Tahiti of ocean, was made possible by using outrigger canoes that were up to twenty or thirty meters long and could transport families as well as domestic animals. In 1769, for instance, James Cook mentions a great traditional ship ("va'a") in Tahiti that was long, and could be propelled by sail or paddles. In 2010, an expedition on a simple outrigger canoe with a sail retraced the route back from Tahiti to Asia. Before the arrival of the Europeans the island was divided into different chiefdoms, very precise territories dominated by a single clan. These chiefdoms were linked to each other
Miss Tahiti of the Polynesian culture). The "Miss Dragon" will represent the French Territory at the annual Miss Chinese International beauty contest. Internationally, the winners of Miss Tahiti traditionally competed in Miss World until 2002. The first Miss Tahiti, Teura Bauwens, was sent to Miss World 1960. In 2009, a separate Miss French Polynesia contest was established for Miss World. Winners of Miss Tahiti were also sent to the Miss International pageant during the 1960s and 70s and to Miss Universe between 1978-1985. Nowadays, the runners-up of Miss Tahiti now participate in Miss International and Miss Earth pageants. ‡ Fuller has later