Huahine Island : What to See and Points of Interest : Tahiti Sun Travel

Huahine is one of the most picturesque of the Society Islands.

Its lush green mountain backdropping the beautiful blue waters makes for a wonderful day of touring and sightseeing.

This page is your starting point for ideas...

CIRCLE ISLAND TOURING

ANCIENT MARAES & ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

PEARL FARM

VANILLA FARMS

PARKS & BOTANICAL GARDENS

HANA ITI HOTEL WRECKAGE

OTHER ISLANDS

TST makes sightseeing and island exploring options easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out our other "To SEE" pages: ARTISTS,CRAFTSMEN, & OTHER SPECIALISTS and ATTRACTIONS & UNIQUE ACTIVITIES.

Wan't more? Be sure and explore our "WHAT TO DO" section for even more activities, adventures, relaxation, shopping ideas and other things to do and see!

"CIRCLE ISLAND" TOURING

There's lots of interesting things to see on both the islands comprising Huahine. Easily seen in a day or two, this island has some great sightseeing options. As is the case in most of French Polynesia, the phrase "circle island tour" on Huahine is rather popular although sometimes loosely used and quite vague.

Ultimately, you have but 2 basic choices when it comes to making one of these circle island tours: will it be by road or by lagoon? Whichever choice you make, exploring both islands full circle is certainly recommended, (at least once), to experience the true flavor of Huahine...

1) ORGANIZED LAGOON CRUISES BY CRUISER, SAILBOAT, CANOE, PIROGUE or POWERBOAT (Do it yourself) RENTALS: See the ISLAND FUN page.

2) ORGANIZED LAND TOURS BY BUS OR MINI VAN: See the RELAXATION page.

3) ORGANIZED LAND TOURS BY 4X4: See the ADVENTURES page.

4) Also, to further clarify and/ or confuse, search our pages for even more "touring related" options: hiking & climbing, or eco, cultural touring, casual walking & dayhiking. (May the curious mouse be ever so restless...) (Yes, Ian got a little carried away with multi-categorizing here, but didn't know how else to do it.)

and, lastly: 4) TST'S "DO IT YOURSELF" CIRCLE ISLAND ROAD TOUR: Suitable for printing out and taking with you... coming soon... (but maybe not REAL soon so don't get too excited)

The Maraes and archeological sites on Huahine are definately the most impressive (overall) of any of the Society Islands. With the exception of Taputapuatea on Raiatea, there are more impressive and more well preserved maraes on this island than any of the others.

Details and pictures coming soon...

Visiting a Polynesian Black Pearl farm is one of the more classic sightseeing things to see in the Tahitian islands and most people are not dissapointed.

On Huahine, there is only one pearl farm to visit and it makes for a very interesting few hours. You'll take a boat out to the hanging oyster strands in the lagoon to learn how the whole process of Black Pearl farming in French Polynesia is done- from cultivation and harvesting to the final product of shiny black beauties they are so famous for. When you are through learning and asking questions, you will be able to purchase a myriad of pearl products ranging from wholesale to retail jewelry and more...

HUAHINE NUI PEARLS
On the big island of HUAHINE, Telephone- (689) 78.30.20
Huahine's only pearl farm. Tours and shop including lots of black pearl products and other Polynesian gifts, pottery, fabrics and more.
Open from 10:00 am to 4 pm. Monday- Saturday, closed Sundays. Free pickups from the Sofitel Heiva and Te Tiare Hotel.

Huahine is a plant and garden lover's paradise. In a sense, the entire island is like one giant garden in the sea, (hence the often used tourist label "Garden Island") with its abundance of lush greenery and tropical flowers, plants and beauty all around...

There's 2 botanical garden/ parks on Huahine where you can marvel at many botanical wonders and breathe in the fresh tropical fragrances. Both gardens possess a magnificent and varied diversity of tropical foliage unique to French Polynesia. When you explore these gardens, you will know what is meant by: "The Tahitians sure do love their flowers"!

ARIIURA GARDEN PARADISE
Located on Bourayne bay
PO Box 145, 98731 Fare- HUAHINE
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 68.85.20
Contact: Mr. Hubert BREMOND
"A GARDEN OF REVIVAL AND CONSERVATION"-
Tropical garden and traditional Maohi medicinal plant specialist. Plants are labeled with their latin names.
A good botanical and cultural experience.
Open weekdays and Saturday. Free admission.

EDEN PARC
Located on Vaiorea bay, PO Box 75, 98731 Fare- HUAHINE Telephone- (689) 68.86.58, Fax- (689) 68.84.04
Contact: Mr. & Mrs. Gilles and Anne PARZY
Botanical park located in a 9 hectare private valley, with a fine collection of organic and ecologically important plants. Traditional, ornamental, and medicinal plants and fruit trees from around the world. Eden Parc also has an organic restaurant and produces a line of products including fruit drinks, oils, natural insect repellents, and various food products sold throughout the South Pacific. Open from 9:00 am to 4 pm. Monday- Saturday, closed Sundays and from Mid December- Mid January. To learn more, see the attractions page.

This is an interesting story on Huahine and something to see and ponder if you get a chance...

In the early 90's, an american entrepreneur, architect, and sailor named Tom Kurth purchased (from Julio Iglesias) one of the most fantastic strips of beach real estate on the island of Huahine and commenced to creating one of the most interesting and impressive 5 star hotels the world has ever imagined. He built 26 of some of the most architecturally fascinating luxury bungalows ever seen in the hotel world- the works of which were documented in the finest Architectural magazines in the world (ex:Conde Nast's Architectural Digest, April, 1995), and of which designs still remain an interest today.

Integrating top notch design with the natural attributes of this magnificent little hidden valley and beachfront property, the bungalows were hidden and intermingled amid the lush tropical beauty. Word got around in the hotel industry fast and many movie stars, rich international businessman, and other assorted millionaires came here and happily spent over 600-700 night to experience it. (It should be stated here that these elaborately high prices are the current norm for all 5 star hotels in French Polynesia...)

Everything was fine and the hotel was gaining an impeccable reputation and putting Huahine on the elite tourist map until 1998, when a violent twister named "Alain" came along and spoiled all the fun. The twister devastated the entire property in a few minutes and sent the entire resort effort into thin air and what has now become one of Huahine's favorite (unfavorite?) story/ legends.

Today, with the proper directions and a mild hike, interested visitors can walk the old Hana Iti grounds and only imagine the previous glory... There really isn't much to see except a few old building skeletons, the old pool, some machinery and rusted pipes, and some flattened out areas where a few of the bungalows once stood, but strolling the beautiful and remote beachfront is somehow magical and eery at the same time... just imagining what once was so glorious and how an unforeseeable power/ tragedy can take it all away so fast.
Last note for those interested: The property was auctioned off after the twister to the highest bidder and is now owned by the French Polynesian government. What happens to it now is anybody's guess... (For all you millionaries out there reading this: try bidding on it and become an instant celebrity on Huahine...)

Getting there: It's a little hard to find the entrance to the old Hana Iti driveway but here's the scoop: First, get to the west side of the little island of Huahine Iti. (coming from Fare, you would go over the bridge separating the islands and take a right at the fork). Drive a few kilometers and then look for a small handpainted road sign on your right pointing to a budget pension called Pension Hine Iti (no relation) and take that road to the very top and as far as you can go. Look for the old road there. No cars travel there and it can be pretty muddy, so take note. Thats where the head of the old Hana Iti property was.

(We hope to have more exact details and directions soon, but in the meantime, try contacting Franck at the Pension Tupuna for some more answers.)

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