Meet The Tahitians

Low Season Tahiti

6 Part Video Series

Meet The Tahitians

10 Part Video & Podcast Series

Low Season Tahiti

6 Part Video Series

Founder of Low Season Traveller, Ged Brown and his good friend and acclaimed TV & film producer, Tighe Grainger, visited Tahiti and Moorea in the traditional low season month of December to find out what the experience is really like during the 'rainy season'.

The cultural heritage of any destination is what sets it apart from other places. We wanted to learn about the traditions, food, dance, music and most importantly meet the locals. These experiences are all available in Tahiti during the low season months and additionally, these are the months when Tahiti needs the economic impact of visitors even more.

As one local told us, "filling properties during the low season months ensures that the hotels are being utilised more fully. It's more responsible and sustainable..."

So dive in and join us for a trip of a lifetime...

Meet The Tahitians

10 Part Video & Podcast Series

In this series of conversations, Ged speaks with 10 true Tahitian locals in order to learn more about what it means to be a Tahitian and to find out what we can learn from the culture and traditions of these islands.

Journey To Tahiti

In this first episode, we start our journey in the cold and snowy Paris Charles De Gaulle airport before embarking on our 18 hour journey to Papeete.

Air Tahiti Nui use the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which have been appropriately tattoo'ed.

From the moment you board as each passenger is greeted with the traditional flower, you feel as though you have started your Tahitian adventure. Uniquely, the crew even change into a more relaxed and tradtional uniform once the flight is airborne.

You can learn more about how Air Tahiti Nui bring the 'mana' of Tahiti to their in-flight experience in our conversation with their Head of Marketing, Torea Colas.

Papenoo Valley Trek

In this episode Ged and Tighe join up with indigenous cultural guide Teuai as hehe takes them on a jeep tour through the heart of Tahiti to the Papenoo Valley. Here, he shows how his ancestors lived at one with the local environment and how nature provides all of the solutions.

Teuai shows us the most spiritual place on the island to pay our respects before beginning our trek through the jungle, across streams and eventually on to the most amazing waterfall and pool which many Tahitian families enjoy for a relaxing day out.

It's not for the faint hearted but as Teuai tells us "you have to earn the right to appreciate this special place"

Papeete Market

In this episode Ged joins Manoa from Tahiti Tourism for a stroll around the municipal market in Papeete.

Located in the centre of Papeete and often overlooked by tourists, Papeete Municipal Market is a veritable treasure trove of all things Tahitian. It's where the locals come to buy their fresh produce, fish, vegetables and fruit as well as meeting up with their friends.

For visitors, there is a wide array of locally produced ornaments and artwork such as carvings, paintings, Tahitian pearls, hand woven baskets and more.

In addition, there are a number of outstanding food outlets in the market where we met up with local food expert Heimata Hall for his Meet The Tahitians episode.

Ferry To Moorea

Ged and Tighe join the local Tahitians on the Artemis 6 ferry from Tahiti to the neighbouring island of Moorea. This short 25 minute crossing is the quickest and easiest way to get to Moorea and it's certainly the most cost effective way of reaching the island.

Once onboard this busy but thankfully air conditioned ferry, you are immediately struck by the fact that this is clearly a regular communte for many of the local passengers. You will find school groups, families, old friends and more all colourfully adorned with their local flowers and and bright clothing.

The bags are merely left at the foot of the ferry before embarkation and the overseas travellers accustomed to bag tags, nervously wait to see if their bags made it once the ferry pulls in to the calm and beautiful port at Moorea...

Moorea Lagoon Tour

Maui has been running lagoon tours in Moorea for years. He delights in introducing guests to his friends in the lagoon like Hinano, the heavily preganant stingray, the many turtles, black tipped reef sharks and eagle rays.

Ged and Tighe joined Maui for one of his signature tours in the azur waters of Moorea Lagoon and even when the dark rain clouds came, rather than detract from the experience, they merely provided an even more dramatic backdrop to the bright turquoise waters all around.

Look out for the 'Meet The Tahitians' episode with Maui, where he brought us out for a local lunch before opening up about his thoughts on tourism and the advantages of low season travel...

Teahupo'o Surfari

Teahupo'o is located on Tahiti-iti and is known as the end of the road. A sleepy and peaceful place with very little in the way of traditional tourism infrastructure, people come here to return to a simpler, more peaceful way of life...

Alternatively, in the peak season, the world's elite surfers come here to test themselves on the world's most feared wave. But, in the low season, as Cindy from Teahupo'o Surfari enthuses, there are fun sized waves and hardly any people.

In this episode Ged and Tighe swim in the famous wave, take a trek through lava tubes, have a sumptious barbecue on the boat and learn more from Cindy about the surf culture of this most pictureqsue surf break in the world...

Don't miss the full conversation with Cindy in her "Meet The Tahitians" episode.

Meet Torea

Torea Colas is the Marketing and Communications Director for Air Tahiti Nui, the national carrier of French Polynesia and he has the role of ensuring that the essence of Tahiti is captured and felt whenever anyone first sets foot aboard the national carrier of Tahiti.

In this first episode, recorded in the Air Tahiti Nui head office on our first full day in Tahiti, we asked Torea to help us to understand what “Mana” is and how Air Tahiti Nui brings the “Mana” to their flights.

Meet Teuai

Olivier Lenoir or Teuai as he is known locally, is known for his fascinating and exhilerating 4×4 tours of the Papenoo Valley in Tahiti’s lush tropical interior.

Originally from Tahiti’s Austral Islands, Teuai is well known for his knowledge of the cultural traditions of the Tahitian islands and he plays a vital role in keeping his cultural ancestry alive through his tours and through his acclaimed dance troupe.

In this episode, we caught up with Teuai during our expedition with him in the Papenoo Valley where he spoke with us about his concerns for the future of the Tahitian culture and how tourism is playing an increasingly vital role in the protection and preservation of their cultural heritage.

Meet Matahi

Matahi Tutavae is a journalist, cultural guide and proud Tahitian who works with a wonderful organisation called Haururu.

We caught up with Matahi during a day out with him at the home of the Haururu organisation deep in the Papenoo Valley to learn more about the work of Haururu and why it has a vitally important role in ensuring that the next generation learn about and embrace their polynesian cultural heritage.

As Matahi explains in this conversation, we cannot think too much about the immense cultural heritage which has been lost already, but must instead focus on protecting and preserving what is left…

Meet Mateata

Mateata is joyful! She has an infectiously warm, powerful and energetic presence and is indeed a force of nature!

Mateata is proudly Moorean. Born and raised on this smaller and quieter island just 30 mins from Tahiti, Mateata was called by the ocean at a young age. She has sailed all over the world with her passion for seafaring always ensuring that she bore the true colours of her polynesian identity along the way.

Now back at her ancestral home in Moorea, we caught up with Mateata at the peaceful bay where Captain Cook first landed in Tahiti – a fitting location to learn more about the true polynesian culture of Tahiti and perhaps a short history lesson.

Meet Mareva

Mareva Leu is the Director of the International Oceanic Documentary Film Festival which is held every year in Tahiti. Running on the 4-12 February, FIFO Tahiti as the festival is known, sees documentary filmakers from all over the Pacific region and beyond, gathering together to share their films and in so doing, challenge the status quo of Polynesian life, history and culture.

We caught up with Mareva in one of the beautiful parks in Papeete in order to learn more about the work of FIFO and how it is a medium which challenges us all to consider all facets of Pacific life whilst also challenging the stereotypes and prejudices which still exist.

As Mareva explains in this episode, FIFO is helping Pacific Islanders to truly tell their own story…

Meet Maui

Maui Ciucci is the epitome of a water man. Larger than life, Maui runs Corallina Tours, a local company on Moorea which welcomes guests to experience a variety of wonderfully immersive tours around the waters of his beautiful home island.

We joined Maui for a tour where we swam in the world’s most feared wave break, snorkelled with black tipped sharks, were approached by enormous rays, watched the turtles play around us and generally made the most of the incrediblely abundant wildlife all around us. And all of this was set during the low season when bizarrely, few people visit and we had the lagoon to ourselves…

After lunch we chatted to Maui about all that we had just experienced.

Meet Matehau

Matehau Tetopata was born and raised in the shadow of the world’s most feared wave break in Teahupo’o. As this is is home break, we wanted to know equally what it’s like to ride this wave and what it’s like to wipeout on it.

As the soft rains fell all around and with the lush green Teahupo’o Valley behind us, and the feared surf break in front of us, Matehau explained that to surf this wave is humbling privilege which he prepares for every day.

An experience which he never takes for granted and in return it brings him closer to the life-force or “Mana”

Meet Cindy

Cindy Drollet grew up in the shadow of Teahupo’o. A fully licensed captain, Cindy and the team at Tahiti Surfari are without a doubt the very best team to help you to learn about and understand the ocean and reef around the famous Teahupo’o break.

We joined Cindy for a surfari tour around Teahupo’o where we body surfed the famous break, swam in pristine waterfalls only accessible by lava tubes, swung out over the river in the lush clearings and engaged in surf stories of Kelly Slater, Rob Machado and more after a fabulous barbecue lunch.

We arrived at the conclusion that there is a reason the world’s top surfers work with Cindy and the team at Tahit Surfari – no-one knows this place like they do.

Meet Aimata & Hitinui

Aimata, Hitinui and their family have their home in a wonderful location at the end of the road (quite literally) at Teahupo’o. And what a home it is! Located metres from the ocean and with a back garden which is practically the most beautiful valley in the whole of Tahiti. It is here that Aimata and Hitinui lovingly share their home stay with travellers from all over the world who come to be at one with nature and live like the locals do in this corner of paradise.

We had the pleasure of staying with Aimata and Hitinui recently and after we enjoyed the most amazing home cooked meal of perfectly fresh ingredients from their garden, we sat down to discuss how and why they share their lives with new found friends from all over the world…

Meet Peva

Peva is well known to everyone in Teahupo’o. He and his family have lived for generations in the lush green valley and it’s immediately clear that Peva himself has a deep connection with the land and ocean here.

We spent some time staying in the incredible seafront house which Peva built himself, using only natural materials from the valley. And it is one of the most amazing places we have ever stayed in!

In this short conversation we had with Peva as the sun started to set on Teahupo’o, we asked him about the history of Teahupo’o, how he came to build this wonderful house here and he also explained the significance of his intricate and beautiful tattoos.

Meet Manureva

Manu is a local Tahitian tatoo artist who specialises in the traditional designs and styles of tatoo found throughout Tahiti and the islands.

Manu welcomed us into his private design studio which is adorned with local artefacts, designs, tradtional instruments and all manner of both tradtional and modern polynesian inspiration. During our conversation Manu explains how he approaches each client’s tatoo design, the difference between the traditional and modern inking and how the tatoo’s are an intricate part of the Tahitian culture.

Look out for the video of this conversation which we will be releasing soon, as the designs which Manu creates are incredibly intricate and visually stunning.

Meet Heimata

Heimata Hall is passionate about food. And that’s just as well, as Heimata is Tahitian Food Tour Guide with the strong belief that food is a leveller which transcends hierarchy and social constraints – it is a universal thing which connects us in ways which are simply not possible with any other activity.

We met up with Heimata in the Municipal Market in Papeete where, after a delicious lunch of Poisson Cru, we enjoyed a lively discussion about the local dishes in Tahiti, how food is perhaps the most universal element of culture and we equally pondered the future of tourism in Tahiti and Moorea.

Does tourism protect and preserve cultural heritage or in fact, does cultural heritage protect and preserve tourism?

Ia Ora Na!

Tahiti Tourisme, branded as The Islands of Tahiti are responsible for the marketing of the 118 islands which make up French Polynesia.

Visit tahititourisme.uk for the most complete and up to date information as to what there is to see and do throughout the year in these incredible islands.

Whether you want to find out more about each island group, learn about the cultural heritage of the islands, check out popular experiences like diving, shopping and sailing or if you just want to learn more about the types of holidays on offer and the different accomodation types available. Your best starting point is tahititourisme.uk

Founded in 2018 to help alleviate 'overtourism' and promote a more responsible form of travel, Low Season Traveller® is a travel media organisation which seeks to educate, promote and inspire travel during the quieter, slow and low seasons in each destination around the world.

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