Tahiti Local Customs

Throughout some of the back roads, you will see factories that are producing large amounts of black sand and gravel. As you can imagine, being on an isolated island, you have to rely on the resources that you have on island. Most of the gravel that makes up the roads in Tahiti is actually volcanic rock pulled from the river (water, not lava) on the inside passageways.

Tahitians love flowers, and both genders like to wear them. If visiting, it is well worth being aware of the meaning of a flower behind the ear.

If you wear a flower behind your left ear, it means you are taken, if you wear a flower behind your right ear, it means you are available to the opposite sex (or perhaps to the same sex, or perhaps to everyone...).

If you wear a flower behind both ears, it means you are taken, but also available. So depending on what sort of holiday you want to have, you may wish to stock up on flowers when you get there!