Quick Facts

Tahiti – Tahiti or the Islands of Tahiti, which is officially known as French Polynesia, consists of five island groups, or archipelagoes, which lie in the South Pacific – south of the equator, in the same time zone as Hawaii.

About Tahiti

Tahiti is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls that constitute what is officially known as French Polynesia. The island of Tahiti and the capital city of Papeete are located in the Society Islands, an archipelago that includes the high-rising islands of Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora. Other dramatic island groups are the Tuamotu Atolls with the slender coral wreaths of Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau, and Fakarava and the Marquesas – with the massive mountains on the islands of NukuHiva and HivaOa.

Location

The islands are located south of the equator, in the same time zone as Hawaii, and halfway between California and Australia. Papeete’s Faa’a Airport (PPT) is under 8 hours by air from Los Angeles (LAX). From North America, nonstop flights depart LAX nearly every day on Air Tahiti Nui and Air France. Nonstop flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Papeete (PPT) are also available weekly on Hawaiian Airlines.

Time Zone

The islands are just two hours behind Pacific Standard Time. During Daylight-Saving Time (March to late October) they are three hours behind. Time in the Marquesas is half an hour ahead of the rest of the islands.