This is “the main event” and what makes the competitive festival so well known. ![]() The capital city - Papeete - hosts the main song and dance competitions every evening in the "Fare Tahiti Nui" by the cultural center in Place Toata. However, the official “main” Heiva festival - known as the Heiva i Tahiti - takes place on the main island of Tahiti. On every island, there will be celebrations showcasing the culture. The Heiva is a month-long period of festivities held throughout the five archipelagos of French Polynesia. As you might already guess, the festival is a really “big deal”, in a slice of paradise that rarely has any reason to stress. ![]() The Heiva is also a competitive festival, bringing together thousands of singers, artists, dancers, and athletes from all five archipelagos and the 65 inhabited islands of the French Territory who compete as individuals and teams for the ultimate bragging rights. And why not add a bit of competition to the flavor? It is a month-long celebration of life in paradise, a time to respect the past and a time to share with the rest of the world the rich Polynesian heritage. ![]() ![]() It is a time of celebration, a national get-together in a festival that showcases the very best of the Polynesian culture - by far the most exotic I have come across throughout my extensive visit to the South Pacific Islands. Heiva comes from the Tahitian words hei and va, which mean “to assemble” and “community places”. Image via GIE Tahiti Tourisme by: Shigeo Kobayashi
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