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Tahiti Island – French Polynesia

Tahiti Island – French Polynesia

Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous with surrounding coral reefs. The population is 178,133 (2007 census), making it the most populous island of French Polynesia and accounting for 68.6% of the group’s total population. Tahiti was formerly known as Otaheite.

The capital, Papeete, is located on the northwest coast with the only international airport in the region, Faa’a International Airport, situated 5 km (3.1 mi) from the town centre. Tahiti was originally settled byPolynesians between CE 300 and 800. They comprise about 70% of the island’s population with the rest made up of Europeans, Chinese and those of mixed heritage. The island was proclaimed a colony of France in 1880 although it was not until 1946 that the indigenous Tahitians were legally authorised to be French citizens. French is the only official language although the Tahitian language (Reo Tahiti) is widely spoken. It was part of the Kingdom of Tahiti until its annexation by France in 1880.

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Maupiti Island – French Polynesia

Maupiti Island – French Polynesia

Maupiti is a small coral atoll with a volcanic island in its midst.

Maupiti is located to the west of the Leeward Islands in French Polynesia. It is the westernmost volcanic high island in the archipelago, 40 km west of Bora Bora. The central island of Maupiti has a high peak of 380 metres and a surface area of 11 square kilometers. The lagoon has large and flat coral islands in its northern reef half and two motus on both sides of the pass at its southern end.

Like Bora Bora, this high island is slowly entering in its atoll phase, leaving white sandbanks in the middle of the lagoon. Still saved from tourism, you will not find any deluxe resorts there but traditional family pensions. Nor will you find restaurants, discos or bars in Maupiti but only true relaxation, calm and peace like it used to be a few decades ago in most Polynesian islands. Postcard landscapes will finally become reality … you reached paradise !

Once used to the torpor any tourist feels when getting off the plane, you will be able to appreciate the archeological richness spread in the vegetation or on the many motu around (Auira, Tiapaa, and specially Paeao) : marae (one belonged to the Tefareatii chiefs), petroglyphs representing turtles in Haranae valley, mount Terama fortifications, as well as 16 graves dated 850 A.D. on motu Paeao. Those last ones are the oldest vestiges discovered in the Society islands. Objects taken out from those graves (fish-hook, adzes … ), similar to some others found in New Zealand, participated to the accreditation of the Polynesian migrations theory.

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Huahine – French Polynesia

Huahine – French Polynesia

Huahine is an island located in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.

Huahine is for sure the wildest and most secretive island of the Society Islands thanks to its luxuriant nature and its past full of myths and legends. Located 30 minutes away from Tahiti by plane, it is also the nearest one from the main island of this archipelago. Huahine would draw its name from hua, sex/gender and hine, woman. It is said that this name would refer to a pregnant woman. Furthermore, some think that the Tavaiura Mount looks like a lying woman face with a roundness belly. Formerly, the island was called Matairea which means « cheerful breeze ». At his time, Captain Cook named it « hermosa » which means « beautiful ». This island appears like a feminine and attractive island whose inhabitants are proud of.