Tahitian is one of the two languages in the French Polynesia together with French. It has a close association with the Rarotongan, New Zealand Maori, and Hawaiian. It also refers to the people living in Tahiti and the cultures they have therein.

Tahiti, which was formerly known as Otaheite, is an island in the French Polynesia. It is the biggest island in the southern Pacific Ocean that belongs to the Windward group of islands in the Society Islands. The language, people, culture, and everything in Tahiti is called Tahitian.

See also

• The Tahitian language
• The Tahitian culture
• The tattoo beginnings

It was not until the 19th century that the Tahitian language developed a written symbol. Before that, this language was purely spoken. It was John Davis, a Welsh historian, who developed the Tahitian spelling system from the Latin alphabet on March 8, 1805.

In 1810, Davis printed the book called Te Aebi no Tahiti, it was all about the Tahitian alphabets’ equivalent to the English ABC, for instance. Since then, the publication of religious as well as educational material was made possible.

It also tells about javelin throwing being the sport of the Gods, and surfing being the favorites of the kings.

The oral history also tells about the Aito who competed in canoe races as well as stone lifting which is reportedly a venue to show their strength.

The modern Tahitian today proudly preserves his or her Maori traditions.

The paintings of Tahiti’s colorful ocean fishes were mentioned in the legend of Tohu, the tattoo god. The art of tattooing in the earlier Polynesian custom was considered as a symbol of beauty and adolescence.

It also denotes the social status of the people in Tahiti and their tribes as well.