Flat Stanley and Flat Hal have visited Pago Pago, Suva, Nuku’alofa and
Avarua (do you remember which country each of those cities is the capital
of?) the cruise has now brought us to the capital of French Polynesia, Papeete.
Walking around Papeete we stopped by the city hall, where a major function
was going on. We also tried to stop by the General Assembly (aka
Parliament), but couldn’t get a good picture of the building— though it was
really interesting looking, so if you have a chance, try and see a picture
online.
As is our habit, we also looked for interesting flowers and birds… though the
birds were generally ones we have seen previously on the trip, like the Red-
Vented Bulbul and the Chestnut-Breasted Mannikin.
French Polynesia is part of France, but it is its own country
The Flat Fellas spent a little time trying to understand French Polynesia, and how it is connected to France. They started their learning with the help of Gemini AI:
Flat Hal and Flat Stanley helped me learn where exactly Tahiti is… the answer is more complicated than expected.
As a kid I dreamed of going to Tahiti. At first I thought that was like saying Waikiki Beach, or Honolulu, Hawaii. As I got older I began to suspect it was more like saying Hawaii… it is all amazing, and pretty, with beaches and sun, so did the specific beach make a difference.
Then I got to French Polynesia, and I started seeing Tahiti on brochures before I arrived on the island of Tahiti, and in Papeete. I saw it in Moorea for instance, and was confused… was I already in Tahiti and I didn’t know it?
I asked Gemini AI: Is Tahiti a single island? A county? A collection of islands? Tahiti tourism provides the literature on neighboring islands at the official tourism agency.
Here is the answer I received: This is a bit tricky because the name “Tahiti” is used in a few different ways! Here’s the breakdown:
Tahiti the Island: Yes, Tahiti is a single, high volcanic island. It’s the largest island in French Polynesia. Think of it like the “Big Island” of Hawaii.
Tahiti the Part of an Island: Tahiti is divided into two parts: Tahiti Nui (larger,
northwestern part) and Tahiti Iti (smaller, southeastern part). These are connected by a narrow isthmus.
Tahiti the Administrative Division: Tahiti is also the name of an administrative
subdivision within French Polynesia. It includes the island of Tahiti itself, plus a few nearby small islands like Moorea. This is kind of similar to a county, but the administrative structure of French Polynesia is unique.
Tahiti as shorthand for French Polynesia: In casual conversation or tourism marketing, “Tahiti” is sometimes used loosely to refer to the entire island group of French Polynesia.
This is where the tourism literature comes in – they use “Tahiti” as a brand to encompass all the islands, even though technically Tahiti is just one.
So, to answer your question directly:
It IS a single island (though with two distinct parts).
It’s NOT a county in the traditional sense, but it IS an administrative division.
It’s kind of a collection of islands, but only in the administrative sense, and more importantly, in the way it’s used for tourism marketing.
The Tahiti tourism agency using the name to encompass all the islands is a clever marketing strategy. It capitalizes on the name recognition of Tahiti while showcasing the diversity of the entire archipelago.
I guess, in hindsight, I dreamed of going to French Polynesia,
aka Tahiti, and WOW have we done that!
