French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a collection of 118 islands and atolls, or island collections, located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is an overseas collectivity of France. French Polynesia comprises five island groups, which themselves contain many individual islands. Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia, is a popular vacation spot for international travelers.

Migrants from Southeast Asia arrived on the islands of French Polynesia about 200 B.C.E. They lived independently on the islands for about 1,500 years before Europeans began exploring the region in the eighteenth century. This started conflicts among European powers for governance of the islands. After being controlled by English, French, and Spanish colonizers over the next century, the islands became a territory of France in the mid-1800s.

French Polynesian culture combines the customs of the ancient Maohi people of the region with Western traditions brought to the islands by the French and other Europeans. The Polynesian people continue to engage in many practices of their ancestors, such as surfing and canoe racing, traditional dancing, and making handicrafts such as quilts, wooden sculptures, and woven materials.

Background

French Polynesia is the collective name for the 118 islands and atolls situated in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between South America and Australia. The French island collective is made up of five large groups of islands: the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tubuai Islands.

The first people to inhabit these islands were Southeast Asians, who explored the South Pacific region in wooden canoes beginning about 2000 B.C.E. These people settled the islands of Tonga and Samoa, located west of French Polynesia, about 1300 B.C.E. The two islands served as bases from which the explorers traveled to French Polynesia's Marquesas Islands about 200 B.C.E. Over the next several centuries, these Asian travelers eventually settled all the island groups of French Polynesia.

The descendants of Polynesia's ancient Asian explorers lived in French Polynesia undisturbed by outside contact for centuries. In 1767, the British naval officer Samuel Wallis and his company of explorers landed on Tahiti, the largest island of French Polynesia. The island became a possession of France the next year but returned to British control in 1769, when British explorer Captain James Cook claimed the Society Islands, which include Tahiti, for Great Britain. Spain attempted to colonize Tahiti for itself several years later, but this effort was unsuccessful. In 1788 Tahiti established a monarchy.

In 1843, after many years of warfare with the indigenous Polynesian people, France proclaimed the island of Tahiti an overseas French possession. At first, Tahiti was allowed to retain the monarchy. In 1880, however, France demanded that King Pomare V abandon his throne and surrender control of Tahiti to the French.

Polynesia was not greatly affected by the world wars of the early to mid-twentieth century. German gunships fired on the Tahitian city of Papeete during World War I (1914 – 1918), and some Allied troops were stationed in Polynesia during the Pacific Theater of World War II (1939 – 1945), but the islands remained mostly untouched in these periods. The Polynesian people became French citizens in 1946. In 1957, France officially established the five island groups in the region as French Polynesia.

France granted French Polynesia the right of self-governance in 1977. Over the next twenty years, the islands acquired even more governmental powers, including a legislature and president. In 2003, French Polynesia transitioned from a French overseas territory to an overseas collectivity, which granted it more political autonomy. By this point, the islands had become informally known as an overseas country of France.

Overview

French Polynesia had a population of more than 285,000 people in the mid-2010s, with most of these living on the large island of Tahiti. About 61 percent of Polynesians speak French, while more than 31 percent speak one of the various Polynesian languages. French is more popular among younger Polynesians. About 54 percent of the islands' population are Protestants.

Polynesian culture is based on the traditions of the ancient Maohi people of the islands. The Polynesian people describe the overall relaxed nature of their culture as aita pea pea, which translates to English as "not to worry." One aspect of ancient Polynesian culture that Polynesians enjoy is retelling the history of the islands as preserved in oral tradition. The ancient gods of Polynesia enjoyed throwing javelins, kings preferred surfing, and strongmen raced canoes. Ancient Polynesians worshiped the gods in stone temples called marae. Most Polynesians live in modern European-style homes, although some choose to live in the same types of bamboo huts as the ancient Maohi people.

The annual Heiva festival on Tahiti showcases numerous features of traditional Polynesian culture, including handicrafts, sports competitions, and music and dancing. Quilts, woven fabrics, wooden sculptures, and drums are among the many crafts created by hand for the festival. Canoe racing is another favorite activity of Polynesians. The vessels are important for navigation throughout French Polynesia, but many people enjoy canoe races during Heiva and at other times.

Music and dance are centerpieces of Polynesian society. In the ancient era, Polynesians danced to pray to a god, welcome visitors, or simply to express joy. Polynesians in the twenty-first century still perform elaborate group dances to the music of flutes, conch shells, and drums. Female dancers wear skirts and headdresses when performing. Many traditional celebrations on Tahiti are accompanied by lavish feasts featuring suckling pig, bananas, and breadfruit.

International tourism is a vital driver of the French Polynesian economy. Tahiti and Bora Bora, both located in the Society Islands group, are most popular with tourists. Arriving visitors may receive flowery garlands called leis, which are placed around visitors' necks. In French Polynesia, tourists can explore sandy beaches, blue lagoons, and volcanic mountains. They can scuba dive near the islands' coral reefs to observe wildlife such as manta rays and sharks. Visitors may also enjoy the more urban aspects of Polynesian culture. The Polynesian capital of Papeete on Tahiti is small but dense and boasts an active nightlife.

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