Tematai Tevaearai, 'Hinano Beer' icon, has died

Tematai Tevaearai's image is the one that has appeared on the Hinano beer label since 1955.  She passed away on Sunday the 2nd of March at the age of 88 years.

She is photographed here on her 80th birthday at a family party in her Maharepa fare by local news La Depeche de Tahiti.  Born in Vairao, Tahiti in 1932, she spent most of her life in Mo'orea where she also raised her children.

The famous picture which was then later drawn as the figure for the label, was taken by well known photographer at the time Pierre Pottier on the beach at Puna'auia in Tahiti.

"He had often taken pictures of me. One day, it was on Punaauia beach that he took this picture at the request of the Brasserie de Tahiti. I didn't know until later that my photo had been chosen to draw the figurine that has since been found on beer bottles. It is a source of great pride for me to have, in a way, made my country known to foreigners a little more" she said 

In promoting the island of Tahiti, Tematai didn't stop there.  She notably appeared in the film 'Mutiny of the Bounty' alongside her friend Tarita Teriipaia (who would later go on to become Marlon Brando's 3rd wife).  Tematai played one of the local Tahitian women in the film.

Earlier it was alongside Martine Carole that she found herself in front of Henri Persin's cameras for the film "Clandestine Passenger" with Serge Reggiani 

In later years she occasionally worked as a taxi driver in Mo'orea out of the spotlight.  

She was buried last week at her home in Maharepa, Mo'orea 

#RIP 

Story credit:  La Dépêche de Tahiti