Link Broken With Old Tahiti
p. 61 · Read in the full issue
Old Tahiti
The death in Tahiti on Feb ruary 5 of Princess Ariipaea Pomare, popularly known as “Mama Momo”, severed a link with the Tahiti of Captain Wallis and Captain Cook of 200 years ago.
Princess Pomare, who was born Louise Moearii Haere raaroa-Temarii on August 6, 1900, was a direct descendant of Amo, the ruling chief of Tahiti’s Papara district at the time of Tahiti’s discovery by Wallis in 1767 and when Cook visited the island two years later.
On October 11, 1919, “Mama Momo” married Prince Ariipaea Pomare, a grandson of Queen Pomare IV, who was queen of Tahiti when the island be came a French protectorate in 1842.
Prince and Princess Pomare had 15 children, of whom 13 — Elvina, Denise, Marcel, Roseline, Yolande, Maeva, Tiia, Henri, Louis, Leopold, Narcisse, Nelia and Juan-Claude—are still living.
Prince Pomare died in July, 1946, at the age of 48.