Long before it became a global sport, surfing originated in Tahiti as a sacred practice. Linked to mana and the Polynesian worldview, it was an intimate ritual of connection with the ocean. Banned during colonization, it has now resurfaced as a symbol of identity. Teahupo’o, a legendary and sacred wave, embodies this living heritage, also celebrated at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Beneath the idyllic landscapes of French Polynesia lies a mythical ancestral universe, where Ta’aroa creates the world, Hina sows coconut trees from the moon, and Hiro sails the seas. Mana, the sacred energy that connects everything, flows through tattoos, marae and tikis. Exploring these beliefs is to understand the deep soul of the islands and experience a transformative spiritual journey.