HERE MOANA IN FAANUI BAY

How could you not fall for Tahiti? The vivid sea and mountains. The warm, generous people. The perfect climate.

After making thousands of memories here over the years as visitors, we decided to make it official. We purchased the Here Moana Bungalow and became part-time Tahitians.

But that’s just the beginning of our story.

When we started out, our Bora Bora bungalow was modest, even though the views weren’t! The salty lagoon breezes and years of history within its walls had given it a bit of a rustic patina. So to speak.

JoAnne, a professional designer, got to work on transforming the Bungalow into first-class accommodations. We imagined a gleaming designer kitchen, contemporary lighting, and views of the luminous lagoon at the center of it all.

But this was key: we didn’t want to mimic the high-end luxury resorts of Tahiti. We wanted a place for families with kids, with a gas grill for cookouts, a collection of snorkels, paddleboards and other beach gear. A place where guests are comfortable both sprawling out for movie night and enjoying tropical cocktails and conversation after a gourmet meal.

We commissioned a friend from Germany to craft all of the beautiful wood built-ins and cabinetry. We also contacted a local Tahitian artist to paint the screens leading to the bedroom. They truly amazed us with their work!

What resulted was Here Moana: equal parts family beach bungalow and sleek, design-forward sanctuary.

We know you’ll love it as much as we do. Come hang out a while!

Ed & JoAnne