Source: Moon Tahiti Gude
Huahine is comprised of two separate islands, Huahine Nui (Nwe: big) and Huahine Iti (EE-tee: little) connected by a bridge. Their combined surface area is 28 sq. miles, and they share a common barrier reef with several passes providing openings from the sea. About 6100 people live in Huahine, mostly along the coast in the little villages. There is a shuttle that runs all day from the tender pier on Huahine Iti to the village of Fare (FAR-aye) on Huahine Nui for $8pp each way.
Because today is Sunday, and because we had never previously been to Huahine, we opted for a Princess excursion to Hana Iti Beach. The afternoon excursion was already booked, which at first disappointed us, but we finally decided we could tolerate going at 8am. In the end, this was our best choice. Today was so sunny and beastly hot that we would have fried on the beach this afternoon. Furthermore, a local folkloric group, called the Mammas of Huahine, performed on board at 2pm, and we would not have wanted to miss them.
We had about 24 people in a motorized outrigger canoe decorated with beautiful tropical flowers for the 20-minute ride to Hana Iti Beach. Once we arrived, wooden steps facilitated stepping from the boat to the water, and there were loungers and chairs and some umbrellas for shade. While water, fruit and fresh coconut were provided for free, large Hinano beers and homemade rum punch was available for $5 each (a bargain). Most of us were imbibing before 10am on a Sunday morning (horrors!).
The beach was rustic and natural, the water was a gorgeous blue and we could hear the crashing of the surf on the reef that surrounds the island. Raiatea (Rye-ah-TAY-a) and Tahaa (Ta-HA-a) could be seen in the distance (we're in Raiatea tomorrow). We dragged our chairs into the water and drank rum punch and generally had a wonderfully relaxing time until shortly before noon.
We were starving by the time we returned to the Pacific Princess, but stopped in our cabin long enough to drop a beach-full of sand on the carpet and shower. Poor Bianca...she was vacuuming in the corridor and made another pass through our cabin to clean up our own personal sandbox. Lunch was vegetarian pizza and (of course) more pineapple, and we made our way poolside about 1:30pm, to get front row loungers for the 2pm folkloric show. Before and after the performance, there were local crafts, mostly jewelry but a few other things, too, for sale poolside, and fragrant tiare flower leis for $5 and the head wreaths we're seeing more and more of everyday for $10 each. It smelled incredible around the pool!
The show was fantastic, with about 8 male drummers and several dancers of varying ages (the youngest was 9). They were very well received, and stuck around after the show ended for photo ops with passengers. I didn't stay long afterward, though; it was burning hot in the sun, almost unbearably so, and that's made me appreciate the overcast skies and intermittent rain showers we had in Bora Bora.
G stayed on the Lido Deck long enough for 3pm ice cream, but I retreated to the cool comfort of our cabin. For as cold as this ship is on sea days, it's hot today, and the terrace behind the buffet is closed due to the large insect population in Maroe Bay. I continue to be bite-free (thankfully) but other passengers haven't been so lucky.
We were up on an open deck for our 5pm sailaway out of Maroe Bay. I continue to enjoy watching our arrivals and departures; the difference in light from early morning to late day causes a dramatic change in each island's appearance. We then enjoyed port wine and Stilton night in the Elite lounge before sunset over Huahine warranted a stop on the open deck behind the buffet for picture taking, and we were not alone. This was one of the prettiest we've seen so far this cruise.
Too much sun and fun today was catching up with us over dinner, and we skipped tonight's show in favor of an early bedtime. We're grateful tonight that we have no firm plans for tomorrow in Raiatea...it might be time for at least a partial day off.