French Polynesia Heads

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Polynésie Française/French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora and the Marquesa Islands)
(Female suffrage 1957)
The islands became a French Protectorate in 1842 and annexation by France in 1880. The State of Otaheiti (Tahiti) was independent until 1880, Ra’iatea and Tahia’a was annexed by France 1888, and so was Porapora and Huahine

See also French Polynesia  

Paramount Chiefdom of Bora-Bora or Porapora (In Tahiti)

1762-77/.....High Chiefess Maeva-rua I, Ari'i-rahi of Bora Bora
She was daughter of Uru-a-tu and Tetua-ti'i-roa and married to Ta'o-ata, Ari'i-rahi Consort of Bora Bora. Her son, Te-Ari'i Noho-rai Tapoa I, was Ari'i-rahi of Bora Bora from an unknown time until 1812.

1860-73 H.R.H. Princess Teari'i-maeva-rua I, Ari'i-rahi of Bora Bora
Succeeded the former husband of her mother Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti as ruler of Bora Bora. She was Crowned by The Reverent Platt, and Married to Tapua Te-maui-Ari'i Ha'amanahia-a-mai, the son of Te-He-papai Ma-hea-nu'u-a-Mai, of Fa'aa, Judge of the High Court, Pastor and Member of the Supreme Council of Churches and Teri'i Tau-ma-ite-ra'i Tepau-a-Tati Ma-hea-nu'u-vahine, Ari'i of Fa'aa, youngest daughter of Tetapu-a-Ta'aroa, the eldest son of Tati Taura-atua-i-Patea, Ari'i-rahi of Papara. She adopted her niece as her successor.
(1841-73)


1873-1888/1932 H.R.H. Princess Ari'i-'Otare Teari'i-maeva-rua II, Ari'i-rahi of Bora Bora
Succeeded after the death of her aunt, Princess Teari'i-maeva-rua I, Ari'i-rahi, and was deposed by the French.
The daughter of Prince Tamatoa-a-tu (Tamatoa V), Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea, and Taha'a and Princess Moe-a-Ma, she was married to H.R.H. Prince Teri'i Hinoi-a-tua Pomare, Ari'i-rahi of Hitia'a and adopted her 2 stepdaughters. (1871-1932)

b. 2nd August 1869; d. 28th May 1916), eldest son of H.R.H. Prince Teri'i-tua Tuariva [Joinville], Ari'i-rahi of Hitia'a, by his wife Isabelle Vahine-tua-vira [H.R.H. Princess Joinville], Ari'i of Arue, natural daughter of William Shaw -

Hitia'a


Until 1
849 Teri'i-tua-vahine, Ari'i-rahi of Hitia'a
The daughter of
Rere-ao Vahine of the royal house of Bora-Bora and her husband 'Ote, of Hitia'a, she married Te-'ohu (d. 1863). She adopted Prince Joinville Pomare of Tahiti as her son and successor.

            

Paramount Chiefdom  of Huahine

1777-? High Chiefess Te-ha’a papa I Te-i’oa-tua Teri’i-tari’a
First succeeded by son and then by daughter

Around 1800 High Chiefess Ma’i-hara
Succeeded brother who in his turn had succeeded their mother.

Until 1852 Teri'i Tari'a II Ari'i-paea-vahine, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine
Regent of Tahiti 1821-27 for her stepson Pomare III after the death of her husband, Pomare II. She was daughter of Tamatoa IV, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Tu-ra'i-Ari'i E-he-vahine, the eldest eldest daughter of Mato Teri'i-te Po Are'i, High Priest of Ra'iatea and Huahine. Her second husband was Ari'i-paea. Succeeded by her sister, Ma'i-hara Te-ma-ri'i Ari'i-peu-vahine, and lived (1790-1858)

1852-1854 Ma'i-hara Te-ma-ri'i Ari'i-peu-vahine, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine
Deposed by her brother, Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine. Married to Paraupapaa Te-ra-tane Ari'i-peu-a-Hiro, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine, whithwhom she had 1 son and 2 daughters. She was
Daughter of Ta'aroa-ari'i and Te-mata-fainu'u-vahine and lived (1822-77).

1868-1888 Te-ha'apapa II, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine
Raised to the Chieftaincy on the deposition of her husband, Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine, and deposed on the annexation of Huahine by the French. She was daughter of Moe-'ore Teri'i Tino-rua Te-ari'i Noho-ra'i, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Huahine and Mahuti Harua-po-a-te-varua-metua. Mother of 4 sons and 8 daughters. (d. 1891)

1888-1890 Te-mari'i-a-Teurura'i Ma'i-hara Te-uhe, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine
Proclaimed as Ari'i-rahi Te-uhe during an insurrection against the French, and fled to Tahiti to seek protection under her former husband, Pomare V 2 years later. Her second husband was Afai-au-Tatahi, from the Tuamotus. She was daughter of Te-ha'apapa II, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine and Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine and mother 1 daughter, who died young. (d. 1891)

1893 -1895 Teri'i-na-vaha-roa Teri'i Ta-tia Te-ha'apapa III, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine
Crowned with the reign name of Te-ha'apapa III and deposed when Huahine was annexed by the French. She was married to Teri'i-te-vae-a-ra'i-a-Mai, a descendant of the Mai family of Bora Bora. She had one son by her first husband and eleven other children through her union with Tinitua-a-Tu-Ari'i-hi-ona.Daughter of Marama Teri'i-fa'atau-a-Te-'uru-rai, Regent of Huahine and Te-tua-marama Te-ramana-Ari'i-a-Te-'uru-Ari'i, daughter of the Ari'i of Rurutu, and  (1879-1917).

 
Chiefdom of Fareihi (in Huahine)

Around 1800 High Chiefess Tao’a
She married
High Chief of Huahine,Mahine Te-hei-'ura. Their daughter, Ta'aroa-ari'i, succeded father as High Chiefess of Huahine, and became mother of a son, Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate, who succeded her as High Chief of Huahine and was married to Te-ha'apapa II, High Chiefess of Huahine. Also Ta'aroa's daughter, Ta'aroa-ari'i, became High Chiefess of Huahine

Mangareva

1868-69 Regent Maria Eutokia Toaputeitou

Kingdom of Nuku Hiva (or Neku Hiva) (The Marquesa Islands/Îles Marquises)      


Around 1861 Queen Loi Vakamoa II

Around 1863 Queen Vaekehu I

1863-1901 Queen Vahekhu II
Also known as Vahekhu Elisabeth, she was married to King Te Moanas. The islands was annexed to France in the 1890's. She lived (1823-1901)

Paramount Chiefdom of Opro (Rapa) 

1886-87 High Chiefess ariki                           
Annexed by France in 1881 but the kingship continued until 1887.

Paramount Chiefdom of Papara      

1854-97 High Chiefess Ari’ioehau Ari'i Ta'ima'i                     
She succeeded her grandfather and was succeeded by son Chief Tari (1850-1918). She was secretary of Queen Pomare V, and her daughter was Queen Johanna Marau-toaroa Tepa’o Salmon (1860-1934), who was very influential during the reign of her husband, King Pomare V, and by many the preferred throne-candidate after his abdication. Ta'ima'i lived (1827-97).

Paramount Chiefdom of Ra’iatea and Taha’a 

RAI'ATEA


•1) Te-tu-paia-vahine, Ari'i of Opoa (d/o Mai-he'a). m. as his first wife, Tei-Hamoerea-i-Matahihae Teu Hapai Te-nui-e-a'e-i-te Atua, Ari'i-rahi (Ari'i-nui) of Porionu'u (b. circa 1728; d. 23rd November 1802), son of Ta'aroa Manahune, Ari'i of Arue, by his wife, Tetua-e Huri Teahupo'o, of Marae Matahihae, daughter of Vehiatua-i-te-mata'i, Ari'i Rahi of Taiarapu. She had issue, four sons and three daughters - see Tahiti.




1881-84 Rere-ao Te-hau-roa-ari'i, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Taha'a
Succeeded on the death of her father Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate Tamatoa-Tau-tu Tamatoa VI, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Taha'a and crowned at Uturoa Church, by the Reverent Pearse. Her father's mother was Te-ha'apapa II, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine. She was Unmarried (d. 1884).

...

1884 - 1888 Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate Tamatoa-Tau-tu Tamatoa VI, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Taha'a. b. at Huahine, 1853, second son of Te-uru-ra'i Ari'i-mate, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine, by his wife, Te-ha'apapa II, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine, eldest daughter of Moe-'ore Teri'i-tino-rua Te-ari'i-noho-ra'I, Ari'i-rahi of Huahine. Crowned as Tamatoa-Tau-tu, by the Rev. E.V. Cooper, 22nd January 1885. Deposed on the annexation of Ra'iatea and Taha'a by the French, 16th March 1888. m. (first) Tetua-nui Ha'amarurai, daughter of Tamatoa Atiti-Oroi, of the Tati family of Papara, by his wife, Teri'i-na-vaha-roa, daughter of Hiro. m. (second) Moe, elder daughter of Te-He-papai Ma-hea-nu'u-a-Mai, of Fa'aa, Judge of the High Court, Pastor and Mbr. Supreme Cncl. of Churches, by his wife, Teri'i Tau-ma-ite-ra'i Tepau-a-Tati Ma-hea-nu'u-vahine, Ari'i of Fa'aa, youngest daughter of Tetapu-a-Ta'aroa [Tepa'u], the eldest son of Tati Taura-atua-i-Patea, Ari'i-rahi of Papara. He had issue, three sons and three daughters:    

 

Rimatara

1876-92 Temaeva IV
(d. 1892)

1892-1901  Temaeva V
(d. 1923)

Chiefdom of Tautira

Before 1862 Chiefess  'Ahu-'ura
Married to Pastor Mano and mother of Te-ari'i-na-vaho-roa, who married H.R.H. Prince Punuasi'i Teri'i-tapu-nui Pomare, Chief of Mahina and Presdt. High Court of Justice, the son of Queen Pomare IV, who died in 1888.

Kingdom of Tahiti (Otaheiti)

1821-27 Regent Dowager Queen Teri'i Tari'a II Ari'i-paea-vahine, Ari'i-rahi of Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Until 1852 Ari‘irahi of Huahine and Pare-Arue Member of the Concil of Regency during the whole reign of her stepson Pomare III after the death of her husband, Pomare II. She was daughter of Tamatoa IV, Ari'i-rahi of Ra'iatea and Tu-ra'i-Ari'i E-he-vahine, the eldest eldest daughter of Mato Teri'i-te Po Are'i, High Priest of Ra'iatea and Huahine. Her second husband was Ari'i-paea. She adopted her nice, who succeeded her as Chiefess, and lived (1790-1858).

1821-27 Regent Dowager Queen Teri’to’-o-terai Tere-moe-moe Pomare-vahine of Tahiti (French Polynesia)
After the death of her husband, Pomare II, she was member of a Council of Regency for her son, Pomare III. She was daughter of Tamatoa IV, Ari‘irahi of Ra’iatea and Tu-ra’i-ari‘i E-he-vahine, eldest daughter of Mato Teri’i Tepoara’i, High Priest of Ra’iatea and Huahine, and lived (b. 1793-after 1827).


1827-77 Queen Regnant (Ari’i rahi) ‘Aimata Pomare IV Vahine-o-Punuateraitua, By the Grace of God, Queen of Tahiti, Moorea and its dependencies.
From 1847 with the title Queen of the Society Islands and their Dependencies. Succeeded half brother, and lived (1812-77)

1877-80 De-facto Ruler Queen Johanna Marau Toaroa                            
She was married to King Pomare V of Tahiti, who was not interested in governing. He abdicated in 1880 but remained titular king until his death in 1891. They divorced in 1888. Daughter of Queen,  Te Ari' maeva rua II of Borabora and lived (1846-1934).

1891-1961 Head of the Royal House, HRH Princess Teri’i-nui o-Tahiti Te-Vahine-taora-te-rito-ma-te-ra’I Teri’i-a’etua Pomare
Oldest daughter of King Pomare (1877-80-91) and Queen Joanna Marau-Ta’aroa Te-Pao. Married to Chief Opuhara Salmon of Papenoo. In 1929 she adopted her daughter’s daughter Genevieve Tita Salomon and gave her the title Princess Pomare. Princess Teri’i-nui is the mother of one son Eric Pomare.

 

Last update 08.03.11