Te Hono Nui Park in Toahotu

The full story of a park that finally opens after a three-year wait

After years of construction, delays, and public debate, the Pointe RiRi park  in Toahotu (Tahiti Iti) finally opened to the public on May 1, 2026. This opening marks the end of a long administrative , technical , and political saga, and the beginning of a new chapter for an iconic site on the peninsula. Named Te Hono Nui (the great link) at its inauguration , it was immediately packed with visitors.

A project conceived for the Olympics… but which never opened before 2026

The development of Pointe RiRi began in 2023  , in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games  , whose surfing events were held at Teahupoo . The government invested 1,7 billion CFP francs  to transform this popular spot into a modern park , complete with a marina , restaurant , playground , fare pōte'e (traditional meeting place) , parking , and family areas.

But despite the initial objective, the site:

• • never opened to the public  before 2026

  • It did not serve as a fan zone  for the Olympics, contrary to the original plan.

  • was not ready in time  to welcome visitors in 2024

The land and sea works, carried out by the Tourism Department and the Equipment Directorate, are experiencing delays due to:

• • of the rainy season

  • difficulties in coordination between companies

  • modifications during construction

2023–2025: Three years of construction and a decisive public service delegation

The site has remained closed since March 2023.  Once the main works are delivered, the government launches a public service delegation (DSP)  to find a manager.

On June 20, 2025  , the Official Journal officially confirmed the choice of the company Haumea Mana  , chaired by Heia Heyman  , as the concessionaire of the park.

This administrative step is crucial: without a manager, it's impossible to open.

2025–2026: Additional work and successive postponements

The planned opening in December 2025  has finally been postponed. Why?

According to Heia Heyman:

• • the restaurant  needs to be completely renovated (extensions, cladding, anti-mara'amu windows)

  • an administrative room  must be added

  • The beach  needs adjustments, but no additional budget is allocated.

  • Safety regulations require that the doors not be opened during the work. 

Result: opening postponed to May 1, 2026  , more than three years after the initial closure of the natural park.

What the park offers today

Upon its opening, Te Hono Nui Park offers:

• • 4 hectares of trees 

  • playground 

  • sports equipment 

  • picnic tables 

  • fare pōte'e 

  • showers and toilets 

  • access for rowers 

  • parking lot redesigned 

  • marina with 28 to 29 berths  , operational from opening day

The park is open to the public from 6am to 22pm  , except for the marina and the restaurant.

Fare pote for artisans

A quick shower?

La Marina

Other planned improvements

The restaurant: opening in June 2026

The restaurant, located on the edge of the lagoon, was not yet ready on the day of the inauguration. It will open in June 2026  , with local cuisine and about fifteen employees already recruited.

Restaurant

The restaurant terrace

A Fare Metua

In the heart of Te Hono Nui Park, the creation of a fare metua  (parents' house) marks a significant symbolic milestone for the peninsula. Designed as a space for transmission and gathering , this traditional fare will offer a place dedicated to elders, ancestral knowledge, and community moments. It reflects the desire to make the park not only a recreational space, but also a vibrant cultural hub  where Polynesian values— respect , sharing , and continuity —find concrete and accessible expression for all.

Floating water games

These floating water games  will bring a playful and refreshing touch to Te Hono Nui Park. Installed in a safe lagoon area, these inflatable modules will offer a space for sliding, jumping, and balancing for children and adults alike. A fun, family-friendly activity perfectly suited to the park's spirit: moving, laughing, and enjoying the islands with your feet in the water.

Themed weekends

The themed weekends  The events planned for Te Hono Nui will punctuate the park's activities with a wide variety of entertainment: concerts, polynesian culture, sport, well-being, gastronomy ou family activitiesEach edition will offer a different atmosphere, designed to bring together the inhabitants of the Peninsula and provide a regular meeting where people can discover, share and enjoy the islands in a different way.

 

Strict regulations to preserve the site

To guarantee peace and cleanliness, several prohibitions are in place:

• • with animals  

  • Bicycle 

  • barbecue 

  • alcohol 

  • cigarettes and e-cigarettes 

  • musical speakers  (thank you for our ears)

These rules aim to protect a very busy and still fragile site.

A separate fishing area, still pending.

Nearby, an area designated for fishing has a boat ramp  . However, it is not part of the public service delegation agreement  , which explains its irregular maintenance. A call for tenders is planned to clarify its management.

May 1, 2026: a highly anticipated inauguration

The official opening took place on Friday, May 1st at 15 p.m. , with:

• • discourse 

  • animations 

  • dances 

  • Nohorai  concert​ 

  • unveiling of  the park's official name 

Why this opening is important for Tahiti Iti

The park becomes:

• • a new living space  for families

  • a training place  for athletes

  • a starting point  for rowers

  • a relaxation spot  for visitors

  • a tourism lever  for the Peninsula

After three years of closure due to the start of construction, Pointe RiRi is finally reborn.

Ultimately

After years of waiting, construction, and uncertainty, Te Hono Nui Park has finally entered a new era. The site, long cherished as a simple natural space and then enclosed to become a true park, opened to the public for the very first time on May 1, 2026. With its modern facilities, structured marina, family areas, and future restaurant, it has become a new living space  for both residents of Tahiti Iti and visitors. Beyond the infrastructure, it is a symbol: that of a peninsula that is developing, equipping itself, and asserting its identity while preserving its exceptional setting. Pointe RiRi is now a shared space  , designed for meeting up , relaxing , practicing , discovering … and fully enjoying the best that the peninsula has to offer.