To many Polynesians, the most potent portrayal of the creator of the human race sits above the Puamau Village of Hiva Oa, where an 8-foot-tall tiki rests in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. The Tiki, or the First Man, is the mortal model of the deified ancestors of the Marquesans and holds an overwhelming presence in the tradition and culture of these islands.

Tikis, ubiquitous in its primordial home of the Marquesas, are usually found as large freestanding wood or stone figures, wood and stone images representing powerful, protective ancestral figures. They are also seen in high relief on bowls, dishes, canoe paddles, jewelry, and other personal objects. These carvings representing the Polynesian gods are the first form of sculpted art, with the first stone tikis dating back to around 1400 – 1450 A.D. These original patterns which started with sculptures soon spread to graphic and tattoo art as well.

Tiki carvings are based on ancient Polynesian legends. According to the Ma’ohis, also known as Polynesians to Westerns, gods and humans existed in one world. Gods were differentiated by their superior strength and sacred powers but they took on human physical appearances. One of the most respected gods, Tiki Takaii, is believed to be the ancestor of man who conjured the islands from the ocean depths. The largest portrayal of this god is the 8-foot wood-carved tiki on the island of Hiva Oa.

The sculpting of a tiki is a significantly spiritual act: the sculptor would call on the spirit of a god or ancestor to enter into and give its good favor to the statue, which would often be placed on stone platforms in order that the spirits are raised high above the ground. Sacred dances and religious rites also took place around their bases.

A Ma’ohi god, in the form of a tiki, is generally portrayed as a proud and stocky male character. While the knees are bent with its arms trailing the side of the body, its head is stretched long which directly attaches to the body without a neck. It always has big powerful eyes that reinforce a stern and vigorous expression. The tikis of Marquesas never fail to leave its visitors with the knowledge that they will always guard and protect its people and the islands.

The 7th edition of the celebrated Marquesas Arts Festival, or Fenua Enana Art Festival, will take place on the island of Ua Pou this year from December 17th to December 20th. This festival is regarded by Marquesan artists as one of the best opportunities for them to showcase their talent and culture and increase international recognition. Since the advent in 1986, the Marquesas Arts Festival consistently attracts thousands of spectators from around the world with its deep-rooted customs, lively traditions, and rich arts and crafts.

The creation of the festival was inspired by gatherings that Marquesans used to have before the arrival of Europeans. The people from the Marquesas Islands congregated to celebrate crops, births, or funerals. Additionally it was an opportunity for them to share knowledge and survival skills necessary in the heart of a hostile ocean. Several months were used to prepare for these great festivities and almost everyone on the island would participate.

The modern adaptation requires no less preparation time. Planning and preparation entail a huge effort, calling for months of time and a cost of approximately US$ 1 million. The festival aims to better educate visitors of the origin of traditional Marquesan songs, dances, sports, and clothing. Also, highly emphasized are the intricate carvings on wood, stone, bones, and of course tattoos.

The event occurs every four years and it has consistently achieved its goal of keeping the festival and traditional arts alive. This year, at least 5000 visitors from abroad, including delegates from France and other Pacific Islands, are expected to attend. Visitors plan their trip for the festival months in advance because of the high demand of and a relatively small capacity on planes and on the island itself.

Fishing is in the DNA of Tahitians. That’s not surprising considering the 1.5 million square miles that surrounds the five archipelagos of Tahiti. Though fishing was once only a means to food, it has become challenging sport. Those that are truly enthusiastic had even taken a step further to make it a competition, giving an opportunity to devoted sport fishermen to challenge others in boating the biggest billfish possible.

The Haura Club of Tahiti organizes the International Billfish Tournament that takes place on a different Tahitian island each time. This year the competition will take place from March 4th to 10th on the island Raiatea. The tournament is an IGFA (International Game Fish Association) competition and follows all the rules and regulations of international sport fishing.

This competition happens over a period of five days, including a break of one day. The team that boated the biggest fish throughout the week receives the general jackpot that is presented at the award dinner. However, teams also compete daily. The team with the largest catch of the day will take home the jackpot of money that was collected that morning. Of course, after each adventurous day, participants get together over cocktails to share battle stories with their Hinanos.

This is the principal fishing event for all Tahitian big game fishermen, but it also attracts an international participation. Each time, hundreds of fishermen from across the islands and around the world are lured by the image of fish monsters no scientists or naturalist or angler had yet dreamed of in these accessible Tahitian and Marquesan waters (Zane Grey). It is in these waters that a billfish weighing 2,400 pounds was once caught. Though battles with the giant fish can take more than an hour and requires seamless teamwork, only such rigorous struggles will win trophies and glory.

On a list of Tahiti travel experts, author Bill Goodwin ranks at the top. Goodwin's love affair with French Polynesia began on a yacht in 1977, when, by his own admission, he was so smitten that he stayed in the islands for seven months.

He's been back to Tahiti countless times since 1977, and most recently in 2005, from which he gathered facts for the first edition of Frommer's Tahiti and French Polynesia (Wiley, November 2006, 275 pages).

As he says of Tahiti on his own website, www.billgoodwin.com, "...here [in the islands of Tahiti] you will discover a marvelous combination of both joie de vivre and laissez-faire. Add the awesome beauty of the islands and you'll quickly see why this is one of the world's most romantic honeymoon destinations."

According to the book's publisher, Wiley & Sons, Frommer's Tahiti and French Polynesia is being introduced at a time in which travel to Tahiti is "booming." Available now in bookstores, and via Goodwin's website, Frommer's Tahiti and French Polynesia is one of the most complete guides on the islands of Tahiti.

"It's easy to see why the eye-popping islands of French Polynesia have always attracted movie stars and well-heeled honeymooners," says Goodwin, a former journalist and U.S. Senate staffer who wrote the first edition of Frommer's South Pacific two decades ago. "Fortunately they are now within reach of us with more modest means."

Frommer's Tahiti and French Polynesia includes:

* The best islands, beaches, honeymoon resorts, family vacations, historical and cultural experiences, dining, nighttime entertainment, shopping, diving and snorkeling, sailing, Old South Sea towns, and off-beat travel experiences

* Complete information to plan your trip: visitor information, visa and custom requirements, money, when to go, getting there and getting around, health and safety, online and specialized resources, even how to configure your laptop to get your email in the islands.

* Money-saving tips on airfares, accommodations, and dining.

* Suggested itineraries to help you make the most of your valuable time.

-and the author's opinion of-hotels, resorts, and restaurants in all price ranges on every island.

* The best places to sunbathe, swim, snorkel, dive, sail, fish, hike, mountain bike, ride horseback, and play golf and tennis.

To hear a recent interview with Frommer’s editor David Lytle and author Bill Goodwin, please visit www.Frommers.com