Faaa
Encyclopedia
Faaa is a commune in the suburbs of Papeete
in French Polynesia
, an overseas territory of France
in the Pacific Ocean
. Faaa is located on the island of Tahiti
, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands
, themselves part of the Society Islands
. Faaa has a population of 29,851, making it the largest commune in Tahiti and French Polynesia. Faaa has many mountains inland that can reach 5000 ft (1,524 m). Mount Orohena is an extinct volcano in the inland limits and can be seen from nearby Moorea
. Big swells form in nearby Teahupoo and the World Championship tour of surfing is held there about twice every decade. Some of the champions are Mike Stewart
and Ben Severson
. The area of Faaa is 30 ft (9.1 m) above mean sea level on average.
Faaa has a long history. Captain James Cook
came to Tahiti on his expedition. Faaa is the political stronghold of independence leader Oscar Temaru
who served three times as president.
, who served three times as president of French Polynesia in 2004, 2005–2006, and 2007.
is a major airport located inside the commune, approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest from the town center of Papeete. The airport is the only international airport in French Polynesia. It is located in northern Faaa. Islanders from other islands come to this airport to make an international flight. Some of the international flights from the airport go to Los Angeles
, California
; Tokyo
, Japan
; and Auckland
, New Zealand
. There is easy access from downtown Faaa to the airport. Some airport shuttles and Tahiti buses come to the parking lot. The airport has coconut trees and one Tiki
in the parking lot. Many flowers are picked at farms and they are sent to the airport and given to visitors that have just arrived.
about once a week. The ferries can be seen from the Public Beach in Downtown Faaa going to Moorea.
since there is limited flat land. There is a slight bay south of the airport where the roads and freeways move inland. Downtown Faaa is about 20 ft (6.1 m) above mean sea level. Faaa is in northwestern French Polynesia. The Papenoo River
is not too far away. Faaa comes inland about 10 mi (16.1 km). Mount Orohena is in the mountains of Faaa. The mountain is the highest point in French Polynesia at 7300 ft (2,225 m). Tahiti Iti is just to the southeast of the commune. Moorea, which is Tahiti's sister island, is located just 15 km (9.3 mi) across the Pacific Ocean. Many people can see Mount Tohivea
which is the tallest mountain on Moorea at nearly 4000 ft (1,219.2 m). Los Angeles, California is located 4111 mi (6,616 km) northwest, Santiago
, Chile
is 2100 mi (3,379.6 km) east, and Sydney
, Australia
is located 2000 mi (3,218.7 km) west. Easter Island
is not too far east of Faaa. There are some viewpoints in Faaa to see Moorea. Moorea appears as a gray mound with mountains across the Pacific Ocean. The Faaa Nature Park is a major park in the mountains. New Caledonia
is located not too far to the west of Faaa.
on Moorea is located just across the Pacific Ocean 15 km (9.3 mi) away. Vaitape
, Bora Bora is 218 km (135.5 mi) away and is the largest commune of Bora Bora. Uturoa
is a closer commune on Raiatea
. Papeete borders Faaa on the north and Papera borders Faaa on the south.
. The temperatures in Faaa during the summer can range from 50 to 100 °F (10 to 37.8 C). The temperatures in Faaa during fall can range from 60 to 80 °F (15.6 to 26.7 C). Winter can be 40 to 70 °F (4.4 to 21.1 C) and spring can range from 60 to 70 °F (15.6 to 21.1 C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 108 °F (42.2 °C) during the late summer of 1997. The average temperature of Faaa is 74 °F (23.3 °C). The coldest temperature recorded was 30 °F (-1.1 °C) during the midwinter of 2003. Sometimes only a dust of snow brushes the mountains of Faaa. Cyclones have stuck Faaa, about 10 times, causing major damage to the neighborhoods low and flat. Houses have flipped over and some flooding took place in downtown Faaa. The surges were about 29 ft (8.8 m) tall.
is located in central Faaa. Students from many other island's come to this University since it is the only one in the territory. It is a relatively small university with around 2,000 students. There are elementary, middle and high schools located inland in the neighborhoods. Most of the schools are in separate buildings, each of them being one class. There are about 5 classes per grade at elementary schools. Some families have their kids go to school in other countries like the United States
or New Zealand. If they were to have their students go to California to educate, they would usually go to the University of California, Los Angeles
in Los Angeles. The main subject at the schools in Faaa is math.
that arrived on canoes at the year of 700. At that time, the settlers from Asia had made small houses from grass and wood. Faaa had only 400 residents. They fished from the beach and from their canoes. The settlers made spears from the charcoal on the beach. Pretty soon, many more settlers came from Asia making the population to grow to 700 by the year 1220. Some of the people feed on breadfruit and bananas from banana trees. The settlers kept walking inland from the beach. They looked across the ocean and saw Moorea which has also been settled. Some of the settlers on Tahiti paddled on their canoes and visited Moorea. By 1300, Faaa had about 1,000 residents. Faaa had many grass houses along the beach which some were so close to each other. Some of the residents left open spaces to let their kids play. Some of the early Tahitians
made small fires from leaves to stay warm during winter. 1,300 residents have settled in Faaa during the 1330s. Most of the settlers moved their houses inland from the coastal beaches since they were flooded during cyclones and high tides. The Tahitians had moved into the small valleys close to Mount Orohena. Many of the early Polynesians had canoed to Moorea and back a bunch of times. They had been careful of the many stonefish
in the water.
came on his expedition to Tahiti. During the late 1800s, Faaa had a population of 2,000 residents. Some of the residents went to California to go to the California Gold Rush
to search for a new life. Faaa was part of the Kingdom of Tahiti until the annexation of 1880. Many buildings made from wood were along the coast of Faaa. Some small markets selling bananas and other fruits were busy. Residents from Moorea came to get fruits from the markets. Farms could be found in the mountains of Faaa.
and Teahupoo. Downtown Faaa was very busy and public beaches were formed on the waterfront of Faaa. There was a big field in the north of Faaa and Faa'a International Airport was built here in 1962. One of the first airplanes was Air Tahiti
, which first went to other islands in French Polynesia. The international airlines such as Air Tahiti Nui
were incorporated in the late 1990s. The Air Moorea
flight also took place and crashed close to Moorea. None of them survived the disaster. Don the Beachcomber
lived here part of his life. The Moorea ferry was also created after the flight and still sails to Moorea each day. Today, Faaa has a population of nearly 30,000.
900: Faaa has many grass houses along the beach and inland
1600: Faaa's population grows to 1,500
1777: Captain James Cook is the first European to land on Tahiti
1855: Many Faaa residents leave for the California Gold Rush
1910: Faaa has more than 5,000 residents
1962: Faa'a International Airport opened
1998: Air Tahiti Nui is founded
2007: Air Moorea crashes while going to Moorea
courts. School parks have mainly open grass spaces and a few trees. There are about 170 parks in Faaa. Hiking trails can be found in the mountains of Tahiti. It is part of the Faaa Nature Park. There are viewing points viewing the Papeete Area. The harbor can also be seen with the Aremiti Ferry coming in and out of the harbor. Mape trees
grow in the park. The hiking trails are made of dirt and are 4 ft (1.2 m) wide. Sometimes the Mape tree roots grow on the trail making the trails dangerous at some points. Many birds fly over the trails and some rivers run through the park. Birdwatching is very popular among the tourists. There is a visitor center which nearby starts the main hiking trail. Moorea can be seen across the Pacific Ocean from some of the viewing points. Souvenir shops are mainly found in the parks of the mountains. Postcards are very popular for the tourist coming to Faaa. Other souvenirs at the shop are towels, small tiki
s, and Tahitian card games. There are also hiking trails in nearby communes of Tahiti and Moorea.
, and Raiatea. Many strawberries are also found in the farms. Potatoes, apples, and raspberries are all other major fruits grown at the farms of Faaa. School lunches usually has fruits from these farms. The Moorea juice factory is a major juice factory on Moorea that exports its juice to Faaa.
. Dishwashers and refrigerators are the main goods found inside the store.
champions of Teahupoo. The first surfing champion of Teahupoo to win an award was in 1999.
Other major sports are tennis and basketball.
, using the apostrophe to represent the glottal stop
, as promoted by the Académie Tahitienne and accepted by the territorial government. Most people in the commune say it with two syllables when it's really three syllables. This apostrophe, however, is often omitted.
is a popular instrument throughout French Polynesia. Tahitian drums are also popular and are made from hollow trunks of trees and animal skins. The residents of Faaa can take lessons at the University of French Polynesia.
. Some paintings can be found in the museums which are a very popular tourist attraction. The Musee de la Perle is a major art museum in nearby Papeete. The house of James Norman Hall
used to be a mansion in Arue. It is now a renowned museum that is a major tourist attraction. Art galleries are found throughout the island of Tahiti and there are 10 right in Papeete.
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
in French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, an overseas territory of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Faaa is located on the island of Tahiti
Tahiti
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...
, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands
Windward Islands (Society Islands)
The Windward Islands are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
, themselves part of the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
. Faaa has a population of 29,851, making it the largest commune in Tahiti and French Polynesia. Faaa has many mountains inland that can reach 5000 ft (1,524 m). Mount Orohena is an extinct volcano in the inland limits and can be seen from nearby Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
. Big swells form in nearby Teahupoo and the World Championship tour of surfing is held there about twice every decade. Some of the champions are Mike Stewart
Mike Stewart
Mike Stewart is a nine-time World Champion bodyboarder, one of the early pioneers of the bodyboarding sport, a pioneer of big-wave tow-in surfing and also a champion bodysurfer.- Biography :...
and Ben Severson
Ben Severson
Ben Severson is a pioneer in the sport of bodyboarding and Sandy Beach local.Oahu lifeguard and former rival of Mike Stewart for more than 15 years, Ben is a fast, perfectly trained and precise prone rider who excels at tube riding. He quickly gained recognition by winning a world title at the...
. The area of Faaa is 30 ft (9.1 m) above mean sea level on average.
Faaa has a long history. Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
came to Tahiti on his expedition. Faaa is the political stronghold of independence leader Oscar Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
who served three times as president.
Demographics
In 1988 Faaa supplanted Papeete as the most populated commune in the urban area of Papeete and in French Polynesia. Despite having more inhabitants than Papeete, the urban area is named after Papeete and Faaa is considered a suburb of Papeete due to Papeete's historical importance and status as administrative capital of French Polynesia. The Papeete Urban Area has a population of about 130,000.Politics
Faaa is the political stronghold of independence leader Oscar TemaruOscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
, who served three times as president of French Polynesia in 2004, 2005–2006, and 2007.
Transportation
Air
Faa'a International AirportFaa'a International Airport
- Overview :The Faaa International Airport is a relatively small airport. Air Tahiti has flights every day going to all the other islands in French Polynesia while international flights go to different countries such as the United States or New Zealand. The airport is on Tahiti which is an island...
is a major airport located inside the commune, approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest from the town center of Papeete. The airport is the only international airport in French Polynesia. It is located in northern Faaa. Islanders from other islands come to this airport to make an international flight. Some of the international flights from the airport go to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; and Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. There is easy access from downtown Faaa to the airport. Some airport shuttles and Tahiti buses come to the parking lot. The airport has coconut trees and one Tiki
Tiki
Tiki refers to large wood and stone carvings of humanoid forms in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. The term is also used in Māori mythology where Tiki is the first man, created by either Tūmatauenga or Tāne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond – she seduced him...
in the parking lot. Many flowers are picked at farms and they are sent to the airport and given to visitors that have just arrived.
Sea
Ferries leave the Papeete Wharf about 4 times a day to the Vaiare Wharf on nearby Moorea. There are 3 main ferries that leave the Papeete Wharf daily. One of them is the Aremiti 5 which is the fastest of the 3 ferries. It sails to Moorea in half an hour. The Aremiti 7 is the largest of the three ships. It sails to Moorea in about 40 minutes. The Moorea Ferry is the slowest of the three ships. It sails to Moorea in about an hour. Both of the Aremiti ferries are white with red dots. The Moorea ferry is blue on the bottom and white on the top. Some go to Bora BoraBora Bora
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, 29.3 km² in total, and of the atoll of Tupai , located north of Bora Bora...
about once a week. The ferries can be seen from the Public Beach in Downtown Faaa going to Moorea.
Freeways and roads
Tahiti's West Coast freeway runs through the commune. The freeway starts in Papeete and ends in Teahupoo. There are many other roads in Faaa. The Tahiti transportation bus runs around the Papeete area. There isn't much traffic in the streets of Faaa. There are many bridges since there are many canals and small rivers flowing through Faaa. Most of the residents of Faaa have Ford or Toyota trucks. They get all their cars in the town center of Papeete. There are only some cars for sale places in Faaa. Residents that have their cars for sale usually have their cars parked on the street with a sign saying that the car is for sale and include the price and a contact number. Most of the streets are paved.Location and geography
Faaa is located in northwestern Tahiti. Just 4 miles south of the town center of Papeete, the runway for Faa'a International Airport is built on coral reefCoral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
since there is limited flat land. There is a slight bay south of the airport where the roads and freeways move inland. Downtown Faaa is about 20 ft (6.1 m) above mean sea level. Faaa is in northwestern French Polynesia. The Papenoo River
Papenoo River
The Papenoo River is a river of French Polynesia. It is located on the island of Tahiti. Where the river fist becomes a river is in the mountains of Tahiti east of the town cener of Papeete. The river ends on the coast of Tahiti near Papeete. The river is about 20 miles long and is about 10 feet...
is not too far away. Faaa comes inland about 10 mi (16.1 km). Mount Orohena is in the mountains of Faaa. The mountain is the highest point in French Polynesia at 7300 ft (2,225 m). Tahiti Iti is just to the southeast of the commune. Moorea, which is Tahiti's sister island, is located just 15 km (9.3 mi) across the Pacific Ocean. Many people can see Mount Tohivea
Mount Tohivea
Mount Tohivea is a volcanic peak at 3,960 feet that is the highest point on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. On its slopes are many streams and fertile soils. There are Hiking Trails along along the summit close to the Belvedere point were people can view the 2 Bays, Mont Routui, and the...
which is the tallest mountain on Moorea at nearly 4000 ft (1,219.2 m). Los Angeles, California is located 4111 mi (6,616 km) northwest, Santiago
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
is 2100 mi (3,379.6 km) east, and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is located 2000 mi (3,218.7 km) west. Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
is not too far east of Faaa. There are some viewpoints in Faaa to see Moorea. Moorea appears as a gray mound with mountains across the Pacific Ocean. The Faaa Nature Park is a major park in the mountains. New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
is located not too far to the west of Faaa.
Nearby communes
Moorea-MaiaoMoorea-Maiao
Moorea-Maiao is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands....
on Moorea is located just across the Pacific Ocean 15 km (9.3 mi) away. Vaitape
Vaitape
Vaitape is the largest city of island Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It has population of 4,927. This city has about half of the island's population which is about 9,000. It is located about northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia...
, Bora Bora is 218 km (135.5 mi) away and is the largest commune of Bora Bora. Uturoa
Uturoa
Uturoa is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea, in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands of which Uturoa is the administrative capital. The Leeward Islands are themselves part...
is a closer commune on Raiatea
Raiatea
Raiatea , is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the 'center' of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aotearoa and other parts of East Polynesia started at...
. Papeete borders Faaa on the north and Papera borders Faaa on the south.
Beaches
Many public beaches are found throughout coastal Faaa. Coconuts fall on the beach and float on the water. Beaches get visited a lot because of the warm climate and scenery.Climate
Faaa experiences a tropical climateTropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
. The temperatures in Faaa during the summer can range from 50 to 100 °F (10 to 37.8 C). The temperatures in Faaa during fall can range from 60 to 80 °F (15.6 to 26.7 C). Winter can be 40 to 70 °F (4.4 to 21.1 C) and spring can range from 60 to 70 °F (15.6 to 21.1 C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 108 °F (42.2 °C) during the late summer of 1997. The average temperature of Faaa is 74 °F (23.3 °C). The coldest temperature recorded was 30 °F (-1.1 °C) during the midwinter of 2003. Sometimes only a dust of snow brushes the mountains of Faaa. Cyclones have stuck Faaa, about 10 times, causing major damage to the neighborhoods low and flat. Houses have flipped over and some flooding took place in downtown Faaa. The surges were about 29 ft (8.8 m) tall.
Education
The University of French PolynesiaUniversity of French Polynesia
The Université de la Polynésie Française is a French university and the only one in French Polynesia. Located in Tahiti, it is a small university counting around 2,000 students...
is located in central Faaa. Students from many other island's come to this University since it is the only one in the territory. It is a relatively small university with around 2,000 students. There are elementary, middle and high schools located inland in the neighborhoods. Most of the schools are in separate buildings, each of them being one class. There are about 5 classes per grade at elementary schools. Some families have their kids go to school in other countries like the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or New Zealand. If they were to have their students go to California to educate, they would usually go to the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in Los Angeles. The main subject at the schools in Faaa is math.
Early settlers
The area of Faaa was first settled by travelers from AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
that arrived on canoes at the year of 700. At that time, the settlers from Asia had made small houses from grass and wood. Faaa had only 400 residents. They fished from the beach and from their canoes. The settlers made spears from the charcoal on the beach. Pretty soon, many more settlers came from Asia making the population to grow to 700 by the year 1220. Some of the people feed on breadfruit and bananas from banana trees. The settlers kept walking inland from the beach. They looked across the ocean and saw Moorea which has also been settled. Some of the settlers on Tahiti paddled on their canoes and visited Moorea. By 1300, Faaa had about 1,000 residents. Faaa had many grass houses along the beach which some were so close to each other. Some of the residents left open spaces to let their kids play. Some of the early Tahitians
Tahitians
The Tahitians, or Maohis, are indigenous peoples of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands, as well as the modern population of these lands of mixed ancestry . The Tahitians are one of the most significant indigenous Polynesian peoples of Oceania....
made small fires from leaves to stay warm during winter. 1,300 residents have settled in Faaa during the 1330s. Most of the settlers moved their houses inland from the coastal beaches since they were flooded during cyclones and high tides. The Tahitians had moved into the small valleys close to Mount Orohena. Many of the early Polynesians had canoed to Moorea and back a bunch of times. They had been careful of the many stonefish
Synanceia
Synanceia is a genus of fish of the family Synanceiidae, the Stonefishes, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific oceans....
in the water.
European contact
European settlers came during the 1500s. Captain James Cook was the first European settler. He first came to Moorea but then sailed to Tahiti. The Tahitians were all wondering who he was and why he was here. Then he left Tahiti and went exploring other islands in the Pacific Ocean. He later reached New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia. Then Charles DarwinCharles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
came on his expedition to Tahiti. During the late 1800s, Faaa had a population of 2,000 residents. Some of the residents went to California to go to the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
to search for a new life. Faaa was part of the Kingdom of Tahiti until the annexation of 1880. Many buildings made from wood were along the coast of Faaa. Some small markets selling bananas and other fruits were busy. Residents from Moorea came to get fruits from the markets. Farms could be found in the mountains of Faaa.
Modern Faaa
During the early 1900s, Faaa's population had grown to 5,000. Many markets had more choices and even some toys for kids. Some bigger boats were made for the new Faaa Port. The boats sailed from Faaa onward to other communes on Tahiti such as ArueArue
- France :Arue is the name of two communes of France:*Arue, Landes in the Landes département*Arue, French Polynesia in the overseas territory of French Polynesia...
and Teahupoo. Downtown Faaa was very busy and public beaches were formed on the waterfront of Faaa. There was a big field in the north of Faaa and Faa'a International Airport was built here in 1962. One of the first airplanes was Air Tahiti
Air Tahiti
Société Air Tahiti Société Anonyme is a regional airline with its head office on the property of Faa'a International Airport, in Faaa, Tahiti, French Polynesia, near Papeete. Air Tahiti's network covers 46 islands within French Polynesia, plus the island of Rarotonga...
, which first went to other islands in French Polynesia. The international airlines such as Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui is French Polynesia's flag carrier airline with its head office in the Immueble Dexter in Papeete, Tahiti. It operates international services for the low and high-end leisure travel markets. Its main base is Faa'a International Airport, Papeete.- History :Air Tahiti Nui was...
were incorporated in the late 1990s. The Air Moorea
Air Moorea
Air Moorea is an airline based on the grounds of Faa'a International Airport in Faaa, Tahiti, French Polynesia, near Papeete. It operates passenger services within the Polynesian islands...
flight also took place and crashed close to Moorea. None of them survived the disaster. Don the Beachcomber
Don the Beachcomber
Donn Beach , born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, is the founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The many so-called "Polynesian" restaurants and pubs that enjoyed great popularity are directly descended from what he created...
lived here part of his life. The Moorea ferry was also created after the flight and still sails to Moorea each day. Today, Faaa has a population of nearly 30,000.
Dates
700: The area of Faaa is first settled by early Polynesians900: Faaa has many grass houses along the beach and inland
1600: Faaa's population grows to 1,500
1777: Captain James Cook is the first European to land on Tahiti
1855: Many Faaa residents leave for the California Gold Rush
1910: Faaa has more than 5,000 residents
1962: Faa'a International Airport opened
1998: Air Tahiti Nui is founded
2007: Air Moorea crashes while going to Moorea
Parks and recreation
There is one long coastal beach park with 5 playgrounds per mile and concrete spaces where Tahitian dancers dance. Coconut trees dot the coastline and can be up to 40 feet tall. There are many more parks in the neighborhoods of Faaa. The usual park in Faaa has a playground, open grass spaces, and trees and only a few have BasketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
courts. School parks have mainly open grass spaces and a few trees. There are about 170 parks in Faaa. Hiking trails can be found in the mountains of Tahiti. It is part of the Faaa Nature Park. There are viewing points viewing the Papeete Area. The harbor can also be seen with the Aremiti Ferry coming in and out of the harbor. Mape trees
Inocarpus fagifer
Inocarpus fagifer, commonly known as the Tahitian Chestnut, Polynesian Chestnut, Aila or Mape tree, is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family, Fabaceae...
grow in the park. The hiking trails are made of dirt and are 4 ft (1.2 m) wide. Sometimes the Mape tree roots grow on the trail making the trails dangerous at some points. Many birds fly over the trails and some rivers run through the park. Birdwatching is very popular among the tourists. There is a visitor center which nearby starts the main hiking trail. Moorea can be seen across the Pacific Ocean from some of the viewing points. Souvenir shops are mainly found in the parks of the mountains. Postcards are very popular for the tourist coming to Faaa. Other souvenirs at the shop are towels, small tiki
Tiki
Tiki refers to large wood and stone carvings of humanoid forms in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. The term is also used in Māori mythology where Tiki is the first man, created by either Tūmatauenga or Tāne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond – she seduced him...
s, and Tahitian card games. There are also hiking trails in nearby communes of Tahiti and Moorea.
Economy
Air Tahiti has its head office on the airport property in Faaa. There are many supermarkets in Faaa. The supermarkets mainly sell bread, milk, fruits, and ice cream. There is also one of the largest malls in French Polynesia in downtown Faaa. It has a clothing store a market, and a souvenir shop. The now defunct Air Moorea had its head office in Faaa. Many people that work in other communes such as Papeete or Teahupoo live in Faaa. There are businesses like McDonald's that are close to the public beach. The port of Papeete has many workers that live in Faaa. Many other people that work in Papeete or Teahupoo live in Faaa. McDonald's is a popular restaurant in Faaa that is close to the beach, just off Tahiti's west coast freeway. The port of Papeete has many workers that live in Faaa.Agriculture
Farms in Faaa are usually in the mountains. All most all of the farms in Faaa are in the far east. The farms are all more than 1,000 feet above mean sea level far from the coastline. The farms in the mountains have Tahitian flowers growing in the field. The flowers get picked and are usually sent to Faa'a International Airport to greet the passengers that have just arrived. There are many tractors on the fields that plow the dirt. Banana trees are plentiful throughout Faaa and also a major export to other islands. The main islands that get imported from Faaa are Moorea, HuahineHuahine
Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group . The island has a population of about 6,000.-Geography:...
, and Raiatea. Many strawberries are also found in the farms. Potatoes, apples, and raspberries are all other major fruits grown at the farms of Faaa. School lunches usually has fruits from these farms. The Moorea juice factory is a major juice factory on Moorea that exports its juice to Faaa.
Hardware
Ace is a major hardware store in Faaa. It is made up of more than one building. There are 3 of these buildings.One of the buildings is for supplies and objects needed in houses. Another one of the 3 buildings is for Wood supplies and Wood Glue. The third building is for cement mixers and screws. Other major hardware stores are the Faaa Supply Store. It is made up of one building for mainly supplies and cement mixers and another for wood. Other hardware stores of Faaa are Polymat, Polywood, and Polybuild. Ace delivery trucks are found throughout the neighborhoods of Faaa.Technology
Faaa is full of cell phones. Faaa has major industrial valleys far inland. These areas have hardware industries as well. Ace is close to a store a lot like Circuit CityCircuit City
Circuit City Stores, Inc. was an American retailer in brand-name consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software, and large appliances. The company opened its first store in 1949 and pioneered the electronics superstore format in the 1970s...
. Dishwashers and refrigerators are the main goods found inside the store.
World Championship Tour
The surfing world champions of Teahupoo have been to Faaa. Teahupoo is a reef break, making big waves. The swells usually break to the left but sometimes break to the right. The big swells cause Teahupoo to become a major place for the World Championship Tour (WCT). People such as Mike Stewart and Ben Severson are the boogieboardingBodyboarding
Bodyboarding is a surface water sport . The average board consists of a small, rectangular piece of hydrodynamic foam, sometimes containing a ridged spine called a 'stringer'...
champions of Teahupoo. The first surfing champion of Teahupoo to win an award was in 1999.
Other sports
Soccer games (in Faaa, it's called football) is a major sport played at the school parks. The parks have chairs set in a field and people can easily see the game. The soccer fields are relatively small.Other major sports are tennis and basketball.
Name
The name Faaa is sometimes spelled Faa’a in TahitianTahitian language
Tahitian is an indigenous language spoken mainly in the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is an Eastern Polynesian language closely related to the other indigenous languages spoken in French Polynesia: Marquesan, Tuamotuan, Mangarevan, and Austral Islands languages...
, using the apostrophe to represent the glottal stop
Glottal stop
The glottal stop, or more fully, the voiceless glottal plosive, is a type of consonantal sound used in many spoken languages. In English, the feature is represented, for example, by the hyphen in uh-oh! and by the apostrophe or [[ʻokina]] in Hawaii among those using a preservative pronunciation of...
, as promoted by the Académie Tahitienne and accepted by the territorial government. Most people in the commune say it with two syllables when it's really three syllables. This apostrophe, however, is often omitted.
Music of Faaa
The nose fluteNose flute
The nose flute is a popular musical instrument played in Polynesia and the Pacific Rim countries. Other versions are found in Africa, China, and India.- Hawaii :In the North Pacific, in the Hawaiian islands the nose flute was a common courting instrument...
is a popular instrument throughout French Polynesia. Tahitian drums are also popular and are made from hollow trunks of trees and animal skins. The residents of Faaa can take lessons at the University of French Polynesia.
Art
There are art museums in the mountains of Faaa. The mountains of Tahiti and other islands have inspired Paul GauguinPaul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
. Some paintings can be found in the museums which are a very popular tourist attraction. The Musee de la Perle is a major art museum in nearby Papeete. The house of James Norman Hall
James Norman Hall
James Norman Hall was an American author best known for the novel Mutiny on the Bounty with co-author Charles Nordhoff.-Biography:Hall was born in Colfax, Iowa, where he attended the local schools...
used to be a mansion in Arue. It is now a renowned museum that is a major tourist attraction. Art galleries are found throughout the island of Tahiti and there are 10 right in Papeete.
See also
- Demographics of FranceDemographics of FranceThis article is about the demographic features of the population of France, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects....
- Demographics of French PolynesiaDemographics of French PolynesiaThis article is about the demographic features of the population of French Polynesia, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
- Mahina, French PolynesiaMahina, French PolynesiaMahina is a commune in the suburbs of Papeete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Mahina is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands. Mahina is the 3rd largest city in...
- TahitiTahitiTahiti 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...