Christmas in Tahiti. A Different Kind of Holiday: Part 2

December 25th, 2025. The day we’ve all been waiting for. We woke up early, brewed our coffee, hopped into the jeep, and headed straight to our favorite spot: Papara Beach. The mission? One last surfing session before the year comes to a close.

We unloaded the boards along with our "essentials": the cooler packed with beers, snacks, and our incredible coffee. We set up our tent and started catching waves with our GoPros strapped to our boards. After two hours in the water, it was time to refuel with some local treats we’d picked up from the market.

Island Snacks We’re Obsessed With

• Firi Firi: The traditional "Tahitian donut" shaped like a figure 8. It’s made with coconut milk instead of dairy, making it incredibly aromatic. Pro tip: Dip them in your coffee!
• Casse-croûte Chao Chao: A sandwich filled with thinly sliced roasted pork marinated in sweet and sour sauce. "Casse-croûte" literally means "breaking the crust."
• Pua'a Choux: Slow cooked pork with cabbage. While it’s often a main dish, we love it inside a bun it's like the Polynesian version of a "Sloppy Joe."

Fun Fact: In Tahiti, baguettes are so popular that locals have special wooden boxes outside their homes (just like mailboxes) so the delivery guy can drop off fresh bread every morning!

Prepping for a Sailboat Christmas

While relaxing on the beach, we started planning our Christmas dinner on the sailboat of some new friends we’d met. They seemed like such a fun, high energy couple just like us.

Chris had the great idea to bring two premium bottles of wine. Since we aren’t exactly sommeliers, we did some digging and discovered that Tahiti is the only place in the world where wine is produced on a coral atoll!

Our top picks for the night:

• La Cave de Tahiti: Here we found the Blanc de Corail, a dry white wine with citrus and mango notes, and the Rosé Nacarat, which is super refreshing with hints of red berries.
• Les Rêves de Lucie: Michael took charge of dessert and found the Bûche de Noël Tropicale. It’s a lighter, fruitier version of the classic Christmas log, filled with mango or passion fruit cream and topped with white chocolate, coconut, and real Tiaré flowers.

The Christmas Spirit in Papeete

Around noon, we packed up our gear and drove about 45 minutes to Papeete. The vibe was electric everyone was out shopping for food, drinks, and gifts. It’s funny how, no matter where you are in the world, that last minute holiday rush feels exactly the same. We shared a laugh, soaked in the atmosphere, and headed to the shops.

After picking up the wine, some Hoa beers, and a bottle of champagne for good luck, we went to get the Bûche. It smelled so good I almost grabbed a spoon and ate it right there!

A Night to Remember

We put on our short sleeved shirts, our shorts, and of course, our Manata bracelets. Just as we were leaving, Chris realized he’d forgotten the most important thing: the extra Manata bracelets we brought as gifts for our hosts. You can't show up empty-handed, especially when you have something so personal and meaningful to give each with its own unique story and beautiful packaging.

When we reached Papeete Marina, we were stunned. The yachts were covered in Christmas lights, creating a magical atmosphere. "Chris, over here!" called out James, cocktail in hand.

It felt like we had known them for years. Maria, James’s wife, had prepared an incredible feast:

• Pua’a Choux (festive pork and cabbage)
• Poulet Fafa (chicken with taro leaves)
• Seafood with Tahitian Vanilla (their "black gold")

We talked for hours about our lives, our jobs, and why we love Tahiti. Then, Chris pulled out the three Manata boxes. "These are from us," he said. "It's a symbolic gift from our new collection that launches in a few days. You’re the first ones to wear them."

The Best Feedback

Seeing their reaction was the best feedback I could ever ask for. It reminded me that people don’t just want gold or silver; they want something to wear that takes them on a journey. They want to carry their memories and adventures with them.

Never forget: the simple things in life matter the most.

They followed our personal accounts and, of course, the Manata brand. It was the perfect ending to a tropical Christmas.

Live the rhythm. Carry the energy.

See you in the next blog to find out where our adventure takes us next!

Thank you for your support.