Our Founder

Our Founder

Pairu Hutihuti was born and raised in Tahiti, and the islands have never left her. As the founder of Tahitian Treasures, she brought that lifelong connection to Polynesian culture into every product she designed, every flower crown she weaved, and every conversation she shared with guests at the Polynesian Cultural Center's Hukilau Marketplace in Lāʻie, Hawaiʻi.

Pairu's story with PCC began long before she opened her shops. In the early 1980s, she danced in PCC's celebrated evening show, the canoe pageant, and the Tahitian village — living and breathing the very culture she worked to preserve. She later had the remarkable privilege of representing PCC as part of their international Promotion Team, carrying the spirit of Polynesia to audiences around the world. She channeled all of that history and heart into Tahitian Treasures.

Her creative gifts were first awakened by Iona Teriipaia, a great cultural leader who inspired her to use art and culture as a way to bring joy to others. That calling is evident in everything she creates — hand-painted and printed sarongs, lustrous mother-of-pearl jewelry, authentic Māori poi balls, and a curated selection of Hawaiʻi gifts and fashion jewelry that visitors treasure long after they return home.

Most recently, PCC invited Pairu to serve as their exclusive fresh flower vendor — a recognition of both her artistry and her deep roots within the PCC ʻohana. Her one-of-a-kind floral crowns and fragrant flower leis have become beloved signatures of the Hukilau Marketplace experience. Several prominent models have worn her floral creations in professional photo shoots, drawing widespread attention from guests, media, and flower lovers everywhere.