Heiva Tahiti is an annual celebration of ancestral culture and sports of Oceania (see 2023 Heiva blog). Teams come regularly from New Zealand and Hawaiian to compete against the French Polynesians. For example, Stacia Cambra, a 14x All Time World Record Holder Powerlifter and 10X World Champion powerlifter was one of many who competed in the weighted fruit races on foot (Timau Ra’au), wrestling (Tapito), and stone lifting (Amora’a Ofa’i).

Barefoot weighted fruit racers

Dancing competition

While tickets in the Tahiti arena aren’t overly expensive, some of the dance teams performed for free during the sporting event day. One of the requirements is that the costumes be made from local materials such as tapa cloth made from bark, leaves, feathers, flowers, and shells.

Mo’orea, Bora Bora, and Taha’a Islands

We were able to witness a more local version of Heiva on Moorea, including a very emotional ceremony where over 200 children gave their school psychologist shell and flower garlands in thanks for her service.

Meeting up with old friends

Lisa and Ken Karsten visited us from Annapolis, bookending 7 years sailing on Enjoy. They were there for our first passage from the US to Bahamas, crossing the Panama canal to the Pacific, and the last sail to Mo’Orea. Where did the time go? All Pacific sailors end up in Tahiti at some point, so we were able to meet up with several other sailing friends from our journey along the seas.

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