Mahina, French Polynesia
Encyclopedia
Mahina 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 French Polynesia
with a population of 14,369. Mount Orohena is a nearby mountain.
. Canoes out of tree trunks were used to transport to Tahiti
. The Polynesians had built houses out of grass on the beach and lived off of Fish
and Bananas. They had hunted fish with spears and rocks. They had also picked up bananas from the land high above mean sea level. Captain James Cook had arrived on his expedition to chart Pacific Islands. He later sailed off to nearby Moorea
and a few years later, he sailed to New Zealand
and Australia
. Charles Darwin
had later come to Tahiti
on his expedition.Don the Beachcomber
had lived in Tahiti
until his house was destroyed by a cyclone
. Later on, the Faaa International Airport in Faaa
was built in 1962. Many people from Mahina had used the airport. In 2007, Air Moorea crashed when it went to Moorea.
and small roads lead to the ending of the freeway. Other small roads lead in other directions. Most of the roads in Mahina are paved, while some are dirt and lead to the nearby mountains of Tahiti
. The Faaa International Airport is nearby in Faaa
. It is the only airport in French Polynesia serving international flights. Many islanders from other islands come here. Air Tahiti
has about 5 inter-island flights a day going to other islands in French Polynesia
. Airlines such as Air France
and Air New Zealand
fly out of the French Territory. The main way to get to the Faaa International Airport from Mahina is by Tahiti's west coast freeway. The parking lot at the airport has one Tiki. The Papeete Wharf in Papeete
has both the Aremiti Ferry and the Moorea Ferry sail to the island of Moorea
. Pomare Boulevard runs in front of the whrf and the ferries can be seen leaving the wharf and entering it. The 3 main ferries are the Aremiti 5, the Aremiti 7, and the Moorea Ferry.
about 9 meters above mean sea level. The commune in France
of Arue
is located to the west of Mahina. Mount Orohena is the tallest mountain in French Polynesia at 7,300 feet. Point Venus is a nearby lighthouse on the coast and people are able to view Moorea
. Papenoo is a nearby comune
that is home of the mouth of the Papenoo River
.
is the only university in all of French Polynesia
. Students from many other islands come to this university. The University of French Polynesia
is a realitively small university with around 2,000 students. High schools are found throughout Tahiti
. Some students in Mahina take classes in other countries such as the United States
or New Zealand
.
is nearby in the busy town center. Faaa
has a big mall with clothing stores and Tahiti
an restaurants with a view of the Pacific Ocean
. Mahina has a few industrial valleys that are home to factories. Some hardware stores such as Polybuild, Polymat, and Polywood are found in these valleys.
and other islands. In the airport terminal, Security guards check the passengers bag if they had brought along weapons of any kind. Police cars patrol the streets of Mahina to see if any drivers are speeding.
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...
. Mahina 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;...
. Mahina is the 3rd largest city 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...
with a population of 14,369. Mount Orohena is a nearby mountain.
History
The area of Mahina was first settled by early Polynesians 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...
. Canoes out of tree trunks were used to transport to 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...
. The Polynesians had built houses out of grass on the beach and lived off of Fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
and Bananas. They had hunted fish with spears and rocks. They had also picked up bananas from the land high above mean sea level. Captain James Cook had arrived on his expedition to chart Pacific Islands. He later sailed off to 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...
and a few years later, he sailed to 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...
and 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...
. Charles Darwin
Charles 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...
had later come to 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...
on his expedition.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...
had lived in 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...
until his house was destroyed by a cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
. Later on, the Faaa International Airport in Faaa
Faaa
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...
was built in 1962. Many people from Mahina had used the airport. In 2007, Air Moorea crashed when it went to Moorea.
Transportation
Tahiti's west coast freeway ends in nearby 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 small roads lead to the ending of the freeway. Other small roads lead in other directions. Most of the roads in Mahina are paved, while some are dirt and lead to the nearby mountains 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...
. The Faaa International Airport is nearby in Faaa
Faaa
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 is the only airport in French Polynesia serving international flights. Many islanders from other islands come here. 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...
has about 5 inter-island flights a day going to other islands 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...
. Airlines such as Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
and Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
fly out of the French Territory. The main way to get to the Faaa International Airport from Mahina is by Tahiti's west coast freeway. The parking lot at the airport has one Tiki. The Papeete Wharf 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...
has both the Aremiti Ferry and the Moorea Ferry sail to the island of 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...
. Pomare Boulevard runs in front of the whrf and the ferries can be seen leaving the wharf and entering it. The 3 main ferries are the Aremiti 5, the Aremiti 7, and the Moorea Ferry.
Geography
Mahina is on the northern coast of TahitiTahiti
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...
about 9 meters above mean sea level. The commune in France
Commune
Commune may refer to:In society:* Commune, a human community in which resources are shared* Commune , a township or municipality* One of the Communes of France* An Italian Comune...
of Arue
Arue
- 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...
is located to the west of Mahina. Mount Orohena is the tallest mountain in French Polynesia at 7,300 feet. Point Venus is a nearby lighthouse on the coast and people are able to view 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...
. Papenoo is a nearby comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
that is home of the mouth of 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...
.
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 the only university in all of 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...
. Students from many other islands come to this university. The University of French Polynesia
University 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 a realitively small university with around 2,000 students. High schools are found throughout 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...
. Some students in Mahina take classes in other countries such as 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
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...
.
Economy
Many supermarkets are found throughout Mahina and mainly sell fruits such as bananas and apples. Banana trees grow in the mountains and delivery trucks bring the fruit down to Mahina's main supermarket. Mahina's supermarket has a larger variety of goods. The large Papeete supermarket in PapeetePapeete
-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...
is nearby in the busy town center. Faaa
Faaa
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...
has a big mall with clothing stores and 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...
an restaurants with a view of 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...
. Mahina has a few industrial valleys that are home to factories. Some hardware stores such as Polybuild, Polymat, and Polywood are found in these valleys.
Safety
Mahina is close to the Faaa International Airport which has a few military planes. There are tests each day when they fly around TahitiTahiti
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...
and other islands. In the airport terminal, Security guards check the passengers bag if they had brought along weapons of any kind. Police cars patrol the streets of Mahina to see if any drivers are speeding.