Surfing Guinness Book of World Records recognized a wave ride by Garrett McNamara at Nazaré, Portugal as the largest wave ever surfed. For hundreds of years, surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesian culture. Surfing may have first been observed by British explorers at Tahiti in 1767. Samuel Wallis and the crew members of who were the first Britons to visit the island in June of that year. Another candidate is the botanist Joseph Banks being part of the first voyage of James Cook on , who arrived on Tahiti on 10 April 1769. Lieutenant James King was the first
Miss Tahiti resigned. The winner of Miss Tahiti represents her territory at Miss France pageant. Before 2003, the winner of Miss Tahiti also competed at Miss World as Tahiti. In 2009, a separate Miss French Polynesia contest was established for Miss World. The contest has also previously sent winners to Miss Universe and Miss International pageants. Since 1960 Tahiti allows winners to compete at the Miss International pageant. For the first beginning, the winner competed at the pageant. While runner-up of Miss Tahiti might compete at the pageant since 1982 to present. Since 2003 Tahiti allows winners to compete at the Miss