Aru assures me however, that other than domestic animals, there are no dangerous predators on this island.
Traffic is also virtually non-existent, so every now and again, he pulls over along the roadside to demonstrate the medicinal benefits and uses of indigenous plants. The ubiquitous coconut is the main ingredient in Polynesian cuisine, used in dishes such as poisson cru (raw fish marinated in coconut milk), while breadfruit or uru is also a staple, a commodity so important that the infamous Captain William Bligh commandeered two expeditions – first aboard HMS Bounty, which inspired the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, and the HMS Providence, to stock up and transport breadfruit plants to the West Indies.
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Taha’a earned its nickname Vanilla Island from the plentiful vanilla plantations, which provide up to 80 percent of French Polynesia’s supply. Compared to Madagascan and other varieties, the local variety, vanilla tahitensis, produces plumper beans with more seeds, resulting in a delicate fruity flavour and floral note. The labour-intensive process involved in producing vanilla takes up to three years, rendering it an expensive commodity. Dubbed “black gold”, its depth and complexity makes it a favourite among the world’s discerning chefs. I also have the chance to visit another farm where the skill of culturing black pearls has been passed down from generation to generation. Taha’a’s waters are conducive to cultivating pearls, an important source of livelihood for the islanders. The process of producing these translucent gems from oysters requires a high level of dexterity and precision, and is an art in itself.
The Heiva I Tahiti festival held in June and July each year celebrates Polynesian life through music, dance, sports and the arts. The following day, I travel to mystical Huahine, an island of two halves: Huahine Hui (big) and Huahine Iti (little), linked by a bridge. The island derives its name from the word vahine, which translates to “woman” and represents the mountain range shaped like a pregnant woman reclining, as seen from across Fare’s harbour on Ha’amene Bay.
The entire island is a tableau of verdant valleys, jungles and peaks, lagoons, dreamy beaches, lakes and bays – it’s easy to see why Tahitian royalty made this island their home. A tradition not to be missed is the feeding of blue-eyed eels that populate the streams. They are considered sacred and it’s forbidden to eat them.
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Unlike Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti, Huahine is a piece of paradise that remains untainted by mass tourism, and not much has changed since Captain James Cook first dropped anchor in Fare. Perhaps the spirits of the ancestors once worshipped by the natives still watch over this island. During religious ceremonies held in sacred stone temples known as marae, these deities were called upon to protect the people and provide bounty during their harvest on land and sea. Huahine has the largest concentration of marae in all of French Polynesia, and several are found at Matairea Hill. The archaeological site at Maitai Lapita Village is a work in progress, and the artefacts exhibited at the museum shed light on the Tahitian ancestors, the Lapita people.
A tour of the lagoon and motus with a naturalist guide is an education in Polynesian heritage and the environment, and the luxuries guests enjoy wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of resident scientists at the research station. The resort’s association with the late Marlon Brando began when the actor became enamoured with the Tahitian islands while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962.
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Determined to own a piece of Tahitian paradise, he acquired a 99-year lease of Tetiaroa in 1966, with the aim of preserving and protecting the atoll. “If I have my way, Tetiaroa will remain forever a place that reminds Tahitians of what they are and what they were centuries ago,” he said.
The Brando, as it stands today, is for hedonists with a conscience and a heart for saving the planet. Reluctantly, I leave Tetiaroa, but bring back with me a better understanding and awareness of these fragile islands. I also pray that the Polynesian traditions will last forever so it can maintain to be a pearl of a luxury destination.
