Bora Bora culture was suppressed for a century, almost to the point of extinction, and has come back more vibrant and exotic than could have been imagined.

The English Missionaries made a concerted effort to wipe out all Polynesian culture when they destroyed the temples and carvings and banned dancing and religion. Fortunately many of the Polynesian customs have prevailed and can be seen today. Recently efforts have been made to revive the original Polynesian culture through traditional music and arts. The traditional instruments include pahu and toere drums and the nose flute known as vivo. Guitars and ukuleles migrated to Bora Bora and a style of music was developed that has hints of country western mixed with the classic South Pacific island style. The tamure is the classic dance of Bora Bora is still alive and plays a big part in island festivities.

Tahitians place a lot of importance on familial relationships. Decades ago it was very common for several generations to live under the same roof. Now that the islands have seen more contact with the Western word families have become more nuclear. In the past the families arranged marriages for their children, but today couples follow a more western tradition of courtship and have greater freedom in choosing their partners.

Bora Bora is mainly dependent on tourism. In the past few years several resorts have been built on the small islands surrounding the lagoon. Your South Pacific Tour will include a view of the famous over-the-water bungalows that were first built over 30 years ago and have since become a staple of the island. These bungalows are mainly exclusive to the Tahitian island because their low and even tides and protective lagoons create the perfect conditions for these unique shelters.

Bora Bora has a very relaxed atmosphere with a fairly tame nightlife scene. While other tropical islands are known for their nightlife Bora Bora is a bit behind the times, though it is not impossible to find. About 4,000 people inhabit the island of Bora Bora. French and Tahitian are the main languages spoken on the island, though most inhabitants have a command of the English language. The majority of visitors to Bora Bora are American, Japanese or European.