Polynesian Culture

Beneath the postcard beauty, French Polynesia has a proud, deep and vibrant living culture, that of the Ma'ohi people, kept strongly alive across the islands. Its most captivating expression is ori Tahiti, the mesmerising, hip-shaking traditional dance performed to thunderous drumming, an art of storytelling and celebration. The islands are also the birthplace of the tattoo, the very word deriving from the Tahitian tatau, and its intricate traditional designs carry deep meaning. Ancient sacred sites, the stone marae temples, dot the islands, and the culture bursts into full, joyous life each July at the Heiva, a grand festival of dance, song, sport and craft competitions.

The main sights

• Ori Tahiti - the mesmerising traditional dance and drumming.
• The tatau - the ancient art of Polynesian tattoo.
• The marae - the sacred ancient stone temples.
• The Heiva festival - the grand July celebration of culture.

When to go

Year-round for a taste of the culture, but July, when the great Heiva festival takes place, centred on Tahiti, is the most spectacular time, filling the islands with dance, song, traditional sport and craft competitions. Dance shows, marae sites and cultural experiences can be enjoyed at other times, offering a window into the Ma'ohi heritage.

Things to know

Resort dance shows, while genuinely skilful and beautiful, are a lighter, packaged taste of the culture, so the Heiva festival, village events, and visits to marae with knowledgeable guides offer a deeper, more authentic experience; ancient sites should be treated with respect. As a proud, deep and vibrant living culture, though, from the mesmerising ori Tahiti dance and the ancient art of tattoo to the sacred marae and the joyous Heiva, the Ma'ohi heritage is the soul of French Polynesia and a genuine highlight.

Nearby

The marae, villages and festivals across the Society and other islands are the places.