Hinatea Colombani
“Mea na roto i te fa’ahanahanara’a i tō tātou parau e tā tātou mau peu tumu, e toro ai i mua te mau a’a tupuna i te tau a muri.”
“It is by honoring our history and traditions that we can extend the roots of our ancestors into the future.”
– Hinatea Colombani
With a personality that radiates the joy and warmth of the islands, Hinatea is a cultural entrepreneur dedicated to revitalizing the art of tapa-making and our Polynesian traditions. Her vision is simple yet inspiring: to “make it cool again.”
In the heart of Papara, she and her life companion, Moe, have founded the Ario’i Cultural Center. This vibrant hub welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to share in their passion for Polynesian traditions, focusing on the timeless arts of tapa-making and ‘ori tahiti – Tahitian dance.
“Above all, it is a space for sharing, an artist’s house, a family home.”
“Our goal at the ‘ARIOI Cultural Center is to connect the Polynesian people to their history and past, while maintaining a clear vision for their future.
Our actions are therefore intended to have a positive impact. They enable the implementation of socio-cultural projects.”
In their fa’apu, or garden, they cultivate the trees used in tapa-making. The rhythmic sound of mallets beating tapa often fills the air, echoing like a heartbeat in harmony with the songs of their ancestors.
At the entrance of their cultural center, a sign reads: “A tomo mai, ‘a ata, ‘a here”—“Come in, smile, and love.”
Here, everyone is welcome. As we step through the door and remove our shoes, we also leave behind our masks, responsibilities, labels, and roles. In this space, we become humble students once more, embracing the legacy of our ancestors and Hina-tutu-ha’a, the goddess of the Moon.
