Pao Pao is an associated commune on the island of

Moorea Moorea ( or ; Tahitian: ), also spelled Moorea, is a volcanic island in French Polynesia. It is one of the Windward Islands, a group that is part of the Society Islands, northwest of Tahiti. The name comes from the Tahitian word , meaning " ...

, in

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

. It is part of the commune Moorea-Maiao. According to the census in 2022, it had a population of 4,895. It is the largest village in Moorea.

History

The Pao Pao area was first settled by travelers from Asia. They built houses out of branches and hunted fish. When

James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...

came to Moorea, he made contact with them and continued his journey. That is how Cook's Bay got its name.

Transport

Residents of Pao Pao often take the

Moorea Airport Moorea Airport (french: Aéroport de Moorea) is an airport serving the island of Moorea in French Polynesia, France. It is also known as Temae Airport or Moorea Temae Airport for its location near the village of Temae in northeastern Moorea. The ...

to travel to other islands in

. The nearby island of Tahiti is a 45-minute ferry ride from Moorea,Riley, Frank
"Moorea Island is Drawing Its Own Fans."
''Los Angeles Times,'' January 3, 1988. Accessed on July 2, 2012. which draws a fair amount of tourism to the area.Carlisle, Jay
"Traveling in Style: A One-Chicken Eulogy."
''Los Angeles Times Magazine,'' October 23, 1988. Accessed on July 2, 2012 from ProQuest.

Geography

Pao Pao is located at the bottom of Cook's Bay on Moorea. It is surrounded by many mountains and flat land is limited.

Climate

Pao Pao has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen climate classification ''Af''). The average annual temperature in Pao Pao is . The average annual rainfall is with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in March, at around , and lowest in August, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Pao Pao was on 23 December 2009; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 10 August 2008.

Economy

Pao Pao is known for being the home to the Moorea Juice Factory, which offers tours on how the juice is made and sells juice in a nearby store. The Supermarché (which is supermarket in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

) of Pao Pao is a major store in the village.

References

External links

Populated places in the Society Islands Mo'orea {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub