Rooted in the Ocean

Based in Moorea—known to our ancestors as Aimeho-i-te-rara-varu—the non-profit organization Aimeho Va’a Tā’ie works every day to preserve and transmit the knowledge, values, and practices that define our Ma’ohi identity.
Through the teachings of Te Va’a Fenua, Aimeho Va’a Tā’ie reconnect our youth with the land, learning the importance of te fenua as our source of life, nourishment, and belonging. Participants discover traditional food cultivation and preparation, community values, and the deep relationship our people have maintained with the land for generations.
Through Te Va’a Moana, we strengthen our connection with the ocean. By entering her waters, touching her, and understanding her rhythms, we learn that the sea is not simply a resource, but a living relative. Participants are taught to harvest only what is needed, to recognize and respect our protector animals, and to become responsible stewards of the marine environment.
During school holidays, our immersive cultural program, Ha’api’ira’a Taumata Fe’e, provides free training for a selection of young people to become Tīa’i—guardians of their island, their culture, and their community. Through hands-on experiences on both land and sea, they develop a living connection to their heritage, strengthen their identity, and gain practical knowledge of the lagoon, the ocean, and the land that sustains them.
By standing with Aimeho Va’a Tā’ie, we are investing in more than a cultural program. we are helping to raise a new generation of resilient, knowledgeable, and proud Ma’ohi people—young guardians equipped to navigate the challenges ahead and carry our culture forward through the storms of the future.
Together, we are ensuring that our traditions remain alive, our environment remains protected, and our people remain strong.