What are the lifestyle habits in Tahiti?
Customs bring together everyday life, a way of being and doing things. Life in The Islands of Tahiti is shaped by a beautiful blend of tradition and modernity. We have a very distinctive lifestyle in Tahiti: it's not just about the way we dress, our tattoos, or the way art flows into our daily lives. You’ll see it all during your stay. But to truly understand what makes Polynesian life so unique, let me take you through a week in the life of a typical local family.
Starting the Day at Dawn
In The Islands of Tahiti, people get up early. It's a tradition. Not quite at cockcrow, as roosters don't greet the morning sun, but they do sing at any hour they like.
Between 4 and 5 a.m., before the first rays of sunlight appear, breakfast is already being served in the Polynesian fare (houses). This is an important moment, and within an hour, the shops and bakeries are sold out of baguettes!
Typical Workday in Tahiti
With nearly 100,000 people commuting from Tahiti’s residential and rural areas, the roads quickly become jammed. Indeed, a large part of the population lives far from Papeete, in places like the Presqu'île, Papara, Hitia'a, and Papenoo. People head to Papeete and the surrounding towns (Arue, Pirae, Faa'a, and Punaauia) to work.
School hours are mostly aligned with office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
When the ocean calls
At lunchtime, restaurants and snack bars fill up quickly while most food trucks (“roulottes”) only open in the evening. In the city center or by the sea, you can enjoy ahi poké, raw fish in coconut milk (“poisson cru au lait de coco”) or grilled fish. American sandwiches, pizzas, and burgers are also popular, as they are everywhere else in the world. Globalization has also reached our islands!
Some people eat on the go: you see them running towards the sea, paddles in hand. These are va'a (outrigger canoe) enthusiasts taking advantage of their midday break to train. A quick shower afterward, and they’re back to work, energized by the ocean.
A Friday Marking the Start of the Weekend
The end of the afternoon is marked by the return home, a few errands, and a trip to the fa'a'apu (vegetable garden). Once the youngest children have finished their homework, it's time to sit down for dinner. Night falls quickly in the islands of French Polynesia: 7 p.m. at the latest in summer (December) and 5:30 p.m. in winter (July). And since everyone has to get up before dawn, evenings are short too: a quick glance at the ve'a (local TV news) and heavy eyelids close for a few hours of rest.
The week passes in this rhythm of office and school. But by Friday afternoon, something shifts. As an unofficial but deeply rooted tradition, there is a general sense of relaxation. Lunchtime is a little longer, people linger over their shopping, pick up their orders… The weekend has unofficially begun!
Weekend Vibes: Friends, Family, and Fun
Friday evenings are sacred in The Islands of Tahiti, whether it’s for drinks with friends, aperitifs, dinners, parties, hosting guests, going out, or relaxing.
On Saturdays, it's all about the lagoon. Coolers packed, jet skis, boats of paddleboards ready. With coral-friendly sunscreen and cold drinks in their bags, local families head to the beach, the reef flats, or the river mouths to spend the day in the water.
Polynesian women's favorite outfit is the pareu (sarong) tied as a dress. The men, on the other hand, go shirtless, wearing long swim shorts, often colorful and emblazoned with a local brand logo. This outfit is worn throughout the weekend.
Sports, Dance and Cultural Activities
Saturday is also a sports day. While soccer is as popular as it is everywhere else in the world, the real star is va'a. This traditional outrigger canoe sport is the most popular sport in Tahiti and throughout Polynesia.
More than just a sport, it is part of Polynesian culture. Whether paddling solo (V1 or va'a hō'ē),or in teams of three (V3 or va'a toru), six (V6 or va'a ono) or twelve paddlers (V6 double or va'a tau'ati), va'a brings families, friends and coworkers together during festive races or competitions that are eagerly awaited all year-round. The most famous annual race is the Havaiki Nui Va'a, which connects Huahine and Raiatea-Taha'a to Bora Bora. The arrival in the lagoon of the Pearl of the Pacific is spectacular.
During the weekend, many dance groups rehearse their choreography for hours. As popular as the va'a, many Polynesians practice traditional Tahitian dance, the 'ori Tahiti, which is also an important part of the cultural heritage. The best dancers perform in July during the grand Heiva i Tahiti Festival.
Religion Keeps Playing an Important Role
Sunday is a day of rest, prayer, or big celebrations. Religion still plays a strong role in daily life. Polynesians were first converted by English Protestant missionaries in the early 19th century, then by French Catholic missionaries (mainly after 1840), two strong communities living side by side. On Sunday mornings, churches and temples fill with well-dressed worshippers, singing hymns and sharing prayers.
Mormons, Sanito, Evangelists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other churches also have many followers.
Sharing the Joy of a Tahitian Meal
Sunday is, of course, the day for ma'a Tahiti, prepared by families, neighborhoods, and sometimes hotels or restaurants. The underground oven, designed for slow-cooking, is prepared the day before. Early in the morning, the food is wrapped in leaves and placed in the oven.
The opening of the oven is a great moment to share and enjoy the food. This is followed by a tāmā'ara'a (big meal) that lasts until the evening.
Twilight settles over the valleys, while the green mountain peaks light up under the setting sun. We are preparing for the next day. We'll have to get up early.
It's going to be a busy week, but we fall asleep happy: next Friday, we're spending the weekend on the sister island, Moorea. Another beautiful story to tell you.