Huahine
Islands Tropical Polynesian island with archaeological marae sites
Part of the Society Islands, Huahine offers lagooned bays, coral gardens and ancient Polynesian marae; visitors come for snorkeling, small‑scale agriculture and local markets.
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Huahine is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands, French Polynesia, known for its lagoon, reef and Polynesian archaeological sites. The island covers roughly 75 square kilometres and is less developed than nearby Tahiti and Bora Bora.
A mix of quiet beaches, a sheltered turquoise lagoon and inland agriculture are the main attractions. Small-scale snorkeling and diving on coral reefs, roadside vanilla and fruit plantations, and several marae (Polynesian temple sites) are common visitor highlights. The main village of Fare functions as the transport and tourist hub.
The island was settled by Polynesians centuries ago and contains well-preserved archaeological features including stone marae and fish traps; European contact and later integration into the French overseas territory of French Polynesia followed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Modern Huahine has developed modest tourism alongside traditional activities such as fishing and copra production.
Huahine sits in the Society Islands chain of French Polynesia, northwest of Tahiti, with the main settlement of Fare on the island’s eastern side serving as the ferry and air connection to other islands.
- Access: Regular domestic flights connect the island with Tahiti (Faa'a International Airport) and there is a small airport at Fare.
- Layout and size: The island comprises two main landmasses joined by a narrow isthmus and a shallow lagoon; the island's area is roughly 75 square kilometres.
What to See #
- Huahine Nui: The larger northern island of the pair that make up the landmass commonly called Huahine; contains the main villages and most accommodation and services.
- Huahine Iti: Smaller southern islet linked to the northern island by a narrow isthmus and lagoon - more rural and less populated.
- Maeva archaeological area: A cluster of Polynesian archaeological sites including stone marae and fish traps; several accessible from the village of Maeva.
- Huahine lagoon: The lagoon and fringing coral reef that surround the islands, used for snorkeling, diving and boat excursions.
- Fare village: The main settlement and transport hub where the island's airport and ferry landing are located.
How to Get to Huahine #
Huahine in the Leeward Islands (Society Islands) is served by Air Tahiti with flights from Faa’a (Papeete, Tahiti) into Huahine-Fare Airport (HUH). Flights are the usual way to reach the island; on arrival a short taxi or shuttle (typically under 10 minutes) will take you from the airport to Fare village and nearby guesthouses and bateau/piers for boat excursions.
Tips for Visiting Huahine #
- Use Fare (the island's main village and ferry/airport hub) as your arrival point - Huahine-Fare is where inter-island flights and most boat connections land, making it the practical base for exploration.
- Visit archaeological sites (numerous marae) and vanilla plantations in the interior during cooler morning hours when guides and local farms are open; these cultural sites are easy to miss if you stick only to the beaches.
- Avoid peak inter-island transfer times by booking flights or ferries in advance and planning excursions from Fare; staying one or two nights on the island gives time to explore quieter west-coast villages once day-trippers have left.
Best Time to Visit Huahine #
The best time to visit Huahine is during the drier months (roughly May-October) when rainfall is lower and outdoor activities are most pleasant.
Weather & Climate near Huahine #
Huahine's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 21°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1817 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (244 mm).
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February
February is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C. Heavy rain (202 mm).
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March
March is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C. Significant rainfall (166 mm).
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April
April is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C. Significant rainfall (161 mm).
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May
May is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 23°C. Significant rainfall (132 mm).
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June
June is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 22°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm).
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July
July is warm with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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August
August is warm with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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September
September is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm).
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October
October is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 22°C. Significant rainfall (120 mm).
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November
November is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 23°C. Significant rainfall (191 mm).
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December
December is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 23°C. Heavy rain (240 mm).
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