Use YOUR car to discover the charms of Huahine, on the land side...
	...under construction... Discover with your car : The marae: You will find marae (sacred Polynesian sites) on the ocean in the Maeva area of the island. There is a "Fare Potee" to be found on Lake Maeva as well. The Fare Potee is a large, oval shaped house reserved for chiefs and community assemblies. This structure was rebuilt in 1974 in a traditional manner using bamboo and pandanu. The marae were constructed of stone and are considered to be the most sacred sites for the ancient Polynesians. The marae were used primarily for religious ceremonies directed by a king. However, they were also used for other significant events like the celebration of a victory, a marriage, or even human sacrifice! Agricultures: On the motus, you will find large gardens of watermelon and other types of melon which are used by the people on the island, the markets in Pape'ete, hotels, and cruise ships. In addition to other fruits and vegetables grown for food (taro, breadfruit, bananas, etc.), you can also find medicinal and aromatic plants. Tiare Tahiti: The Tahitian gardenia is used as decoration, as perfume, and as a symbol for romantic or diplomatic exchanges. A small shrub with dark green leaves produces flowers with five to eight petals. All the flowers are hermaphroditic, producing both pistils and stamens. It is one of the rare indigenous species in Polynesia and has become a symbol of the islands. You also see these flowers offered to tourists as they arrive on the islands, or offered to Tahitians as they leave. You will also see the flower crowns worn by many women as they go about their daily lives, at celebrations, or during ceremonies. Mostly, you will see the Tiare Tahiti behind the ears of the old and young alike which represents their attachment…behind the right ear for married and behind the left ear for single. These flowers are also widely used as decoration in bouquets and to make the massage oil "monoï Tiare". The tahitian noni: This highly valued fruit is quite pungent and is used mostly for medicinal reasons like preventing cancer, staving infections, etc... Vanilla: Vanilla (vanira in Tahitian) comes from the orchid family, is not of Polynesian origin, and has a complex genealogy. The first plant was imported in 1846 from an experimental farm on the island of Reunion . Between 1949 and 1966, more than 200 tons per year were harvested. In 2003, the government began subsidizing the vanilla greenhouses which now produce 20,000 tons of vanilla per year. The tahitian oven: The Tahitian oven (a'hima'a), where food cooks over the heat of hot coals and is buried, is always respected and is used regularly by many families on the island. Most of the food is wrapped in packets made from palm leaves. Common dishes include roasted pork, chicken with fafa (a type of spinach), and other dishes like po'e, locally grown bananas, uru (breadfruit), taro, etc. You will most often find this type of food at celebrations (large or small) or at traditional Tahitian weddings. Several activities in Huahine : See the island from a 4X4: Discover the island on a safari guided by locals. The plantations, the flowers, the panoramic views, the blue eyed sacred eels, the Polynesian Gods... we highly recommend the 4X4 tour by HUAHINE EXPLORER. Eden park: Visit a large ecologically aware fruit garden and take in the panoramic views of the three bays. Restaurants: There are many restaurants open all week, as well as snacks from the local roulettes. You will easily find something to satisfy all tastes.
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