The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part X

October 2, 2009

NOTE: This is part ten of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part X- Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

After 200 years of cultural contamination by European visitors, the Polynesian way of life once nurtured by isolation was about to come to an end. The final blows to Polynesian culture were delivered by missionaries, merchants and whalers. Starting [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part IX

September 26, 2009

NOTE: This is part nine of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part IX- Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

As the French were invading Tahiti in 1842, one of the most famous visitors to Polynesia arrived in Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, in the Marquesas. A young Herman Melville, later author of Moby Dick, arrived on the American whaler, [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part VIII

September 18, 2009

NOTE: This is part eight of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part VIII – Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

The next significant visitors to Polynesia were Captain William Bligh and his crew on the English ship Bounty, in 1789. The purpose of the voyage was to acquire breadfruit a food substance that could be used to cheaply [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part VII

September 11, 2009

NOTE: This is part seven of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part VII – Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

On behalf of England, James Cook visited Tahiti three times between 1769 and 1779. His era of exploration is historically significant because the expeditions were scientific in nature. Cook was sent to the South Pacific to track the [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part VI

September 5, 2009

NOTE: This is part six of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part VI – Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

In 1722, a Dutchman, Jacob Roggeveen was the next to visit. Roggeveen visited Rapa Nui, named Easter Island because his visit occurred during Easter. Following the Dutch, the British invasion (no not the Beatles!) started in 1765 [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History (1595 – Present) – Part V

August 30, 2009

NOTE: This is part five of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part V – Polynesian History (1595 – Present)

Today, French Polynesians are called Màohi, their proper name. In New Zealand they are called Maoris. Polynesians as a group inhabit a triangle shaped area of the South Pacific stretching from Hawaii, New Zealand, French Polynesia and the [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Tribal Tattoo – Part IV

August 11, 2009

NOTE: This is part four of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part IV – Tribal Tattoo

The art of tribal tattoo, the permanent adornment of ones skin, speaks loudly of Polynesian culture. Tattoo is art. It expresses emotion, accomplishment, seduction, social status, bravery, and on a higher level; the perception of a universe in balance. Large areas [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Polynesian History – Part III

August 10, 2009

NOTE: This is part three of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part III – Polynesian History

Many theories have been offered to explain how people migrated to French Polynesia. Thor Heyerdahl’s 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition suggests that people arrived from South America. But it is more likely the migration started from Southeast Asia 3500 years ago by Polynesian [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
Island Geology – Part II

August 10, 2009

NOTE: This is part two of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part II – Island Geology

To understand Polynesia, you must first look for answers that begin deep in the ancient ocean seabed. During pre-historic times, volcanoes pushed up thru the earth’s crust, forming groups of islands. From the Greek word “poly” Polynesia means “many” islands. The [...]

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The Essence of French Polynesia –
A Tribute to Tribal Tattoo – Part I

July 18, 2009

NOTE: This is part one of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part I – A Tribute to Tribal Tattoo

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting French Polynesia, one of the most beautiful places on our planet. Besides seeking a restful interlude to my normally frenetic life style, I hoped to sample Polynesian Culture by visiting ancient [...]

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