📅 March 20–26, 2027 · 🏝 Huahine, French Polynesia ·
👥 8 participants max · 💰 From $3,295
🌺 We’re now forming our small group for March. Reservations need to be confirmed by September 30.
Where Coral meets Colors
A 7-day watercolor retreat in Huahine, French Polynesia
March 19–26, 2027
Picture yourself in Huahine
Picture yourself waking up by the lagoon, watching the morning light change over the water and birds diving for their breakfast. You start the day with fresh tropical fruit, noticing colors you suddenly want to paint—the pink of a papaya, the green of a lime, the almost impossible blues of the lagoon.
We take our sketchbooks with us. We paint tropical plants and everyday objects, reflections on the water, the light shifting across the landscape. Some days we work together in the studio; other days, the island becomes our studio.
Take time to slow down, too. To swim. To make a flower crown. To explore archaeological sites and sacred places, spend a day on the lagoon, discover local traditions, share meals and conversations, or simply sit somewhere beautiful and look.
This isn’t about trying to see everything Huahine has to offer. It’s about experiencing the island differently—through color, observation, curiosity, and time.
At the end of the week, you’ll leave with more than a sketchbook filled with paintings. You’ll carry home the memory of places, people, colors and moments that you had the time to truly notice.
This retreat might be for you if…
You love watercolor—or simply want to make more room for art and creativity in your life.
Tahiti, Bora Bora, French Polynesia have lived in your travel dreams for years—and you’d love the chance to experience Polynesian life from the inside.
You’re curious about other cultures and want to experience a place through its people, traditions, food, and everyday life—not just see the sights.
You’re an independent traveler, but like the idea of sharing the experience with a small group of interesting, adventurous people.
You want time to paint and learn, without spending your entire vacation in a classroom.
You’re ready for a little adventure—and for a week that feels very different from your everyday life.
Watercolor without gatekeepers
Watercolor is often presented as difficult and unforgiving—as if you need to master all the rules before you can really enjoy it.
I see it differently.
Watercolor can be playful, intuitive, surprising, and full of joy. And in Polynesian culture, knowledge is something to be shared. That spirit of generosity will be at the heart of our time painting together.
In our small group, we’ll explore the foundations of watercolor—color theory, washes, layers, paper, pigments, water and brush control—while leaving plenty of room to experiment, make mistakes, and discover what the medium can do.
We’ll paint the colors and subjects around us, from tropical fruits and flowers to the extraordinary blues and greens of the lagoon. I’ll guide you step by step, while helping you develop the confidence to make your own choices.
You may be surprised by what you can actually do.
My goal is for you to return home with a sketchbook full of Huahine, the confidence to keep painting, and the realization that watercolor doesn’t have to be intimidating. Curiosity, playfulness and a little patience can take you a long way.
What students say:
Vaea created a very easy atmosphere to relax, but also focus quietly and completely. The materials were simple and organized.
I had a lovely time and really got lost in the watercolors.”
Patricia, New York
“I enjoyed the flow of the class and step by step process. Understanding watercolors and creating the different colors. The pace of the class and how relaxing it was to tune out the world and focus on creating I enjoyed a lot!”
Tara, New York
Coming on your own? You’ll be in good company.
This retreat is designed to be welcoming to solo travelers. You’ll have the independence and space to enjoy Huahine in your own way, while sharing painting sessions, excursions, meals, and discoveries with a small group.
If you would like to share the experience with a partner or companion, that is possible too—just get in touch and we can talk about the options.
Why Huahine ?
I’ve been dreaming of a way to build a bridge between New York and French Polynesia.
Maybe that’s what this retreat is really about.
I grew up in French Polynesia, a country of more than 100 islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean.
Among them, one has always held a special place in my heart: Huahine.
Just twenty minutes from Bora Bora by plane, Huahine is quieter, slower, and remarkably preserved. It’s the island I return to when I need to reconnect.
For seven days, I’d like to share that place with you.
In a way, I’m bringing you home.
Haere Mai!
Your retreat includes
— 6 nights accommodation in Huahine
— 5 guided watercolor sessions with Vaea, exploring color, washes, layering, observation and more
— Your curated watercolor kit and art materials
— Breakfast and dinner each day
— Curated excursions to experience Huahine’s lagoon, archaeological sites, local life and traditions
— Flower crown workshop with a local artisan
— Airport transfers on Huahine
— A small group of no more than 8 participants
Interested in joining us in Huahine?
This retreat is small by design — just 8 participants. Because we’re coordinating flights and accommodation together, spots need to be confirmed before the end of September 2026.
If you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time to reach out. I’ll answer every message personally.
If you’re dreaming of exploring more of French Polynesia before or after the retreat, we’ll be happy to connect you with our trusted travel partner who can help you plan the rest of your journey.