Discover Huahine

With an incomparable sweetness of life, Huahine has managed to remain sheltered from traditional tourism. The nonchalant rhythm of the small town of Faré gives the impression that time has stopped there, far from the hustle and bustle of Tahiti.
Here everyone knows each other and the population will welcome visitors in the simplicity and happiness of sharing their preserved Garden of Eden.

The charms of this island are numerous: mysterious and elegant mountains, marae and Maohi vestiges in profusion, calm and idyllic lagoons, and above all, the proverbial and spontaneous kindness of the inhabitants of this little paradise, less than 200 km from Papeete ...

Despite the progress, Huahine has managed to remain authentic, unlike Bora-Bora or Moorea which, despite their irresistible charm, do not restore the sweetness of life of yesteryear as much.
Huahine now welcomes its visitors in charming guesthouses and other picturesque homestays that allow you to better discover the richness of island life.
The few classic-type hotels have also played the card of authenticity and offer high-level accommodation, focused on the typical charms of Huahine.

And even if the seabed does not have the reputation of those of its neighbors, Huahine has grandiose landscapes bordered by translucent lagoons. Many motu in the coral belt are suitable for growing melon and watermelon, not to mention the large vanilla groves found on the sides of the interior mountains.

For lovers of calm, authenticity and the sweetness of life, Huahine is certainly an essential stopover as part of a journey through the Polynesian islands.

Fauna and flora are similar to all the other islands of the Society Archipelago. On land, dogs, cats, pigs and chickens get along well with the horses of Marquesan origin. The lagoon teems with some 450 species of fish, not to mention molluscs...

Vanilla, which is actually a wild orchid, is very popular in Huahine. The mountain showcases huge marumaru, the tallest trees in Polynesia, especially on the heights of Maroe Bay. The population is essentially rural, but the emergence of new activities in the field of tourism today allows Huahine to see its future in pink.

With 6075 inhabitants, Huahine has been able to revive by allowing many of its children who had sought their fortune elsewhere, a positive return to their island. Unlike Bora-Bora or Moorea, Huahine has always known how to preserve its authenticity. This is why, apart from two high-level establishments, the island mainly offers small, welcoming pensions that allow you to better discover local traditions.

The navigator and discoverer James Cook was the first to approach the enchanted shores of Huahine in 1769 during his first trip to Polynesia. Probably under the spell of his new discovery, he gave her the name Hermosa, which means "Beautiful" in Spanish.

Populated since around AD 800, it had previously flourished as Matairea. Composed of several warrior clans who have always shown their hostility towards the all-powerful neighboring island Bora-Bora, it has crossed the centuries under the aegis of Tehau Pahu Nui, the government of the great drum, which knew to be maintained until after the arrival of the Europeans.
Converted to Protestantism, she then suffered the outrages of the Puritan laws put in place by the missionaries.

Pomare IV, queen of Tahiti under the French Protectorate, is from one of the royal families of Huahine. The annexation to France in 1897 did not change mentalities, marked by nearly a century of colonial abuses. It was in Huahine that the first autonomist sensitivities were born with Pouvanaa à Oopa, the founder of Polynesian nationalism, who devoted himself from the 1950s to the emancipation of his country.

Huahine remains to this day one of the largest archaeological centers in the Polynesian triangle. It is on this island that a large number of remains have been discovered, including the oldest known sites of the Ma'ohi civilization, Fa'ahia and Vaito'otia, dating from the years 800-900 AD. It was in 1972, during the construction of the Bali Hai hotel, not far from Fare, that we discovered this vast area devoted to the construction of canoes and the manufacture of fishing equipment.

Buried in a vast swamp, many objects from the daily life of the Ma'ohi have been unearthed: fragments of canoes, oars, scoops, hooks, adzes, scrapers, jewelry, etc., not to mention two remarkable warrior clubs , all in perfect condition. The adjacent hotel now houses many of his objects.

The marae are legion in Huahine. From Maeva to Fare, you will meet them all around the island. At the edge of Lake Fauna Nui, in Maeva, about thirty marae stand on the hill of Matairea, not far from the restored fare pote'e at the edge of the water. Among the largest, don't miss the marae Manunu, in Maeva, at the end of the airstrip, and the marae Anini, in the south of the island, in Parea. Each family had their own marae.
The clans had more imposing marae which allowed the whole village to gather there for religious ceremonies. Each island also had a so-called "national" marae where human sacrifices were practiced.

Origin of the name HUAHINE: At the heart of the district of Fitii district, is Mount Tavaiura whose silhouette may remind the onlooker of a woman's body. The literal translation of Huahine means "Women's sexual organ" (hua = vagina or sex, hine = plural of vahine).
Seen from the port of Fare, one can easily see a woman's face, extended by two prominent breasts, a plump belly of a pregnant woman, then the two knees. Hence a legend, certainly controversial, but oh so poetic.

The immense bay of Maroe is said to have been dug by the canoe of the god Hiro who sought refuge when a great storm threatened. His boat, pushed by the raging waves, would have divided Huahine into two islands, Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.

In Huahine, there are no 150-room hotels or 30-person dive boats and despite tourism being a major activity, even in high season you will never meet many people anywhere. you were going to.
Whether you are looking for luxury or simplicity, here you will always find accommodation to your liking. In addition to the calm and tranquility of our island, many activities are available to enhance your stay.