There's a gleam in Raiatea Helm's eyes when she talks about her roots, from her close-knit family on Moloka'i to her ancestral ties to Tahiti.

The local songstress — a two-time Grammy nominee with fans worldwide — this week embarks on a Tahiti tour described as equal parts personal journey and professional venture.

"Going to visit the places where our ancestors came from, I think it's important," Helm said as she sat comfortably in the living room of filmmaker Edgy Lee, who will document the trip. "I perpetuate our culture through music, and it makes me a much more sensitive person to that."

Helm and her company, Raiatea Helm Records, have teamed up with Lee and the Hawai'i Internet network http://PacificNetwork.tv to film Helm's Tahiti trip, including two sold-out concerts in Pape'ete and a visit to the island with which Helm shares her name.

Fans will be able to follow Helm every day via video blogs and television segments.

"It's going to be phenomenal," Lee said of the documentary project, titled "Raiatea — Return to Far Away Heaven." "It's really exciting."

Helm, a Honolulu resident, is just as thrilled about the project and the trip.

"I want to get a better connection to my bloodline," she said, "but also (share) my music, share as much aloha as I can and represent Hawai'i."

PROUD MOLOKA'I GIRL

Dressed in a white buttoned shirt tucked into a bright pink skirt, Helm beamed as she talked about growing up in Kalama'ula on Moloka'i.

"I am so proud to say that I'm a Moloka'i girl," she said.

Helm, born in 1984 to Zachary and Henrietta Helm, is the youngest of three children and the only girl.

"Music has been a part of us since we came out of our mother's stomach," Helm said. "But it wasn't always Hawaiian music." Indeed, the Helms grew up listening to sounds that ranged from James Brown to Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.

Helm credits her tutu — her maternal grandmother, Olga Holi — for helping her embrace her heritage.

"A lot of things helped me to connect with my Hawaiian side, the Hawaiian culture," said Helm, who has danced hula since she was 3 and played 'ukulele since 8.

Helm has fond memories of her tutu singing Hawaiian songs with her 'ukulele or crafting lauhala roses with other kupuna.

"I think appreciating someone like that in (my) life at a young age ... I understood the importance of culture, music and 'Hawaiianess.' "

In addition to Hawaiian, Helm is also part Norwegian, Portuguese, Tahitian, Scottish, German and Welsh.

Helm said she has recently gotten into digging up her family history and tracing her lineage.

"It's our job to maintain that (information) for the future," Helm said. "I find it fun ... but it's hard, though. It's a lot of work."

'I LOVE TAHITI'

Helm's love for her family and Hawaiian culture has fueled her interest to learn more about her Tahitian ties. She has family in Tahiti and has already visited twice.

Her plans include a trip to a Tahitian pearl market; a stop at the Paul Gauguin museum; Bastille Day festivities at the residence of Adolphe Colrat, high commissioner of France; and a meeting with either Oscar Temaru, president of French Polynesia, or vice president Anthony Geros.

Helm flipped through her Tahiti itinerary, reviewing her jam-packed schedule with a big smile.

"I know I'm going to have a blast," she said. "I'm just looking forward to the experience, and I love Tahiti. I got all my pareus all packed up."

She laughed, saying, "See, that's the fun thing about Tahiti. You can just pack pareus ... and bathing suits."

Did she brush up on her French, one of the common languages spoken there?

"I can eat French," Helm said, laughing again.

Helm will also take a cooking lesson on making a Tahitian favorite, poisson cru.

"That's the poke that's cooked with lemon," Helm said excitedly. "Ohhhh, I love lemon."

While having fun is a top priority, Helm said the main purpose of the trip is two-fold: "to figure out where I come from and ... also promoting myself as a singer and sharing my music with the Tahitians."

GETTING INTIMATE

Every step of the way, Helm will be filmed by Lee and PacificNetwork.tv.

"Tahiti and Hawai'i have a longtime relationship," said Johann Bouit, a producer on the project who's from Tahiti. "Bringing that to life is important."

Helm is the ideal person to represent that relationship because of her connection to both worlds, Bouit said.

Fans can learn too as Raiatea explores her ancestral roots and the Tahitian culture, which is very similar to Hawaiian culture, Bouit said.

"This is really getting intimate with her," said Bouit, who thinks fans will appreciate Helm revealing her "raw, natural self."

In addition to the documentary, "Raiatea — Return to Far Away Heaven," other projects are planned as a result of the filming. These include a DVD and music video for international production, as well as the potential for a television special and series of webisodes.

"It's a beautiful blending of what's called 'new media,' " Lee said. ... "There's really something for every age group (to) enjoy Raiatea."

Release dates and air dates for the various projects are pending, Lee added.

"Keep in touch with us on PacificNetwork.tv and we're going to let you know, because we're going to go quickly into editing," Lee said.

Meanwhile, Helm said she's ready for the chaotic days that lie ahead.

"It's going to be a crazy week," Helm said. "I'm not going to have any rest at all, but I'm overjoyed."