Page 110 - French Polynesia

he atoll is located 33 miles (53 km) north of Tahiti. and has a purchased most of the atoll in 1966 for $200,000 and the other
part in 1967 for $70,000. He had to overcome political interfer-
T total surface of 2.3 square miles (6 square km); approximately
1,445 acres (585 hectares) of sand are divided in 12 motus (islets) ence and local resistance to purchase the atoll. Wanting to live on

with varying surface areas. The lagoon is approximately 4.5 miles the atoll, Brando built a small village on Motu Onetahi in 1970. It

(7 km) wide and 100 feet (30 meters) deep. The atoll has no reef consisted of an airstrip to get there without breaching the reef,

opening, making access by boat nearly impossible. 12 simple bungalows, a kitchen hut, dining hall and bar, all built

I n historic times, Teti’aroa belonged to the Pomare family, rulers from local materials - coconut wood, thatch roofs and even large
of Tahiti. The royal family placed Teti’aroa in the care of faithful sea shells for sinks. The village became a hospice for friends, family
and scientists studying the atoll’s ecology and archeology. Over

retainers who managed it and lived there. Members of the royal the years, Brando spent as much time as he could there and used

family spent time on Teti’aroa when they needed quiet time and it as a getaway from his hectic life in Hollywood. It is said that he

relaxation. The female members of the family are said to have always cherished his moments on Teti’aroa. During his stay on

gone there to eat (gain weight) and stay out of the sun (have their the island he was often visited by his children, grandchildren and

skin lighten up) “for the purposes of beautifying their person.” Ac- great-grandchildren. Upon his death, Brando’s son Teihotu lived on

cording to legend, in times of trouble the King placed his treasures the island for a while.

there for safekeeping. In 1789, William Bligh is said to have been E ventually the village became a modest hotel managed by his
the first European to visit the atoll while looking for early muti- Tahitian wife, Tarita Teriipaia, who had played his on-screen
neers prior to the departure of the HMS Bounty which eventually

suffered a full mutiny. love in Mutiny on the Bounty. The hotel operated for more than

I n 1960, Marlon Brando “discovered” Teti’aroa while scouting 25 years, even after Brando left French Polynesia to return to
filming locations for 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, which was Los Angeles. In 2002, two years before the actor’s death, Brando
signed a new will and trust agreement that left no instructions for

shot on Tahiti and neighboring Moorea. After filming was com- Teti’aroa. Following his death in 2004, the executors of the estate

pleted, Brando hired a local fisherman to ferry him to Teti’aroa. It granted development rights to Pacific Beachcomber SC, a Tahitian

was “more gorgeous than anything I had anticipated,” he marveled company that owns hotels throughout French Polynesia.

in his 1994 autobiography Songs My Mother Taught Me. Brando