Faʼaʼā
Faʼaʼā | |
|---|---|
Coastline of Faʼaʼā Tahiti Airport Hotel Marae Taumata Faʼaʼā-Nuutania Prison | |
Location of the commune (in red) within the Windward Islands | |
Location of Faʼaʼā | |
| Coordinates: 17°33′04″S 149°35′51″W / 17.551°S 149.5974°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Windward Islands |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Oscar Temaru |
Area 1 | 34.2 km2 (13.2 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 29,826 |
| • Density | 872/km2 (2,260/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−10:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98715 /98704 |
| Elevation | 0–1,493 m (0–4,898 ft) (avg. 7 m or 23 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Faʼaʼā is a commune in the suburbs of Papeʼete in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France in the Pacific Ocean. Faʼaʼā is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands. At the 2022 census Faʼaʼā had a population of 29,826, making it the most populous commune on Tahiti and in French Polynesia. Faʼaʼā has many mountains inland that can reach 1,500 m (5,000 ft). Mount Marau is an extinct volcano in the inland limits and can be seen from nearby Moʼorea. The area of Faʼaʼā is 9 m (30 ft) above mean sea level on average.
Faʼaʼā has a long history. Captain James Cook landed on Faʼaʼā when he came to Tahiti in 1769 on his first expedition to the Pacific. The commune is the political stronghold of independence leader Oscar Temaru who has served three times as president.