Tahiti – Punauia
Location: Tahiti, French Polynesia
Village Type: Fares (
) Year Opened: 1955
Year Closed: 1961
For a bit of background: Who had the crazy idea of building a village 15,700 kilometers from Paris in 1955?
While today it takes 20 hours by plane from Roissy, in 1955, getting from Marseille to Tahiti took a month by boat each way. In return, the "GMs" (Gentils Généraux - Gentils Membres - General Managers) spent two months of vacation there. So, keep in mind that you needed four months of free time. Therefore, Tahiti could only appeal to a small segment of the "GM." The liberal professions, those who had broken with tradition, and the "privileged" in terms of wealth and leisure time were the ones you'd find in Tahiti.
Presented as Club Med's first permanent village (i.e., open year-round), it can accommodate 200 to 300 people, but Punauia will struggle to fill its capacity. It will only manage 600 guests per season.
Fourteen traditional thatched huts covered with woven coconut leaves are located on the village beach. Activities offered include spearfishing in the lagoon or line fishing on the reef, outrigger canoe trips, horseback riding, and excursions to other islands, motus, and atolls.
The price is 240,000 old francs with payment facilities over 18 months
The journey
The first convoy departed from Marseille on June 28, 1955. The future Tahitians embarked for a month-long sea voyage aboard the Tahitien, the Eridan, or the Calédonien of the Messageries Maritimes shipping company. Upon arrival in Papeete, they were greeted as they disembarked by tamouré dancers and adorned with flower leis.
From 1958 onwards, GMs (Geneva Military Personnel) had the option of traveling to Tahiti by plane. TAI's DC 6Bs connected Paris-Orly to Tahiti in 50 hours with 6 technical stops along the way.
GMs choosing this option only stay in the village for one month instead of two for those who chose the boat.
Village Chiefs
Jean Marie COUHARD and his wife, Choumie, opened the village in 1955. They were replaced in 1956 by Laris KINDYNIS
In diving: Marcel Isy SCHWART and Marcel CONTAL will travel to Tahiti several times.
Videos
Silent archive film by Marcel Contal. Club Med Tahiti, late 1950s. Among the sequences, we see the Polynesian Tamouré (dance), arrival by seaplane at the GM club village, deep-sea fishing, and an exploration of part of the island
Anecdote by Larrys Kindynis about Tahiti 1955
Rare document from the Club Village in Tahiti, Punaauia district, in the 1950s-60s
