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Air Tahiti Magazine 59
©d.r. for traditional polynesian athletes, ©d.r. the heiva tu aro maohi is the biggest event of the year. heiva tu aro maohi lifting a 90 kg rock, running a foot race carrying 50 kgs of fruit or even just climbing a coconut tree, are technical feats requiring plenty of skill and strength. polynesian athletes train year round for their sport. but beyond being simply sport, remember that some of these activities are still daily practices, especially in the outer islands. for example, harvesting copra, (coconut meat) requires harvesting, cutting, drying and scooping out the meat. the coconut husking competitions take this work and turns it into a race. the goal is to see who can produce a set amount of coconut meat the fastest. javelin throwing, rock carrying, fruit carrying races, copra races, outrigger canoe races (sailing and one, two, three and six-men traditional sports the strength of tradition boats) are the sports that polynesians excel at. the heiva tu aro maohi brings together over 300 athletes from the five archipelagos from july 11th to 15th. for traditional polynesian athletes, the heiva tu aro maohi is the biggest event of the year. during this event their physical strength and skill draw in admiration from the public in a festive ambiance where the athletes are dressed in pareu and wear flower crowns. from the exceptionally strong farmers from the australs to the coconut specialists from the tuamotus and the society islands, athletes look forward to the same event: the heiva tu aro maohi. revue de bord n°59 / air tahiti / on-board magazine n°59 51
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