Yes, yes, yes! Our trip to Moorea was hands down my favorite trip we’ve ever been on. The islands are stunning, the people are kind, and you are immersed in culture from the moment you land.

 

What makes Tahiti better than any other tropical location I’ve ever been to (apart from Trinidad, of course) is that the experience you get is real. Even on the resorts, you’re not met with American-catered entertainment, but real displays of Tahitian culture that the locals are genuinely excited to share with visitors. 

 

Unlike places like Mexico or D.R., where I felt like people were working in hospitality for a paycheck because they need one, in Tahiti, it seems like everyone genuinely enjoys what they do. People don’t appear to be struggling the way they do in other “resort” locations. Quite the opposite, actually, people here might actually be doing far better than people in the U.S. People drive better cars than I’ve ever had, have beautiful houses right on the water, and on the main island, get off of work before 4 PM every day. They also regularly acknowledge and praise the land they live on, and make it their business to give grace to the Earth. At no point during my time here did I feel traveler’s guilt, which I often feel in other places, because people aren’t being exploited here.

 

Beyond that, Moorea is incredibly safe. Jarren and I walked around the streets at night in basically complete darkness and never once felt unsafe.

 

These are people leading simple, fulfilling lives the way Americans can only dream of. The Tahitian people exude happiness and are vibrant with a zest for life that is an absolute gift to be able to experience even just once.

 

I feel confident that anyone who ventures to the Tahitian islands will return home with a renewed sense of purpose and peace, which is something money can’t buy.

 

I also learned why Moana has a chicken sidekick, Hay-Hay: it’s because there are more wild hens and roosters on these islands than people.