Pao Pao is an associated commune on the island of Moorea, in French Polynesia."Map of Paopao, Moorea, French Polynesia." Collins Maps. Accessed on July 2, 2012. 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, like the rest of Moorea, was first settled by Polynesians from Samoa and Tonga in 200 CE.Patrick V. Kirch: On the Road of the Wind - An Archaeological History of the Pacific Islands Before European Contact, University of California Press, Berkeley-Los Angeles-London 2000 James Cook arrived in Moorea during his first voyage and made contact with the local Polynesians. Cook's Bay, the bay on which Pao Pao is located, was named in his honor.
Transport Residents of Pao Pao often take the Moorea Airport to travel to other islands in French Polynesia. 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) of Pao Pao is a major store in the village.
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