From France to Moorea: Rava Ray’s Cultural Awakening

Interview with Rava Ray

Rava Ray, a woman of diverse experiences and deep cultural roots, shares her journey of self-discovery and connection to her Polynesian heritage. Born to an American father and a Polynesian mother, Rava’s life has been a “tifaifai” woven with threads from various continents and cultures. From her early childhood in France to her transformative move to Moorea, and her extensive education abroad, Rava’s story is one of resilience, exploration, and a profound return to her island home.

Nature Child

Reflecting on her early years in France, Rava recalls a childhood deeply intertwined with nature. “I just remember always being by myself outside,” she says. “I have really distinct memories of sitting underneath pomegranate trees and watching praying mantises.” This solitary time in nature laid the foundation for her connection to the environment, a bond that would later deepen upon her arrival in Moorea. At eight years old, her move to her grandmother’s land marked a pivotal moment. “And that was the first time I realized that I was Polynesian. Even though I grew up with the culture, I didn’t understand,” she explains. This instant sparked a strong affiliation to her Polynesian identity and family system, contrasting sharply with her earlier experiences in France where “the family unit was very small.”

Lands Apart, Heart at Home

Rava’s educational journey took her across the globe, from the United States to China, and beyond. These experiences broadened her perspective and deepened her appreciation for her home. “You don’t know what you have until you don’t have it anymore,” she states. “You have to lose something to understand its value.” Each departure and return to Moorea solidified her love for her island, revealing what truly mattered to her: “a bloodline and a history to the land.” This connection to her ancestors and the natural world around her became the driving force behind her decision to return and embrace a simpler lifestyle. “I’m always missing it here. Every time I land here on the plane I’m crying, every time I leave I’m crying,” she shares, highlighting her emotional bond to her island.

Valley of Connection

Rava’s connection to the valley where her mother and stepfather reside is a testament to the inextricable interdependence of humans and their environment. The valley, with its life-giving river, diverse animal life, and abundant fruit trees, profoundly shaped Rava’s childhood and continues to exert a powerful influence on her family’s life and culture. Her daughter’s birth in the river indelibly consolidated this bond. Now, her children’s visits to their grandparents and their parents’ self-sufficient lifestyle, harnessing solar electricity, utilizing pure river water, and raising animals amidst a rich diversity of tropical fruit trees, exemplify a harmonious and deeply respectful coexistence with nature. This sustainable way of life, profoundly ingrained in their family’s culture,  reveals the values Rava cherishes.

A Life of Purpose

Rava’s life choices reverberate a deliberate pursuit of meaning and fulfillment over conventional success. “For me, success is sort of just having ambition and goals and then attaining them,” she explains. Whether it was studying at Parsons design school or creating Tifaifai, her actions are guided by intention and a desire to “do something with intention and with meaning.” This perspective allows her to value her current lifestyle of fishing, planting, and art, knowing it is a conscious choice, not a default. “I think the beauty of the life that I chose with Lolo, my partner, is that you had the two roads in front of you and you could have easily taken the other one and you said no,” she reflects.

Rava Ray’s testimony is a powerful reminder that the journey to self-discovery is often winding, filled with diverse experiences and unexpected turns. Her unwavering connection to her Polynesian heritage and her commitment to living a meaningful life serve as an inspiration to all.