"The Tahitian Islands - Cruise on the... " a Tahiti Travel Page by Jacquelynn

I recently had the honor of travelling around the Tahitian Islands on the "Paul Gaugin" a small luxury ship by Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. I would highly recommed this to anyone planning a vacation/special occasion in Tahiti. From what I hear, this cruiseline is THE way to do the Tahitian islands.

For blues and greens like you've never seen before in your life, this is the place to go. Beautiful black pearls and vanilla are famous products of Tahiti.

(From RSSC)

Maui and the Birth of the Islands

In ancient times, the islands of Polynsia formed a platform made of fish at the bottom of the sea.

The god Maui (Invocation), known as Maui-of-a-thousand feats, had the idea of crafting them into once piece of land. He prepared his fishing hook and asked his brothers to put to sea in their outrigger canoe. Maui ordered them to row until they lost sight of land before casting their lines. They fished for a long time without catching anything. When the brothers, weak with exhaustion, fell asleep, Maui cast his line and began to sing to give strength to his fishing hook. He caught many islands. When the great fish Tahiti came to the surface, his brothers awoke and cried: "O Maui! O Maui! That is not a fish, it's an island!" Then all the fish who had already been caught became afraid, broke loose and escaped across the ocean. It is since that time that the islands of Polynesia have been spread across such a large expanse of the Great Ocean.

Hina and the First Banyan Tree

Hina spent her days pounding tapa bark to make beautiful white cloth. She carried out her task with such vigor that Ta'aroa found the noise to be unbearable and sent a messenger to her to request her to be silent. She refused. Furious Ta'aroa ordered his messenger to hit her with his billy club. The blow was so violent that Hina was thrown up to the moon. From above, she could observe the earth and protect travelers at night, which earned her the name of Hina-nui-te-araara (Great Hina who watches over). On the moon, she found an unknown tree, the ora or banyan; its branches and roots formed the shadowy patterns which one could see on the planet at night. The numerous branches of the banyan provided Hina with the bark from which she made the tapa for the gods. One day when Hina was climbing in the banyan tree, she broke off one of the branches with her foot. The break formed a light spot on the moon which exists to this day. The branch fell into space and landed in Opoa on the island of Raiatea where it took root; it became the first banyan tree on earth. That is why the Banyan tree only produces seedless fruit and it can only reproduce through the transplanting of a branch.

Tahiti has some of the most beautiful and talented women!