When Marlon set sail on his journey to begin filming ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’, he had no idea what a profound experience he would eventually encounter. Marlon fell in love with Tahiti and its people. He went on to purchase a twelve-island atoll named Tetiaroa and began plans to develop the land into a place where he could further explore the benefits of eco-conscious living through research while simultaneously making it grounds for an environmentally-friendly and self-sustainable resort. The plans went through many redesigns but Marlon’s wishes were finally carried out when The Brando resort opened on Tetiaroa in the summer of 2014.

The Brando resort project was spearheaded by Richard Bailey of Pacific Beachcomber,  a longtime friend of Marlon’s who had been working with him on the project for years. The Brando resort features 35 luxury villas, restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, and a resort pool. Activities at the resort include snorkeling, scuba diving, and exploring the nearby islands and Tahitian culture. It uses much of the sustainable technology that Marlon so fervently championed to ensure there is little impact on the surrounding environment.

Tetiaroa Society was established in 2010 to further support Marlon’s vision for his beloved atoll to become a model of sustainability and a place for world changing science. A tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tetiaroa Society boasts a world-class scientific advisory board and attracts researchers from around the world to study its unique terrestrial and marine environments for local and global purposes. Research institutions from French Polynesia, Europe and the United States have conducted studies into important issues like ocean acidification, coral reef protection, and mosquito population control, among many other subjects, helping Tetiaroa become known for its scientific opportunity – just as Marlon envisioned.