Colonial Encounters: Tahiti and Empire

European contact began with Wallis (1767) and Bougainville (1768), but Cook's voyages (1769-1777) brought sustained interaction. Tahiti became mythologized as paradise, launching lasting stereotypes.

"Europeans projected fantasies onto us—noble savages, sexual paradise, primitive innocence," notes historian Dr. Jean-Marc Regnault. "These fantasies justified colonization while obscuring our real culture."

Missionary arrival (1797) brought profound disruption: - Traditional religion suppressed - Polynesian languages discouraged - Western clothing mandated - Indigenous laws replaced

"Missionaries saved souls by destroying culture," reflects Pastor Turo Raapoto. "My ancestor converted, gaining literacy but losing connection to marae. We still grapple with that trade-off."

French colonization proceeded gradually. Tahiti became a protectorate (1842) then colony (1880), with other islands incorporated piecemeal. Unlike sudden conquest, this slow absorption allowed some cultural adaptation but ultimately proved equally destructive.

The Pomare dynasty, Tahitian royalty, initially collaborated with French, believing partnership possible. Queen Pomare IV's 50-year reign (1827-1877) saw gradual sovereignty erosion despite resistance.

"Pomare tried protecting Tahitian autonomy through diplomacy, not warfare," explains royal descendant Joinville Pomare. "She preserved what she could while recognizing military realities. Some call it collaboration; I call it survival strategy."

Chinese immigration (beginning 1865) added complexity. Brought for plantation labor, Chinese immigrants established businesses, intermarried, and became integral to society. "We're Polynesian by heart, Chinese by heritage, French by passport," describes businessman Robert Wan. "That multiplicity defines modern Tahiti."