Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the music of Tahiti was dominated by festivals called heiva. Dancing was a vital part of Tahitian life then, and dances were used to celebrate, pray and mark almost every occasion of life. Examples include the men's otea dance and the couple's upa upa.
Professional dance troupes called arioi were common, and they moved around the various islands and communities dancing highly sensually and erotically. In the early 19th century, however, colonial laws severely restricted these and other dances, which were considered immoral. They were replaced instead by genres of Christian music such as himene tarava.
Traditional instruments include a conch-shell called the pu and a nose flute called the vivo, as well as numerous kinds of drums made from hollowed-out tree trunks and dog or shark skin.
Tahiti, known as “The Gathering Place”, is the largest and most populated island, and is the starting point for all international travelers.
Tahiti is a figure-eight shaped island with a larger part, known as Tahiti Nui (which means big) and a smaller part called Tahiti Iti (little).
The mystique of a Tahiti vacation as a tropical island paradise began when the first European visitors returned to their countries with glowing reports of a gentle climate, friendly natives, abundant food and uninhibited love under the swaying palms.
Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, at.
Whereas Tahiti Nui is quite heavily populated (especially around Papeete) and benefits from rather good infrastructure, such as roads and highways, Tahiti Iti has remained quite isolated, its southeastern half (Te Pari) being accessible only by boat or hiking.
In 1842 the kingdom of Tahiti was declared a French protectorate.
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