This island is situated on the eastern side of ring atoll Huahine, 10 minutes from airport of Huahine and 5 minutes by boat to the mainland. It is only 1/2 hour by local airline to Tahiti. From its location on the ring atoll, the island has good anchorage and passage to open ocean. The island is covered with palm trees and local tropical hardwood.

Huahine lies 175 km (110 miles) northwest of Tahiti in the Leeward Society Islands, visible from Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora. Comprised of Huahine Nui (big Huahine) and Huahine-Iti (little Huahine), the two islands are joined by a narrow isthmus and are enclosed within a protective coral necklace.Off-shore "motu" islets lie inside the barrier reef, providing luscious gardens for Huahine's watermelon and cantaloupe industry. A road, mostly un-paved, winds 32 km (20 miles) around the two islands, passing through small villages where the 4,480 inhabitants live in colourful, modest homes.

The lagoon, bordered by white sand beaches, is rich with sea life, and the Village of Maeva is a wealth of archaeological sites. The principal village of Fare slumbers under the shade of almond and acacia trees, and awakens with delight for the frequent arrivals of the inter-island ferries from Papeete. Then truckloads of copra, pigs, taro, bananas and melons are brought to the quay for market days. People from all over the island mingle with arriving passengers and curious tourists, all enjoying the bustling activity and wandering in and out of the various Chineese shops along Fare's waterfront. Then the ships blast their farewell and head out the pass, the last Le Truck leaves town, headed for the villages once again. And life on this peaceful island resumes its normal pace.

French Polynesia consists of 118 islands and atolls, making up only 1,544 square miles, spread out over one and a half million square miles of ocean in the eastern South Pacific. There are five archipelagoes that make up French Polynesia: the Society Islands, Austral Islands, Marqueses Islands, Tuamotu Atolls, and the Mangareva Islands. Papeete is the capital of Tahiti - the largest island in French Polynesia.

French Polynesia is 2 hours behind US Pacific Standard time. There are basically two seasons: from November through March, the climate is warmer and humid, while from April through October the climate is cooler and drier. The yearly average temperature at Faaa International Airport is 79 degrees. The 1996 census counted 219,521 people living in French Polynesia. The official languages are French and Tahitian. English is also widely spoken. Besides the key industry of tourism, the largest industries are products of coconut, cultured pearls, fishing, and vanilla.

Weddings in French Polynesia are not legally recognized in the United States.Visitors from the United States (staying less than one month) are not required to get a visa to visit French Polynesia. Most of the hotels use 110 or 220 volts. Tap water in the hotels and restaurants is safe to drink. Tipping is not expected (and discouraged) in French Polynesia.