VAIHI CHARLES

As a pure product of the local melting pot, I am blonde with blue eyes… so people often think I am a tourist or foreigner when they see me… I find it funny to play the game sometimes.

Although I am a born and raised local girl, I touched a sting ray for the first time in 2019 during a team building outing in Moorea… I am glad I did… Somehow, I have always been a little scared of these creatures.

• A nice kayak ride on the lagoon of Tetiaroa
• A cup of vanilla macadamia nut coffee from the Hawaiian Coffee Company
• Hiking, birdwatching and reading

As per the local custom, my placenta is buried under a coconut tree planted by the sea. We call it Pu Fenua. I think this is such a beautiful and deep ancestral rite. A strong symbol of our connection with our islands.

Huahine, for its peaceful atmosphere, the beauty of its landscapes and its rich history.

• Queen Pomare’s bath in the Assembly’s Garden in Papeete has a unique energy and I love spending time there.
• The old houses in some areas that reflect the simple yet happy way of life.
• Vivo, the local nasal flute and its melody that transports you to the spiritual realms. Tibet has the Tibetan bowls, here we have the vivo.
• Firi firi, which are like the local donuts, coffee with fresh queezed coconut milk and mangos… Yum!