POLYNESIAN CULTURE: TIARE & TAT TOO


Every Tattoo Tells a Story Mihimana Tetuaiterai a native Tahitian and a veteran of the Paul Gauguin Cruises dive team is also a tattoo artist. Tattoos are quite prevalent in French Polynesia and so important to its people that Mihimana got his first tattoo when he was eight years old. The tattoo artist? His father.


Decoding the Tiaré Flower


Soft white petals, verdant green foliage, and an


intoxicating scent. These are the hallmarks of French Polynesia’s inimitable national flower, the tiaré. This native gardenia stands out among the country’s many introduced species of flora and is part of daily life on the islands. Already fragrant, unopened florets are woven into necklaces for arriving visitors. A single bloom worn behind the left ear indicates that one is romantically spoken for, while wearing one behind the right ear states that one is looking for love.


Much more than accessory, the blossoms are used alongside locally pressed coconut oil to create a decadent enfleurage called monoi oil. Though historically used in ancient ceremonies, this carefully made product is presently known for its miracle moisturizing properties—from revitalizing dry skin and damaged hair to adding that exquisite touch to a steamy soak. Nothing says Tahiti like tiaré.


A Tahitian tattoo isn’t just a marking on the skin. It is about family and history. When asked why tattoos are so important to Tahitians, Mihimana references his father. “My father told me [a tattoo] is like your personality. It is like your name…this is your story.”


The tattoos that cover Mihimana’s body reflect just that. Simply by asking him about his tattoos, one quickly learns that family and ancestry are extremely important to him, that the sea turtle holds great significance to his family (protection while fishing in the ocean), and that he holds many interests, like dancing.


Paul Gauguin Cruises | pgcruises.com 27


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