VAIRERE

Elizabeth Lindsey: Navigating An Ancient Future

2010-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Lindsey: Navigating An Ancient Future from Bioneers on Vimeo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAHAKI!!!!!

2010-05-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Son!

God bless you on your special day with what your heart desires. Lots of BIZ d'amour. I miss you, je t'aime. Mom

This following work of art was made by Tahaki's father, JACK BANTA, for Tahaki's birthday.

Great work Jack?? bravo!!!

THIS IS WHAT JACK SAYS TO TAHAKI :

,,,,,,,WWWMWMWMWMWMWMMWWMMP;xx.;:,,;';'.,;;'..'x;x;:)
,,,,,,WWMHAPPY;BIRTHDAY;WWW0x;x;OOO::...:.:...x;OCODW
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HAPPY-BIRTHDAY-TAHAKI
JOYEUX-ANNIVERSAIRE-MON-FILS

TE VAKA

2010-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

TE VAKA
South Pacific Fusion!

..." the best, and internationally most sucessful of all modern
Polynesian bands is TE VAKA"...
The Rough Guide to World Music UK.

TAMAHANA IS THE THEME SONG TO THE MOVIE “THE LEGEND OF JONHY LINGO”. IT IS ON THE FOURTH TE VAKA ALBUM –“TUTUKI”.
I HAVE DISCOVERED AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS GROUP WHILE LIVING IN FLORIDA. GOD KNOWS THROUGH THEIR SONGS, TE VAKA HAS BROUGHT BACK TO ME GREAT MEMORIES OF MY PAST OF HOME IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS. I MUST ADMIT THAT TE VAKA WAS ALSO SUCCESSFUL AT GETTING TARA VERY HOMESICK OF HER ISLANDS AND HER NATIVE FAMILY.
NOW LET ME SHARE WITH YOU ALL SOME OFTHE TE VAKA SONGS.
RELAX, “AITA PEAPEA”(NO WORRIES) AND ENJOY THEIR MUSIC WITH ME.

NEXT TITLE : Tamahana live at TOATA stadium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol21DZVqaIs

THIS TITILE IS AWESOME AS WELL : Manatu live at TOATA stadium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psviVd1QnVQ

A LAST ONE FOR THE TRIP : Pate Pate radio remix – video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fXc_-HzTrs

IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, TE VAKA WILL BE BACK IN TAHITI SOON!!!!! YAY!!!

FIND BELOW OTHER LIKS TO TE VAKA :

www.tevaka.com

www.facebook.com/te.vaka

www.twitter.com/tevaka

www.myspace.com/tevaka

LET'S ESCAPE FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH JASON MRAZ : LIVE HIGH

2010-04-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

UN MOMENT SPECIAL SUR LE KING TAMATOA!!!

2010-04-07T02:14:00.000-07:00

Sur mon chemin de retour de Bora, j'ai pris une photo d'un Pépé et d'une Mémé acompagnés de petits (le passage est gratuit sur le King Tamatoa pour les enfants de moins de 12 ans). Une photo adorable que j'aime beaucoup et que je me fais un plaisir de partager avec vous.

TRAVERSEE INAUGURALE DU KING TAMATOA DANS LES ILES SOUS LE VENT 31 MARS 2010 VAIRERE

2010-04-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

Je voudrai dédier cette page à mon ami Papapenu de TRC, Tahiti Radio Cocotier.
http://www.tahitiradiococotier.com/dotclear/

Traversée inaugurale du KING TAMATOA 31 mars 2010
(Vue par Tara de Faa’a)

Je me suis préparée pour ce voyage si attendu par beaucoup et tout particulièrement par moi, Tara, une amoureuse de la mer et de nos îles éloignées.
Comme certaines personnes, ces derniers jours je me suis prêtée aux ouï-dire des uns et des autres… Si toutefois le bateau allait bien quitter le port à l’heure et la date prévue.

Mais voilà! Je me suis tout de même retrouvée en toute confiance sur le quai de Papeete. Je ne redoutais point que le King Tamatoa ne parte pas car je savais bien qu’il prendrait la mer sans problème comme prévu ce mercredi matin du 31 mars 2010. Une date maintenant qui restera à jamais marquée dans ma mémoire.

Ouf !! J’allais enfin pouvoir embarquer après avoir reconnu et salué toutes les connaissances j’ai pu rencontrer sur le quai.

Une fois que j’ai accédé la classe touriste par les escaliers, j’ai continué à l’étage au dessus en première classe. J’ai repéré un espace bagages pour y déposer mes affaires puis je me suis mise à visiter le pont avant du bateau pour me rendre compte de mon environnement. A mon retour de l’avant, tiens ! Je rencontre des élus ; Jean-Christophe BOUISSOU, Armelle MERCERON, Cathy BUILLARD et Teiki PORLIER et je continue donc la visite du bateau en leur compagnie.

J’étais tellement occupée à discuter avec tout le monde que je ne me suis même pas rendue compte que le bateau avait déjà quitté le quai. J’étais heureusement surprise de me savoir transportée par un bateau silencieux et qui navigue si magnifiquement bien ! Il faut avouer que le temps s’y prêtait drôlement ! Nous avions un ciel bleu et une mer très calme. Vraiment top !

Sur l’invitation du Commandant du King Tamatoa, j’ai pu visiter la passerelle et de là j’avais le privilège d’avoir une vue sublime sur Huahine après quelques heures en mer.

J’ai pu boire et me restaurer à bord. C’est incroyable ce que l’on peut voir du monde ! Il y a une richesse de possibilité et de nouvelles rencontres à bord! Une traversée sur un bateau comme celui-là, qui transporte autant qu’un 747, rassemble sans aucun doute ! Un vrai bonheur !

HUAHINE

Voilà ! Nous nous approchons de l’île de Huahine et comme elle est belle ! Je n’ai pas cessé de la contempler. A notre approche du port nous nous sommes tous avancés sur l’avant du bateau pour voir de plus près la foule qui nous attendait et qui avait préparé une réception digne des habitants de Huahine.

J’étais très émue par le travail fourni et la préparation de couronnes de fleurs, les discours, spectacles, eau de coco glacée etc.….et tout spécialement par la présence de Delano FLOHR qui m’attendait avec une très belle couronne de tiare. Ce furent de grandes embrassades et nous avons pu nous regarder les yeux dans les yeux avec tellement de joie. Merci Delano pour ton accueil et ta gentillesse. Ton île est magnifique. Ton peuple est si accueillant et charmant ! Je tenais à dire un grand merci à ce peuple de Huahine pour son accueil chaleureux et plein d’amour. J’avoue que je ne voulais plus remonter sur le bateau. Vous avez une façon gracieuse de nous enchanter par votre présence et votre accueil !!! Je suis sérieuse ! ha ha ha.

Merci aussi pour les mots gentils au sujet de mon frère JCB et pour votre soutien. Il est évident que ce bateau va bénéficier énormément à tous. Votre île va connaître un essor économique incroyable ! Quelle chance inouïe que vous avez !!! Mais promettez-moi que vous ne perdrez jamais votre façon d’être et cet accueil, il faudra bien le préserver car c’est votre atout. Restez vous-même dans le cœur.
Avec tous mes meilleurs souhaits pour toi, ta famille et toute la population de Huahine.

TAHAA

Le KING TAMATOA nous a fait découvrir pendant une longue durée la beauté majestueuse de l’île de Tahaa et de ses très belles montagnes. Qu’est ce que cette île m’interpelle et semble être mystérieuse ! En ce qui me concerne, elle a su susciter ma curiosité ! Elle est sans aucun doute à visiter.

RAIATEA

Nous avons passé des heures entières à discuter les uns avec les autres, tous passagers sur le KING TAMATOA, avant d’atteindre l’île de RAIATEA. Ce fut jusqu’alors un voyage et des rencontres très enrichissants avec des échanges de noms et de numéros de téléphone. Pour certains, nous avons prévu de nous revoir la semaine prochaine pour mieux faire connaissance et pour d’autres à continuer notre amitié en échangeant des mails et photos de notre traversée. Que du bonheur !

Nous nous approchons à présent de RAIATEA. Nous avons fini par former un petit groupe de personnes qui aiment à être ensemble et à nous ruer à l’avant du bateau aussitôt que nous nous approchons d’une île. Maintenant que nous sommes rodés, nous nous surprenons même à retrouver notre chemin facilement.

« On se retrouve à l’avant ? »
« Ok ! Je vous rejoins ! »

J’ai demandé à ce qu’on me montre le Mont TEMEHANI. Puis j’ai passé un moment à le regarder tout en me souvenant de TAFA’I qui cherchait à retenir sa bien aimée au moment de prendre son envol vers l’au-delà et qui a tout de même réussi son tour de main en se cachant dans les broussailles de ces hauteurs afin de pouvoir la surprendre et la retenir par les cheveux puis la ramener au monde des vivants.
Lorsque je pense qu’elle avait débuté son voyage vers l’au-delà de chez moi, de la pointe TATA’A, du rereraa varua de TAHITI à FANATEA, FAA’A !

A ce moment précis du parcours du King Tamatoa je me tiens près de la phase finale de cette légende, faisant face au Mont TEMEHANI ! Incroyable !

Nous étions si heureux et surpris de voir une surprenante foule à RAIATEA ! Tout comme à HUAHINE, la population a répondu massivement présente ! C’est incroyable de voir autant de monde sur le quai ! Et ils étaient aussi festifs que ceux de HUAHINE !!! Si colorés !!! Vraiment magnifique !!!

Nous nous sommes donc dirigés vers la sortie du bateau et, sur mon chemin, je contemplais les voitures qui attendaient de sortir avec ce qui faisait le bonheur de leurs occupants : kayaks, bétonnière etc.…. Il y avait même une nouvelle voiture (PICK UP) de pompier ! C’était un spectacle extraordinaire !

Nous nous sommes arrêtés à la descente du bateau puis nous avons du sortir du chemin pour laisser libre passage aux voitures. Il faut savoir qu’il faisait rudement chaud ! Nous nous sommes donc mis de côté et avons eu droit à un défilé de voitures. On aurait cru que c’était Noël ! La population applaudissait et souhaitait la bienvenue aux voitures puis avec des couronnes à ceux qu’elle attendait à la sortie du bateau pour les accompagner sous une tente pour la cérémonie d’accueil et les messages de bienvenue. Plusieurs générations des TAMATOA étaient là, du plus ancien jusqu’au plus jeune de la 16ème génération.

J’ai remarqué la présence de Léon Tautua C.J. et nous nous sommes enfin rencontrés ! Il me dit qu’il m’avait confondue avec une autre ! Mignon ! ha ha ha !!! J’étais heureuse de l’embrasser !

Delano FLOHR, lui, a bien repéré Tara à Huahine mais par contre moi, je n’aurais pas pu le reconnaître car je ne connaissais pas son visage ! ha ha ha

Encore une fois, mon cœur pris par le charme de l’accueil merveilleux de la population de RAIATEA, il m’était difficile de partir et de remonter sur le bateau ! iiiyaaa !!! Que ça fait mal au cœur de ne pas pouvoir rester plus longtemps ! Le KING TAMATOA devait impérativement repartir et respecter l’heure prévue de départ. Dommage !!!

Merci pour votre accueil, vous les habitants de RAIATEA. Vous m’avez charmeé à votre tour.
Je reviendrai !

BORA BORA

Je reprends mon souffle après ma journée en mer. Je prends le temps de me relaxer et de papoter avec mon groupe d’amis. J’ai beaucoup appris des aperçus des uns et des autres. C’est vraiment « cool » de disposer ainsi d’autant de temps pour bavarder et apprendre à mieux se connaître. Lorsque nous avons faim, nous mangeons ensemble et pour continuer de plus belles à table.

Le groupe TRC ( http://www.tahitiradiococotier.com/dotclear/ ) devrait vraiment planifier un voyage sur le KING TAMATOA parce que c’est trop « cool » !

Voilà ! Après le beau coucher de soleil, Il fait nuit à présent et je me retrouve avec très peu de lumière pour pouvoir prendre des photos. Ce qui expliquera pourquoi je n’ai pas pu prendre autant de photos à l’arrivée à Bora.

Ceci dit, nous ne savions pas ce qui nous attendait à quai. Le King Tamatoa qui était équipé d’un projecteur très puissant, bien heureusement, pouvait éclairer et ramener de la visibilité sur le long du quai de BORA, prenant ainsi ses repères avant de s’accoster. De ce fait, nous pouvions voir le monde qui attendait l’arrivée du KING TAMATOA et dans le noir ! Que d’émotions !

Cette fois-ci nous voilà descendus avec nos bagages car je restais à Bora Bora pour une nuit.

Après l’accueil de bienvenue, la guirlande végétale fut coupée par l’ARII VAHINE de BORA BORA. Elle nous accueillait entourée d’une grande foule.

Il y eut des embrassades et je me suis mise à discuter avec une charmante dame qui me disait que la foule était restée dans le noir complet.

- « C’est la lumière du KT qui nous a ramené la lumière ! Heureusement sinon nous étions dans un noir complet. »

Effectivement, une fois accosté, le KT rayonnait gracieusement de toutes ses lumières, éclairant les visages souriants des uns et des autres.
J’ai pris des photos du mieux que je pouvais pour la population de Bora qui était venue nous accueillir. C’est un peuple très courageux, accueillant et brillant. Ma prière est qu’il ne soit plus jamais oublié dans le noir sur un quai, dans leur cœur, dans leur vie de tous les jours auprès des siens, dans leur travail, dans leur communauté et île. Je me suis rendue compte qu’il n’y a pas seulement des Motus à Bora mais surtout une île principale qui reste égale à elle-même et oubliée dans le noir.

Que Dieu bénisse cette île et les îles des RAROMATAI puis toutes les populations.

Merci à tous pour cette expérience et maintenant le plaisir sera pour moi de la partager avec tous ceux qui voudront bien revivre cet évènement avec moi par les vidéos, photos que j’ai prises lors de cette traversée inaugurale et inoubliable du KING TAMATOA dans les Iles Sous le Vent.

Un grand merci au Commandant du KING TAMATOA et à tout son équipage pour leur accueil. Merci à Bill RAVEL pour ce magnifique bateau et à son épouse Randa que j’ai trouvé sensationnelle et d’une beauté radieuse aussi bien intérieure qu’extérieure.

Mauruuru à tous,
Tara

VIDEOS :

PAPEETE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w2JdaI1JNs
FETE SUR LE KING TAMATOA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWAjoICw0mc
HUAHINE http://www.youtube.com/user/VAIREREVAHINE#p/a/u/1/4fQnoSt9P7Y
RAIATEA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cq2fLY0Haw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdVqkzbMrQY

VALENTINES DAY AND YEAR OF THE TIGER

2010-02-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY AND A HAPPY YEAR OF THE TIGER TO ALL!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS FLOWER LEI - DEC 30TH

2009-12-31T00:41:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEITIARE!

YEAH!!!! LET'S CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!! KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU PRINCESS.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF YOU AT A YOUNGER AGE. DON'T THEY BRING BACK WONDERFUL MEMORIES?

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT MAY.

GOD BLESS YOU DEAR DAUGHTER,
MOM

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-12-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

IT’S CHRISTMAS ONCE AGAIN!!!!!
Open up your heart freely to a new holiday season!
The Christmas spirit is about sharing the joys of this merry occasion with friends and loved ones. Time for Santa’s gift, for mistletoe kisses and for togetherness.
This Christmas card was painted by my Son Tahaki who is based in England. His squadron will be using this work of art on their Christmas card.
My thoughts do go to our troops wherever they are stationed in the World. The Spirit of Christmas starts in your heart and as long as you have it there, all the memories of happy times will come back to your mind and bring you joy and love even though you are so far from home. Be brave. We love you. Be assured that you will be with us in spirit and in our hearts during this holiday season.
To my children who are all over the globe, kisses and hugs to all three of you. I miss you and love you so much.
To my family, friends in French Polynesia, the USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea and all who are visiting,
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!
May God bless you all with what your heart desires in your life during this holiday season and this coming New Year 2010.
With much love,
Tara

EST-QUE TU VOTES LA DEFIANCE?

2009-11-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

EST-CE QUE TU VOTES POUR LA DEFIANCE? (lyrics)
performed by FRITE et GTS (GENIAL TOUT SIMPLEMENT)

Frite:
T'avais les cheveux blancs
Un beau tee-shirt tout rouge et blanc
Mais tu avais quitté
Les oranges qui t'avaient fait

Gts:
T'avais les yeux trop grands
T'en avais marre qu'on t'dise "attends"
Et pour faire le malin
Tu f'sais show en tahitien

Refrain (chorus)-Ensemble Frite et Gts:
Est-ce que tu votes la défiance
Moi j'ai pas encore décidé
J'pense que je vais faire monter les
Enchères
Au grand marché de l'assemblée

Est-ce que tu votes la défiance
Moi j'ai pas encore décidé
J'pense que je vais faire monter les
enchères
Au grand marché de l'assemblée

Frite:
Les élus d'l'assemblée
J'vais les charmer, les envoûter.
Je leur tiendrai la main
Pour qu'ils votent demain matin

Gts:
C'que j'ai pensé à ca
Les nuits d'hiver seul à Bora
J'étais le Président
Le plus beau et le plus grand

Refrain (chorus)-Ensemble/Together frite et gts:
Est-ce que tu votes la défiance
Moi j'ai pas encore décidé
J'pense que je vais faire monter les enchères
Au grand marché de l'assemblée

Est-ce que tu votes la défiance
Moi j'ai pas encore décidé
J'pense que je vais faire monter les enchères
Au grand marché de l'assemblée

Pont:
Pouvoir, Puissance (Frite)
J'en jouis d'avance (Gts)
on s'dit je t'aime (Ensemble/Together)
Et on s'pignarde quand même (Ensemble/Together)

Refrain (chorus):
Est-ce que tu votes la défiance....

SUNSET OVER RARO...ONAKU, LITTLE VAIRUA AND BIG VAIRUA

2009-09-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

ARUTUA LAND OF MY ANCESTORS

Arutua is also my Mother's place of birth. It is located in the Tuamotu archipelago.

This last July I spent a month there visiting with family.

I would like to share with you some of the magical moments of this trip.
Enjoy with me these magnificent images of a Sunset over RARO (remote islets in Arutua).

These pictures were taken as I was crossing the lagoon and approaching raro with my cousin Jimmy. It took us about an hour to get ourselves there by speed boat.
It was such a wonderful and peaceful time!

VEO UNDERWATER

2009-09-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

VEO UNDERWATER

Offering Ceremony at VEO related to the TAHEI IA TATA'A EVENT. A VAIRERE exclusivity.

It took several persons to pull this long lei through the cut in the reef called VEO. The in and out currents made it quite difficult for many to accomplish this task but with the help of all...PUATEA said that the ceremony was quite a success and will remain a memorable experience for all participants.

I would like to thank my cousin Puatea for these beautiful underwater pictures. Do not miss on the slideshow. You will find it at the bottom of this page.

SLIDESHOW

Related stories and pictures: http://vairere.blogspot.com/2009/03/pictures-of-tahei-ia-tataa-event.html

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TAHAKI

2009-05-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TAHAKI

WHAT A BLESSED DAY!
YOU WERE BORN ON MAY 31ST IN PAPEETE TAHITI. I REMEMBER THAT DAY REALLY WELL. YOU HAD SO MUCH HAIR. HA HA HA AND YOU WERE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY. (SMILE) BEST WISHES TO YOU ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY. HAVE A GREAT CELEBRATION WITH FRIENDS IN ENGLAND.HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF YOUR VISIT IN TAHITI LAST APRIL.

YOUR ARRIVAL.

YOUR DEPARTURE.

THEY WERE SWEET AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS.

PICTURES OF AN EARLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH FAMILY IN TAHITI. REMEMBER, YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL AND PRECIOUS TO MY HEART. OLD BABY PICTURES FROM TONTON RAYMOND. YOUR FAMILY IN TAHITI, FRANCE, ENGLAND AND IN THE USA WHISHES YOU A “JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE TAHAKI!” GOD BLESS YOU SON, JE T’AIME,

MOM.

FESTIVAL OF THE TUAMOTU ISLANDS

2009-05-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

THE FESTIVAL OF THE TUAMOTU
WILL BE TAKEN PLACE AT THE CULTURAL CENTER IN PAPEETE TAHITI BETWEEN MAY 15TH and 17th.

If you happen to be in town do not hesitate to join us.

Please find below the flyer and details of the program. To read the details save them in your image document.

Kia maitaki !

Tararaina

EASTER WEEKEND IN MOOREA

2009-04-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Here is another memorable and relaxing trip!.

Matahere, Hinanui and myself celebrated Easter with friends.

We ate Tahitian food, sunbathed, walked on the beach, swam etc...etc LOL and we had a lot of FUN!

HINANUI

MATAHERE

Meet the dogs I adopted in Moorea.
HIONA (snow).

BELLE with HIONA.

And MAITO (a variety of fish).

On Saturday we had ribs at the menu.

On Easter Sunday, Our friend MATATINI prepared our fish cooked the Poumotu way.
Here is how this is done.
You create a circle of huge rocks then add in the center a few logs and coconut husks.
Start the fire and when it is bursting huge flames…cover it with smaller size corals that you find there laying on the beach.

Then place your fish to cook. Yummy!!! It gives this beautiful and unique scent that you can only obtain with this technique.

This fish is called O’IRI.

This other one is called UME.

These fish came directly from the Island of HUAHINE.

Here are other specialties of the Islands.
POE MAI’A (made with Bananas from Huahine).

POE MAI’A (made with regular bananas from Moorea). When cooked the color of this dish turns out different from the one above.

POE MANIOTA.

FISH.

FAFA (similar to spinach).

PU'A CHOUX (porc and cabbage).

PU'A (porc).

Marinated fish and shrimp.

Taro, banana etc…

This wonderful meal took many to prepare it and by the time we gathered around the table it was already mid afternoon. No trouble, we brought along with us our appetite…LOL

On the very next day we went to visit to the PAPA(S) (coral reef).
Check them out. They are amazing!!!

With the magic of this place I was greatly disappointed to also find there empty cans, plastic bottles and a microwave.
What a pity! I felt great pain witnessing this.

It would have been nicer to find a beautiful VAHINE (Tahitian Woman) or a handsome TANE (Tahitian Man) laying there on the beach instead of all this junk! OMG did I really say that? Ha ha ha(Let me roll my eyes!).
How unfortunate though! Well we are not always that lucky. Ha ha ha !!!

One night we decided to stay out at the beach. It was a hilarious night! We laughed a lot…
It was full moon. We laid comfortably under the stars on our long chairs with pillows and blankets… the sound of the ocean breaking on the reef rocked us to sleep.

To end up my story…let me sooth your soul with the following slide show. Join me in contemplation of a sunrise and a moon in a very same morning. It is Magnificent!

HAU (PEACE),
TARARAINA

MAOARAA MATAHITI

2009-04-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

MAOARAA MATAHITI
(Maturity of the season of abundance)

It was a Saturday morning at the Marae (a polynesian open air temple) of HAMUTA (the name of a valley in the city of Pirae) that the MAOARAA MATAHITI was celebrated.

Moana’ura, family and friends invited many to celebrate the season of abundance.
You see them here dressing up in their traditional outfit.
Moana’ura is wearing a Tapa (fabric made out of tree bark). The URU bark (from the bread fruit tree) gives this natural white color and the ORA bark (from the banyan tree) this brown red.

Moana’ura is considered the Tahu’a of the clan (Spiritual Leader). He is one of the rare Polynesians that made the choice to revive the Polynesian Religion after researching about it. He managed to gather others to that same cause and they seem to be doing really well and are comfortable living their Tupanas’ religion. The devotees are on their spiritual path and training into the arts of being a Tahu’a. They are looking forward to the day they will be ready to take upon them that responsibility to lead as a Tahu’a and to be able to share their faith with close ones and the world. I think they are already doing a great job in being the ambassadors of our culture.

The morning started with the clan greeting the guests with a welcome ORERO (Polynesian Speech) then they led us to the Marae where the Sacred Ceremony of the MAOARAA MATAHITI was going to take place.

After the invocation prayer to the Polynesian Deities and Tupunas (ancesters) all were invited to bring their offerings to the Alter. Many shared in many ways… A famous writer brought his books…one brought his heart and love and others fruits etc…All of their offerings came from the heart.
So this was the first phase of the celebration…to acknowledge and honor the Polynesian Deities and Tupunas (ancestors).

The second phase was the TUTIARAA (ritual of sacrifice readapted to this time). Moana’ura in his research was inspired to express this notion of sacrifice in a different fashion, in a safer and respectful way.

The flower that they are wearing on the side on their arm is called A’EHO, a sign of abundance when it is in blossom.
It is well known in the ancient knowledge that when this flour was in bloom this was an indicator to the natives that they were entering the season of abundance and harvest. So during this period of the MATAHITI (year) these A’EHO blossoms always called for a MAOARAA MATAHITI celebration .

To show their respect to Mother Earth this is what the clan came up with. The Tahu’a Moana’ura took from the Devotees the A’eho flower to burn and they were to kill the fire with both of their hands to feel Mother Earth’s pain, a reminder to them not to take what She produces for granted but to recognize that each thing we take from her is a sacrifice and this was a way for them to demonstrate their thankfulness and compassion towards her for caring and providing for us people.
What a magnificent testimony and a reminder to all who were invited of the significance of this precious concept… that we are only the attendants of all that surrounds us and to take from creation with all great respect.

So yes I felt so privileged and was very honored to have been invited to celebrate with all in a such beautiful setting.

It was the perfect day, the perfect weather and the people were all so very loving.

The third phase invited those who wished to partake in the Kava Ceremony and I of course went for it (smile). I was to think of the Tupunas while drinking it, a way to reconnect with them. I thought of that moment to be the highlight of the whole Sacred Ceremony. Here was a time set for me to reconnect and acknowledge my ancestors… to be in their presence…I felt so much love and was very moved by the whole experience. Cool!
This kava was prepared way in advance by Moana’ura with great care. He used the fresh roots of the green Kava plant found in his family owned valley. Once mashed he mixed them in coconut water and when filtered the Ceremonial Kava drink was ready to be served.

The Musicians and Ari’oi dancers performed a dance in a very humble and beautiful manner. These four Ari’oi Dancers were like the Muses of the ceremony and brought inspiration and insights through out the Sacred Ceremony.

The opening of AHIMA’A (Polynesian Oven). This part of the celebration was mainly for our stomach. Ha ha ha.
There was so much food and drinks… That was a fun and happy part of the day sharing.

This Event is celebrated only once a year and I would like to say to Moana’ura who invited me, to his family, friends and devotees a big MAURUURU (THANK YOU) for the experience. I watched you and I have great respect for what you are doing and your faith.
I was personally impressed by the message that your group were able to send with so much grace to the world…honor and protect our Mother Earth. Beautiful!…..

You all enjoy the pictures in the slide show below.

Parahi,
Tararaina

INTRODUCTION TO POLYNESIAN MUSIC

2009-03-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

MUSIC IS VERY MUCH PART OF MY LIFE AND I WOULD SAY OF POLYSIAN PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

I GUESS WE WERE BORN WITH IT.

THIS FOLLOWING SONG SANG BY PAOLA IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME. I DEDICATE THIS ONE TO YOU ALL...I HAVE A SPECIAL THOUGHT FOR THOSE THAT ARE LIVING SO FAR AWAY FROM OUR POLYNESIAN ISLANDS. I SAY TO THEM "A HOI MAI I TAHITI" (COME BACK TO TAHITI) WHEN YOU CAN.

PAOLA - A HOI MAI I TAHITI sélectionné dans Musique et Variété / Chanson

Credits: A ho'i mai i Tahiti -Lyrics &Music by our friend Papapenu , Adminitrator of TahitiRadioCocotier/dotclear. http://www.tahitiradiococotier.com/dotclear/

I did find the CD of Paola that has many of Papapenu's compositions at BONNARD (a music store in Papeete Tahiti). Mr Paul CHUNG SUI LINE, the owner of the store, told me that he does ship them out of the country. Here is his TEL # (689) 42 91 00 AND E-mail address for those that are interested to order the CD : chungestherpaul@hotmail.com

Find all the song titles below that you will hear played on this PAOLA CD:

NO TO'U MAMA HERE
JOHN VENESSA
MELODIES INACHEVEES
SOUS LA PLUIE
MAL DE TOI
A HOI MAI I TAHITI
TAAONE
COME ON OVER
OISEAU DE POLYNESIE

With much love,
Tararaina.

PICTURES OF THE TAHEI IA TATAA EVENT.

2009-03-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

AS PROMISED I AM BACK WITH MORE PICTURES.

We all met at 7 am this early Saturday at the Outumaoro soccer field. Everyone was excited. We were looking for each other. The flags were all there. I was looking for mine, flag N#3, the one with HAU (PEACE) written on it.The Celebration opening started with a speech then followed a few words of benediction.

Then we all went with our flags to our respective spots on TATAA.

We walked 3 blocks down the road and went down through a neighborhood.

This was the only decent access we had to reach TATAA.

We kept on walking until we had to stop.

Now we have attached our leis together it is now over 2 kms long or may be more.

We were about 1500 people who showed up for this Event.

The Ceremony started with blowing in cone N#1 located in the lagoon to send balance and harmony and so much more from the Element of Water to the Earth that travelled as a wave down this long chain of leis... from one cone/flag to the other. And as this was going on... we all carried our leis UP and toward TATAA to honor her and to send her our love, respect, along with that...for balance and harmony to be restored to this Soul Take Off place (TATAA).

This act was repeated twice before walking back to the Soccer Field to close the Ceremony.

This long lei was divided into 4 sections and sent to different spiritual sites

One went to the PUNA'AU, the second to TATAA, the third to Veo and the last went to Vaituparee (also called VAIRERE).

Offering to Tetuanui Arii Vahine.

Offering to Toimata Tua a Hiro Tetuanui.

Breakfast at the MOTU OVINI (Vaitupa fairground).

While we were eating and visiting we were entertained by dancers and story tellers.

Sabrina and her beautiful baby girl Matairea http://sarahina.over-blog.com/.

My Mother (Tatehau Vahine Hau Rai).

Seniors.

TATAA seen from the fairground.

I will end with a beautiful Sunset and a magnificent view over Moorea (Notice that on the left side is Motu TATAA).

Now, all that we are left with at the end of the day is a sweet memory of a shadow that once went to TAHEI IA TATAA.

At these sites you will find some related stories about this Event: http://www.tehivarereata.com/

http://tahei-ia-tataa.over-blog.com/

Parahi,

Tararaina

FLASH PICTURES OF TAHEI IA TATAA

2009-03-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

I STILL HAVE TO GATHER MORE PICTURES BEFORE I CAN SHOW THEM ALL TO YOU.

I WILL POST 5 PICTURES TONIGHT SO YOU CAN GET A GLIMPSE OF THE EVENT.

The first picture is so you can see your lei that I am holding in my hands.

Parahi,
Tararaina.

PREPARATION OF A LEI FOR TAHEI IA TATAA FOR MY FRIEND BLOGGERS ON TAHITI RADIO COCOTIER

2009-03-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

PREPARATION OF A LEI FOR MY FRIENDS THAT YOU FIND ON THIS BLOG http://www.tahitiradiococotier.com/dotclear/ . THEY LIVE FAR AWAY FROM OUR ISLANDS.

I DEDICATE THIS LEI TO THEM.

I dedicate as well this lei for those that are working and can't come to the event of TAHEI IA TATAA.

As promised, this early morning I have braided this beautiful Lei for you. May you find joy and love as you go through these pictures.

I think, your Lei turned out great! :-)

See you all in the morning, Saturday March 21st.

With much love,

Tara

TAHEI IA TATAA REHEARSAL

2009-03-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

TAHEI IA TATAA REHEARSAL
(Saturday March 14th 2009)

We all met in the parking lot of the OUTUMAORO Soccer field located just by the Bel Air Hotel.

Work started right in the parking. All were so excited to get going.

Moeata started briefing as people started to arrive.

Dany going over some of the basics.

We then moved to the soccer field to start the TAHEI IA TATAA rehearsal.

Those that brought their shell or wooden cones along with them started to rehearse. They were all very gracious to let whoever wanted play with them.

Astrid

Then Claude who prepared the flags started to pass them around so they could be put on bamboo rods.

When we were all situated, we all came in a circle . A Beautiful Polynesian Lady started to share in a chant an invocation prayer.

We were all briefed about our part in the event of TAHEI IA TATAA.

RFO Television covered the rehearsal.

Moana'ura Walker. For those that can understand French here is his website:
http://www.tehivarereata.com/

It was a pleasure for me to mingle with everybody there and it was awesome to get to know each and everyone.

I was particularly touched by the interest that the neighborhood kids had in the project. They were all so curious that it didn’t take them long to fit in.

Here you are seeing them with Dany figuring out the Map that shows TATAA.

A few of them even tried to show us their house on the map. They were having a little hard time… It seemed though they loved the challenge. It made them question about their sense of orientation! Ha ha ha !!!
These were fun and lovely kids.

This gathering definitely strengthened our bond and I am very sure this will be magnified on the day of the event when thousands are expected to join in to pay their respect to this cultural and spiritual site that TATAA is.

To know more about TAHEI IA TATAA refer to this following site: http://tahei-ia-tataa.over-blog.com/

If you are ever in the area…Join us.

Parahi,
Tararaina

LEARN HOW TO COOK AN "URU"

2009-03-15T02:51:00.000-07:00

LEARN HOW TO COOK AN "URU"

URU (BREAD FRUIT)

URU has nothing to do with what we commonly know as bread.

URU grows on a tree.

We know many varieties of TUMU URU (URU trees) in the Polynesian Islands. Here are some URU(S) that we are going to learn how to cook today.

URU MA’OHI
URU HUERO

Today my cousin Michel that I have already introduced to you in GRATING COCONUT (in one of my past postings) will assist me once again in the preparation of these two URU(S).

URU is commonly eaten with a Polynesian meal.

MITI HAARI (coconut milk) or MITI HUE (a fermented coconut sauce preparation) is what makes a Polynesian meal complete and tasty.

My grandmother, TOIMATA TUA A HIRO TETUANUI, has always eaten Tahitian food most of her life. Now that I am back living in Tahiti this is what I love to eat daily.

I am so fortunate to find so much richness in the produce that is locally home grown in the Polynesian Islands! It is surely to me a real treat.

While visiting our Islands I highly recommend that you taste our URU and MAA TAHITI (Tahitian food).

Here is a link from Wikipedia for those that are wanting to know a lot more about breadfruit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit

First, start a wooden fire.

Second, make four separate cuts all along the side of the URU.

Cut the bottom and top (where you find the stem) in a cross shape.

Third, place it on the fire…with the top up…

Then bottom up...

You will notice that those cuts as the URU cooks will open up. This will make it easy for you to skin it later.

Then cook the sides.

Notice when cooked… the whole URU turns black and does shrink a little.

Parahi (stay comfortably wherever you may be) and continue to enjoy looking at all of these beautiful images.

With much Aroha (love),

Tararaina (holding a board to protect the fire from the wind).

POLYNESIAN TATTOOS

2009-03-15T00:39:00.000-07:00

I DEDICATE THIS POST TO MY SONS MANEA, TAHAKI AND DAUGHTER HEITIARE.

This print left on the lawn on the picture below is quite amazing but isn't this truly a message of love?

Always remember this...You are very much missed and loved.
MOM.

I happened to be at the right place at the right time. These

handsome young men agreed to model so you can see how beautiful Polynesian Tattoos are.

Enjoy!

For those that like Tattoos here is a Website that you might like to visit.

http://www.taututattoo.com/welcome.htm

TAUTU, TARARAINA AND TEPUA.

TIARE TANE

2009-03-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

I am so glad to be in Tahiti to celebrate with you and family your birthday.

Blessings to you on your special day.

I love you

Tararaina.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CLAY AND CLAYTON

2009-02-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE CLAY ET CLAYTON!

To our handsome twins,

Always stay joyous. The whole family is joining me to wish you both a happy 33rd birthday.

May God bless you on your special day.

Kiss and hugs,
We love you very very much.

Your family in Faa'a

MANEA

2009-01-31T04:33:00.000-08:00

TO MY SON MANEA

HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY MANEA!!! AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES.

I WHISHED I WAS CLOSER TO SEE YOU BLOW YOUR CANDLES…BUT I WILL BE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT.

HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH FRIENDS THIS WEEKEND.

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH SON.

WITH MUCH LOVE, MOM.

P.S. YOUR SONG WILL BE POSTED SOON. CHECK BACK.

TATAA

2009-01-20T00:59:00.001-08:00

TATAA

The other day, I felt like rowing my kayak around the TATAA area in Faa’a Tahiti.

It was the perfect day to take pictures and to show you around the places I used to play when little.

Before the Intercontinental hotel was ever built. That point used to be virgin.

With relatives, we used to spend many of our childhood days swimming to TATAA to lay on the

white sandy beach and when we did not feel like swimming back home, we would hike the TATAA hills to reach the FANATEA road and walk home from there. There was a MAPE PIROPIRO tree (Hymenaea courbaril Jatoba) on the top of the hill that we all liked to eat of the fruit

Hiking was always very interesting because the hills were filled with PURAU trees (Hibiscus trees) and wasp nests. So you imagine what we had to go through to keep ourselves from getting bitten.

This whole land was originally split and owned by three different native families. They owned land from the mountain all the way to the reef… TATAA was part of their property and for some reason one day a hotel was built there.

Tahitian people were at the time very passive when it came to protect their land. Somehow this
land has been prescribed!?…And today we still don’t even know or understand how this all happened.

We have spent so much of our time in that area that the underwater world holds no secret to us.
We were always able to nourish ourselves when needed…

TATAA was where our natural brooms that fell from the coconut tree were found to rake the yard. We would row the outrigger canoe there to collect them.
This last Christmas I used one of those natural brooms as my Christmas tree.

Coconut leaves were also gathered from TATAA to renew the roof of our FARE(S) (huts).

Most of all we never missed the chance to walk on PAI’s footprints. My family legend says that PAI the great warrior threw his spear from TATAA to one of Moorea Mountains. On a beautiful morning it is possible to see the hole in the mountain known as MOUA PUTA.

TATAA is known as the place where souls exit the Island of Tahiti to start a great trip to the other world or dimension. It is the souls takeoff place as it is well explained by ROHUTU NO’ANO’A in this following site. http://www.rohutu.com/article-10088984.html
http://tahei-ia-tataa.over-blog.com/

Scroll to see more pictures

READ ABOUT THE STORY OF TAFA'I FROM THE BISHOP MUSEUM IN HAWAI. THE TATAA POINT IS MENTIONED IN IT.
http://pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/Tafai.html

HEITIARE

2008-12-29T22:10:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEITIARE!

I AM THINKING ABOUT YOU ON YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY. I WISHED I WAS CLOSER TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU YOUR 22nd BIRTHDAY.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION MY DEAR.
I MISS YOU…
I LOVE YOU MY BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS.

HERE IS YOUR BIRTHDAY SONG.

Heitiare

Heitiare tau tamahine
Heitiare tau tamahine

Ia vai te hau
E te maitai
I roto
Ito oe mafatu
E heitiare hoi oe
No te
Here

Ua riro
Hoi oe
E tapo’o
Note Aroha
I nia
Ite fenua
O te mau tupuna

Heitiare
Tau tamahine
Ua here au ia oe
Eaha ra ia moe
Ito oe na metua

Heitiare
Tau tamahine
Mahana o’ao’a
Te ie
Eaha ra ia moe
Ite ie nei here

No hia mai
Te ie here
Na te tupuna
Maohi e
I faahei
Atu Ia oe
I teie hei tiare...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

KISSES AND HUGS
GOD BLESS YOU MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER
LUV U
MOM

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2008-12-23T03:12:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish all of my children, family and friends in the USA, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE AND TAHITI a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. You are all dear to me and very close to my heart.

I dedicate these two following pictures to my three children Manea, Heitiare and Tahaki. I love you kids very very much.

God bless you all with what your heart wishes for this coming New year.

With much love,

Tararaina Vairere Vahine

This last picture is Tara with Sister Hinanui.

PUHI

2008-12-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

PUHI(s) ARE ARE SOFT WATER EALS.

They are games for the house dog Capus (a short name for Sac a Puce: bag of flees). It likes to walk along the water to watch the Puhis swimming on the top of the water. Capus gets very excited with a constant bark here and there...

A Puhi is very important to keep a spring alive. It is constantly looking to keep the flow of a spring free from any obstruction. It looks for new garleries in order to bring underwater lakes to spring out from the Earth.

A Puhi is a natural vacuum cleaner. It sucks up any dead creatures that might have fallen into the water.

A Puhi is different from a sea eal. It cannot harm you. A sea eal could section your fingers if it felt agressed.

The soft water Puhi has teeth as a grater. If really bothered it can only scratch the skin of your fingers but not more than that.

Puhis are wonderful creatures. They are very friendly and live in harmony with us. When bathing in the spring, we are gentle we them.. We protect them and love them like any of our children.

In our family we say that the Puhi symbolizes the Mother or Grandmother Energy. We rejoice when it comes to us. It brings back memories of our lineage. The last one of the lineage was our Grandmother Toimata. We think that she is with us when we find ourselves around the spring and bathing in it. We think of all the Mothers before her that contributed to nurture that spring. After a swim in that water, our body, soul and spirit feel cleansed, light and at peace.

Puhis like to live in cool temperature water. They can get out of the spring to get to the lagoon for hunting purpose. It is part of their survival instinct.

While swimming with them, little, my kids used to like to hold them. To the touch they are kind of slippery. They don’t stay in your hands very long. There are times they come very close to you and in between your legs. Ha ha ha O.K right it is kind of a strange feeling sometimes.

Puhis look scary to some but they are in reality very nice creatures and great gardians of springs.

Stay with me…I will show you pictures of a school of Nato (fish), of Osha’a(s) (shrimps), kokopu (fish), Jack-Fish, tilapia and shells. They all in their own way contribute to keep the spring clean and alive.

Here is a picture of Nato(s). As you notice one of them is going for the french bread (baguette) that is floating at the top of the water.

Mother Osha’a with its baby.

Kokopu(s) come in different colors

A jack- fish. It is very unsual to see this fish survive in soft water.

Shells to keep the rocks of the spring free of algie.

There are tilapias as well but I had a hard time to approach them.

I would like to thank Puatea and her companion Angelo who were very kind to let me borrow their underwater camera. We can all thank both of them for these beautiful pictures.

Written by Tararaina

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO TIARE TANE AND TIARE VAHINE

2008-12-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

I would like to dedicate this page to my parents. TIARE TANE AND TIARE VAHINE's 49th Wedding Anniversary on this day Dec. 12th 2008.

We, children and family, will be rejoicing with them tonight by the water.

Next year celebration promises to be a bigger deal because we will be celebrating then their 50th anniversary.

Jack, grandchildren in Nevada USA, United Kingdom and France are wishing you a happy anniversary.

Congratulations to both of you Tiare Tane and Tiare Vahine! We love you very very much. Mouah! Bisous xxxxoooo

HOW TO GRATE COCONUT

2008-12-11T22:35:00.000-08:00

GRATED COCONUT

My cousin Michel loves to eat local. He finds no trouble grating coconuts to get his milk. He shares with me that he loves to eat his fish with coconut milk.

Today he came by the house to get a few coconuts and while working his routine he allowed me to take pictures.

Polynesians have different words to identify the coconut at different stages of its growth or of its existence.

OMOTO coconut is before being ripe (which is the OPA’A stage) and it has a soft flesh in the inside. The shell is green or red depending on what variety of coconut it is. OMOTO is what we pick from the tree to drink… then we eat the OMOTO (soft flesh) with a spoon cut out from the coconut shell.

OPA’A is ripe and the shell or husk is brown. You normally find it on the ground when ripe.

UTO is a coconut that has been laying down on

the ground for weeks and is starting to grow a

tiny pointed trunk. The husk is brown like the OPA’A and inside you find the UTO. UTO is

excellent to eat and makes a great healthy appetizer at parties.

grate coconut for milk…you will want to look for an OPA’A. You remove the husk off with the help of a strong pointed stick…then break the coconut in half…empty the water that you can drink (personally I like to drink from the OMOTO better}. Then start grating.

Put the grater on a chair and a huge bowl underneath. Sit on it as shown on the picture and start grating.

Once you have gathered all of the grated coconut…the next part is to bring two handful of coconut into a clean cloth and start squeezing the milk out. You will obtain a rich milk. Michel likes to add water with the grated coconut before squeezing…By doing it that way he is getting a lot more milk out of his one coconut plus it is just less grating for him to do. Smart!
I have tasted both ways and I am fine with either ways.

Coconut milk is used to make oil for the body (Monoi Tahiti) or for purging in between the different traditional medicine that you are undergoing. It is used as well in many other Polynesian medicine.

In a different article I will explain how to prepare the purging oil. There is so much to share with you all.

In nowadays, you can buy your grated coconut at the store. They have an electric grater. How convenient for so many.
My wish is that this tradition that Michel is still honoring will never disappear and that the knowledge will always be around for future generations.

Written by Tararaina

HINANUI

2008-12-03T02:39:00.000-08:00

HINANUI
Known as the Mother of all
An Angel…

Everybody knows her as the Queen of the Polynesian Dance.

About a year ago she has devoted herself to the Arts of the Polynesian Dance.

She has blossomed since. Hinanui has become this beautiful flower that friends love and long to come close to… knowing that they would benefit from the beauty that she so graciously radiates. A beauty not only that can be seen from the outside but that is also very much present within her. Her heart overflows with a constant love for people. She is known as the Mother of many, friends and in particular her girlfriends.

If you find anything that you do so boring… it is because Hinanui is not part of the plan or doing it with you.

Hinanui, who is a natural, carries the spirit of joy. Wherever she goes she brings along with her that spark of fun, love of life and happiness that is just so contagious that you just can’t help to smile, laugh and be thankful for life.

None has tried to stop her and why would anybody want to do that? Ha ha ha

When She says, “the Show must go on”. Everybody is saying “YES!” and all is ready for more joyous time in her good company.

Time does not exist in her World that she has many of all ages included. Her World is so energizing and full of life that the age becomes only an insignificant number.

Her way of life and of thinking makes it “turning 50 feels wonderful!”

By the way I checked…In her world, Hinanui is nowhere to be found on the time line ‘cause she had to be a God sent person. Living in her dimension we all recognize in her the Angel she is.

Knowing this…we all have a very good reason to want to celebrate with Hinanui her 50th birthday on this beautiful Planet Earth.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGEL HINANUI MOTHER OF ALL

YEAH!!!!….
WE LOVE YOU

GOD BLESS YOU WITH WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES AND ALL OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU ON YOUR 50TH BIRTHDAY
AND YES, WE ARE ALL WITH YOU…THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

This last picture is showing Tararaina and her sister Hinanui. As a joke, we call ourselves the Twin Sisters (Les Soeurs Jumelles!). There is not one to hold the other one back. What do you want this is the complicity of Sisters.

Written by Tararaina

TUPA Land crab

2008-12-01T20:19:00.000-08:00

TUPA
Land crab

Tupas are very much part of the world I live in.

I grew up being accustomed to having them around me.
Tupas are night creatures. During the day they chose to stay in their holes. In the dark they love to wonder freely around my home. Tupas like to leave their “Apoo Tupa” (Tupa Holes) in the pitch dark to find leaves to nourish themselves.

In their holes they work and dig galleries leading very often to roots of a lot of beautiful plants.

I must say Tupas are a nuisance to so many of my plants. Archeologists would love them and should seriously look into hiring them as assistants because as they dig they bring out along with the soil all kind of great things but unfortunately they’re very often mostly pollution. In their doing though they are keeping Mother Earth pretty clean!

Although one is a predator to the other…I love to be surrounded by plants and at the same time at night I love to be greeted back home by the Tupas. Some of them are very brave and don’t budge when I walk closely by. Others do get scared. You can tell by the noise they make when they swiftly run away to hide.

My mother grew up in a Tahitian Hut. Her parents had their dirt floor covered with white sand. They had a great cohabitation with the tupas. Every morning my mother had a routine… To keep their house floor looking clean and pretty, she did not vacuum but had to plug all of the Tupa holes before she could cover it back again with sand.

Little, I remember finding them in our house. They apparently let themselves in through the open door at night. The enchanting scratching noise they made always led me to quickly locate where they were hiding and it is with the help of a broom that they were swept right out of the house. What is it with those tupas liking to come into our house!? Could it be that they are missing living among human and with a roof over their heads? (Ha ha ha) or is it that we are the one who are trespassing and living on their territory?

Nowadays let me reassure you that all houses in Tahiti do have modern floors. My father is telling me that rare were the occasions he had to sweep a tupa out of his house…

Ah! Those stubborn Tupas! I just love them.

In her living my Great-Grandmother “Mama TANE” loved to fish. She fished until late in life. She would paddle her outrigger canoe from home to MOTU TAHIRI (TAHIRI ISLET) which is where the FAA’A International Airport is located today. That place used to be a virgin islet. Mama TANE would go fishing at night around that area and when there was too much current and wind to paddle back home…she would get off on that Motu…dig a big but not too dip of a hole in the sand with her paddle and sleep in it until dawn. When morning came she would find these same kind of tupas running all over the place. She would collect them and take them home…keep them in a cage for a couple of days to cleanse them by feeding them grated coconut. When this was all done she boiled them in water and ate them with coconut milk.
Bon appetit!

Written by Tararaina

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL FROM TAHITI

2008-11-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Here is a bouquet arrangement to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. The flowers were freshly picked from my garden.

This is a day to be thankful for so much that we have in our life...the beauty of nature and people that are surrounding us.

I am thankful for all the blessings that I have recieved through my whole life... the family that I was born in and the one that I have raised with the father of my children.

HAPPY THANKSGING to my friend Vairere Tane and three children Manea, Heitiare and Tahaki.

I love you and miss you all on this special day.

With all my love,

Tararaina

MOOREA

2008-11-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

MOOREA
Tahiti Sister Island

Come along with me in my little corner of the world.

Now this is a place like no other places I have taken you so far. This is a unique place with a view over the lagoon, the reef, the ocean and the Island of Tahiti. It is indeed a dream place and definitely very authentic and very close to nature.

The Aremiti boat departed Papeete for the Island of Moorea at 5:00 pm on a Saturday. Hinanui, Matahere and I did this trip together. We all brought with us great food to be prepared while there to share with the family we were going to stay with.

The trip on the Aremiti was very smooth. On the boat they sold drinks and we all got ourselves something very refreshing to drink so our crossing would be nice, fun and exciting. We were saying to each other “Here we are once again…the greatest team going on a new adventure!” all looking forward to a relaxing time during an exceptional long weekend with friends.

The head of the family met us at the dock with his car and drove us to his place. The house we stayed in was a typical Tahitian Fare (Tahitian house). The windows were built very different to allow a constant flow of fresh fragrance of the Kahaia flowers and cool breeze through the whole house.

Here is a picture of a Kahaia flower. It is as you can notice a very tiny thing but it carries a very nice scent that you can smell when walking all over the property.

At dinner we all gathered around the table for a very nice Tapenlou (an Asian Specialty meal) prepared by Val (the lady of the house) and it was with great pleasure we visited until bed time.

As always I was the first up wondering along the coral beach to admire the view. After taking a few pictures and videos…I was in the water enjoying the magic of the place. Aaaaaah! Nice!

The coral reef was just at hand separating me from the deep blue Pacific Ocean while gazing at the Island of Tahiti.

Surfers showed up two hours later with their surfboards under their arms ready to jump over the reef to start sliding on great waves. Ha ha ha this is really amazing to watch! They must have done this since little.

Every day we tasted different food that ranged from Maa Tahiti (Tahitian Food) to B.B.Q and caraibian food. Every day the Master of the house prepared home made Suisse bread for our breakfast and it tasted wonderful with cheese. He even took the time to teach Hinanui’s husband, who joined us the very next day, how to make this wonderful bread.

I have noticed that bathing in the lagoon opens up an appetite. Apparently I was not the only one ‘cause at every meal none of us had any trouble filling up our stomach. Wow! Even the plan overs went.
Ha ha ha… There was so much to eat!

On our leisure time we walked the beach looking to collect a few rare pieces of shells or dead corals that were actually brought up to the beach by the waves during past and violent hurricanes. It is amazing to see how nature works to bring this

whole place together. It is a real beauty. It takes years for multitude of corals to grow and to get stuck together with shells to contribute to the formation of the “papa” (coral reef). I would say that the lagoon we swam in to refresh was all part of the coral reef. You could find “papas” everywhere…close to the shore or right on the beach. Amazing!

Notice in between the reef a few openings. When you have a big opening it is called a cut in the reef. On the island of Tahiti the cut can be very wide…large enough in size to allow a cruise ship through to get closer to land.

I am sure you wished you were all here. I wished you were too. No one wanted to leave this place…We all agreed that this site deserved to be left alone and protected from predators.

I leave you with more pictures for the pleasure of your eyes and soul. I hope they will bring to you much joy.

I would like to thank our hosts who were so kind and gracious to share their home with us. I wish for them to continue to enjoy their privacy and also their retirement. A big MAURUURU (thank you) to Val, her husband and children.

With much love,
Mauruuru and Ia ora na

Written by Tararaina

BEAUTIFUL BORA BORA

2008-11-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

BEAUTIFUL BORA BORA
At the Four Seasons Resort http://www.fourseasons.com/borabora/guest_rooms_and_suites.html s_and_suites.html

The Air Tahiti plane landed in Bora Bora at 7 :45 pm.
Upon arrival the Four Seasons Resort met and transferred customers to their “Motu” (Islet) in their luxurious shuttle boat. During the transfer I was fortunate to sit in the very back under the open sky to admire the Milky Way. As we approached the Resort the captain took us right up to the front of the reception area.

As soon as I was able to step out of the boat I was greeted with a “Ia ora na” (Hello Welcome) and the traditional “Hei Tiare Tahiti” (Tiare Tahiti flour lei). After handling formalities at the reception I was then transferred to my Over-water Bungalow with what they call a “Voiturette” (A Golf Cart).

As we rode to the Bungalow I was able to get a nice feel of the hotel. Everything that I was seeing so far was impressive.

OH MY GOD! My Over-water Bungalow was a real jewel!… awesome and beautiful! You would have loved it too. They welcomed me with a fruit basket and special cookies. I toured the entire bungalow and it got me excited about my stay there. Then soon after my luggage were brought up to me.
I called the Voiturette to take me to the Sunset Bar for a relaxing time before dinner at the restaurant followed by a good night sleep.

Early morning…I was up on the deck starting to take pictures and videos of Bora Bora most famous mountain called OTEMANU. This mountain has been for the longest the signature of the Island. It’s been published, used in movies, in commercials etc... I then spent hours soaking into the beauty and Spirit of the Island.
It suddenly felt like home again. It is such a great feeling! What a wonderful thing to be back in the South Pacific Islands!

With that feeling I did not want to leave the comfort of my bungalow so a room service American Breakfast was ordered. Soon after I took a swim in the turquoise lagoon and laid for a while in the sun.

In the afternoon I took a walk around the property checking out the villas and other parts of the resort.

The villas are great for big families and family reunions.

I was very attracted by the beauty of the place, the trees and flours. I couldn’t help to take pictures to share with you.

I visited the chapel. It is very tiny but exceptional. Behind the alter is a magnificent view of the OTEMANU mountain. This is a obviously a memorable place to
get married.

I stopped and visited the gym and the spa. They are both located on the wild part of the Resort where you can see the coral reef.

I found out that the Four Seasons in Bora is a very family oriented Resort. They have put a lot of thought into their place. They have for your children up to the age of 5 a kid’s club and a teen Motu (Islet) for teenagers from the age of 15 to18.

On my way back I went through the pool area and noticed they rented little huts for the day for those who wished to rest, relax away from the sun and take an afternoon nap. At this point of my tour the hut sounded good and looked quite tempting to me.

In the evening a buffet dinner was served at the restaurant and Polynesian dancers performed for all who came.

Quickly I got myself into a daily routine between swimming, sunbathing, eating ect.

The very next day before leaving the Resort for the airport I had my last meal at the Pool Bar…ordered marinated fish and rice…then spent some time around the pool visiting with friends.

It was difficult to leave this dream place but since my stay was a short one and had to come to an end… I embarked the hotel shuttle and headed for the airport.

This trip will always stay memorable and dear to me. I truly hope one day you will also have the chance to visit the beautiful island of Bora Bora to capture the magic that I and others before me have found there.

Ia Ora Na
Written by Tararaina

Slide show dedicated to Heitiare !

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More pictures of the FATAUA valley and Coming SOON Others !

2008-11-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

RAAU NONO

2008-11-07T01:03:00.000-08:00

The RAAU NONO is also commonly known as NONI JUICE in the western world. The Noni Juice is prepared a little differently to make the product free of the natural strong odor and to suit people’s taste.

This morning I woke up and went on my way to bathe in the natural pool. I looked up to the Nono tree and saw that the Nono fruits were ripe and perfect for use in making a Raau Nono. They have been growing and riping on the tree at the corner there between my Bungalow and the water.

I collected them very carefully so I wouldn’t break the branches they are sitting on and brought them inside to be rinsed and dried before putting them into a plastic bag to ripe perfectly. In the past my mother said that they would weave a basket with the niau (coconut tree leaves) and would lay Nono leaves down at the bottom where the Nono fruits would sit and ripe for a few days.

Then the next stage is to gather them into a very large glass jar with lid. Take it outside and let it sit in the full sun until all of the fruits would melt. I am being told that your house roof is the perfect place to have it. This stage could last days. Take the jar back in at night and back out in the full sun the next day. In the middle of the process, you would want to mash the fruits and leave the mixe out again for a few days.

The way a friend of mine does hers is a little different. She feels that it is a safer process to keep your jar of nono in the fridge and not to take it out in the sun. She came up alone with making it this way instead of the traditional way. I assume that her technique is as good as my mother’s. I am sure there are many ways to come about to obtain the same result.

To get it ready for use… after they have set for a few days in the sun …you mash the fruits a little more then filter the puree to collect the Nono juice… Store the potion in the fridge.

How do you filter? You put the puree in a clean cloth…turn and squeeze it in a bowl and repeat that gesture until you run out of the puree. My mom said that she would eat the left over of the puree leaving the seeds out… but know that this is totally optional.

For the next few days you will drink the Raau Nono as you wish or really until you run out of it as directed below:

You fill a quarter of your glass of the potion and drink it straight, twice or three times a day. Once a day is great. However you wish to take it is fine.

Many in now days in Tahiti and her islands will make it easy by letting a Nono fruit ripe then will cut it in half and will eat either a spoon full of it or half of the fruit just as it is, mixed up with some of their favorite fruit juice.

Written by Tararaina

Hike in the Fataua valley

2008-10-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

Our hike to the Fataua waterfall was wonderful. I let the pictures speak for themselves.

Written by: Tararaina

On a sunday morning...Hinano, Martine, Hinanui and myself, Tararaina, met in front of the gate of the Fataua Valley. The gardians or rangers started to open the gate to us and allowed our entrance into the inside parking lot.

The Polynesian tradition wants that we make a head garland to wear before we go on any adventure...whether it is a hike, party, or whatsoever....We feel the need to invite and to carry with us some of mother earth energy...her colors...her scent...and beauty.

When we hiked to the Fataua waterfall... We took our time stopping and looking at every trees and exotic flowers. We found on our way a variety of ginger flowers and heliconias surrounded by various ferns...

At one moment in our hike we ran into two tourist couples and their guide. One couple was from Israel and the other from the USA. We allowed them to borrow our head garland so they could take pictures wearing them. They seemed very pleased and thankful for that picture opportunity.

Along the river, we would stop to check some of the uniquely shaped boulders out. At one place we ran into something quite convenient to access our next trail...whoever that takes care of this valley and that is in charge of keeping the trails nice and clear has done a great job cutting stairs into a mountain that was totally all rock. It was quite an impressive work and at the same time very helpful. They had set up some ropes along the side to assist you in your climbing. Boy! It made it so easy for me.

Going far and deep into the valley We came to cross four different rivers before reaching the great waterfall. At each river crossing it was a delight to sit and just soak in the beauty and magic of the polynesian jungle.

I have tried to take my tennis shoes off at each river crossing so they would stay dry because they were not my hiking shoes but the ones I usually jog in.

When we started to hike back....I fell into the water at the first river crossing and my shoes got all wet. So during the rest of the trip I kept them on. They were actually comfortable and better to have on when crossing rivers.

You will find that some of the rocks in the water are very slippery with moss on them. If possible find yourself some shallow places to cross. Try when crossing to step on tiny rock surfaces rather than on big rocks.

It was a beautiful day and the river was not wild but quite gentle. They say to avoid this hike
when it has been raining. The river becomes then

dangerous to cross.

So we hiked for a couple of hours into the valley to the waterfall and it took us of course another couple of hours to hike back.

Once at the foot of the waterfall we realize that the fall does come with a great mist just like at

the niagara falls. With reverance we bathed and cleansed in this natural pool before we went to the side by a little cliff very near by to nourrish ourselves.

We all brought differents things to eat. From firifiri (tahitian yeast donut but shaped in a 8

form)...cheese....pua roti (a specialty meat on the Island)...cold meat...baguette and some tasty drinks. :-).

We brought our picnic and shared a meal. On the way I found a fresh ripe avocado that has fallen from the tree and you could also tell that it just
fell.

How could I tell? Well when you looked at it... it was slightly pealed at the stem where you could see fresh and not dry flesh. Yami!!!! It was extremely good and tasty...all organic! ha ha ha.

Our dessert was a phare breton (a cake) made by Matahere. A delight...It tasted really good

When you are inside the valley…no doubt you get your appetite back.

If you have ever lost it somewhere for some reason or another! ha ha ha Get yourself into this valley...I guaranty you will get your appetite back . :-)

I would like to share a very special time that bonded all four of us girls. Martine who is a french lady from Bretagne has always dreamt to be adopted into the polynesian culture and always wished that a native would give her a tahitian name.

This happened naturally. I was not aware that she always wished to have a tahitian name!? I looked at her and asked her how come she didn't have a tahitian name yet especially after having been living in tahiti for so long and so many years now! I have observed her and detected in her heart a genuine love for the polynesians and the polynesian culture. As I was moved by that love I then asked her if she would love for me to give her a Tahitian name? She replied as swift as a shooting star and with a big smile yes...she would really love that.

So as we walked...I kept on thinking about a name starting with the letter M. Sure enough it came easily. MATA for eye... the window of the soul and HERE for love... not just any love but a genuine love that is full of compassion, that is unconditionnal and divine. I then called her MATAHERE (loving eyes). On our way back from the waterfall Martine was adopted into the polynesian culture with a new name : MATAHERE. My sister Hinanui and I cleansed her with the water from the FATAUA river and baptized her with a polynesian name.

What was curious...of all the pictures that were taken that day.....that was the only picture that did not come out. I guess it was meant for that moment to be only remembered or written about!

Sooooo... obviously while hiking we were also able to visit some. We were fortunate to have had the chance to come together on this sunday morning to share in this one beautiful experience and in a quite unique setting.
Definitely this hike has brought us four girls closer to each other and this one experience will always remain in my heart as a very memorable one.