Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the music of Tahiti was dominated by festivals called heiva . Dancing was a vital part of Tahitian life then, and dances were used to celebrate, pray and mark almost every occasion of life. Examples include the men's otea dance and the couple's upa upa .

Professional dance troupes called arioi were common, and they moved around the various islands and communities dancing highly sensually and erotically. In the early 19th century, however, colonial laws severely restricted these and other dances, which were considered immoral. They were replaced instead by genres of Christian music such as himene tarava .

Traditional instruments include a conch-shell called the pu and a nose flute called the vivo, as well as numerous kinds of drums made from hollowed-out tree trunks and dog or shark skin.