Europe has the Tour de France. The Unites States has the Boston Marathon. And Tahiti has the Hawaiki Nui Va’a, a 78-mile outrigger canoe race, which is not only the most celebrated open-ocean outrigger canoe race in the world, but it also signifies the important bond between Tahitians and their descendants who migrated to Hawaii centuries ago. The race takes place each October, and in prior years, more than 2,000 competitors from Tahiti, New Caledonia, Hawaii, France, and several other countries paddled for one of the most prestigious awards in Polynesia.

The initial colonization of the islands of Tahiti is estimated to be around 200 BC, when inhabitants of Tonga and Samoa ventured out across the open ocean in tipairua, massive, double-hulled outrigger canoes, eventually reaching the Marquesas Islands. From the Marquesas, the native inhabitants colonized the remainder of the 118 islands of Tahiti, traveling between islands in the smaller va’a outrigger canoes – the very canoes that are used in, and ultimately define, the Hawaiki Nui Va’a. While contemporary canoes are built with modern technology, the original outrigger canoes were relatively basic vessels built from hollowing out logs. Today, outrigger canoes are much more technologically advanced, built with lightweight materials such as carbon or fiberglass composite around a foam core. The Polynesian people are said to have mastered the art of canoe building, thus reinforcing the worldwide prestige of this monumental race.

During the first day of the competition over 100 traditional canoes, or va’a, will take to the water in Huahine, grinding out a 4-hour trek across the ocean to Raiatea, nearly 27 miles northwest. Day two changes pace a bit, as the participants engage in an hour-and-a-half, high-speed race inside the lagoon between Raiatea and Taha’a. The third day, considered to be the most challenging and spectacular leg of the race, involves another four-hour marathon across the open ocean to reach Matira Beach on Bora Bora, more than thirty-two miles away.

This year’s competition is to be held November 1st to 3rd, the exciting final stretch typically covered on live television among throngs of cheering supporters. For more information on the event, email at ftvaa@ifrance.com.

In the year 1767, Captain Samuel Wallis returned from the Marquesas Islands reporting a “universal custom of men and women to get their buttocks and the back of their thighs painted with thin black lines representing different figures.” Several years later, Captain James Cook noted, “they print signs on people’s bodies and call it tattow.” Though only recognized by western civilization for a few centuries, the custom of tatau – or as we have come to know it, tattoo – has been performed for over two thousand years. Traditionally a mark of prestige or status, the practice of tattoo very nearly disappeared with the arrival of western missionaries in the late 18th century who banned it in accordance with Old Testament law. If it hadn’t been for the over 400 notes and sketches by missionary Karl Von Steinen, we might not have had any record of traditional Polynesian tattoo.
Consequently, the island of Moorea is proud to host the second annual Tattoonesia 2006 festival, a festive gathering of tattoo masters from all over the world to celebrate the custom of tattoo.

According to Polynesian mythology, the two sons of Ta’aroa, the god of creation, taught the art of tattooing to humans. It was considered to be tapu, or a sacred art form performed by shamans who were highly trained in the religious ritual, the meaning of the designs, and technical aspects of the art. While men often had tattoos all over their bodies, including neck and ears, women’s tattoos were usually less extensive and most often given to mark specific developmental periods in their lives.

Originally, the method of tattooing was considerably more primitive by contemporary standards. The tattooer would use a comb consisting of needles carved from bone or tortoise shell, fixed to a wooden handle. The needles were dipped into a pigment made from the soot of burnt candlenut mixed with water or oil. The needles would then be placed against the skin and tapped with another wooden stick, thereby piercing the skin and inserting the pigment. While the Marquesian word tatau is thought to derive from the sound of the tapping stick, others believe that the word can be broken down into “ta” meaning hand, and “u” meaning color. In this case, ta-ta-u, would effectively describe the process of affixing color to the skin with two taps of the hand.

Last year’s Tattoonesia was a great success, with more than 50 tattoo artists and 5000 visitors. This year’s event will take place from November 9th through the 12th, welcoming artists, exhibitors, journalists, partners and tourists to partake in this unique cultural event. For those who aren’t ready for permanent ink, there is a “tattoo for a week” option, where children and adults can still wear authentic Tahitian designs on a temporary basis!
For more information, you can contact the official Tattoonesia   via email at info@tattoonesia.org.

Prior to European exploration and occupation of Tahiti and Her Islands in the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Tahitian people existed for over a thousand years in a culture very different from that of their Western visitors. One of the most evident differences was the Tahitians’ pagan religious beliefs and customs. Following the battle of Fei Pi in 1815, King Pomare II denounced the traditional paganism and ordered the destruction of all the sacred worshipping sites. While very few objects from that time survived this transition, recent archaeological excavations have uncovered remnants of ancient Tahiti. Most notable of the findings were the marae, sacred buildings used for religious ceremony as well as certain social and cultural functions.

The Polynesian civilization being of oral tradition, having no distinct format for written history, it is difficult to determine with accuracy how the marae were used. However, it is understood that these sacred sites were most likely used for worshipping of gods, enthronement of kings, preparations for warfare, and sacrificial and funerary ceremonies. While the exact rituals have been lost to history, certain ceremonies have been reconstructed in the Heiva festivals held every July.

More than 7,000 marae have been discovered in the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti, described as being pyramid-shaped and decorated with a variety of images, or petroglyphs, carved into the rock. Some of the more common images consist of turtles, figures sailing canoes and various geometric designs. Also among the marae are mysterious carved sculptures known as tiki. Most often sculpted out of coral, lava stone, or wood, and ranging from small statuettes to over 7 feet tall, the tiki are believed to have had religious and symbolic function, even magical powers known as mana which caused the islanders to fear and revere them.

Visitors of the islands can explore the marae, as local authorities have made an increased effort to preserve and restore the sites. To see these sacred sites in the best conditions, local guides prove to be most helpful, providing essential historical and cultural details – and who knows? Perhaps some of the ancient Tahitian oral tradition can still be found concerning the mysterious marae…