Which island holiday to choose: French Polynesia versus Hawai'i
Island holidays are wonderfully relaxing, but deciding where to go can be the most stressful part of the trip! Below, we outline everything you need to know to help you choose between visiting French Polynesia or Hawaii (if you can't get to both this time around!).
If you’re looking to go on holiday to a sun drenched tropical paradise in the south Pacific, you’ll likely find yourself going back and forth between French Polynesia and Hawaii. Both island chains offer clear blue ocean water, sandy beaches, coconut palms swaying in the wind, amazing activities to create an unforgettable visit, and a beautiful culture to learn about and immerse yourself in. So, the question remains, which islands should you choose to visit?
Geography and climate
French Polynesia
French Polynesia comprises over 100 islands spread out over 5 archipelagos and about 2000 square kilometres of the south-central Pacific Ocean. The archipelagos of French Polynesia are the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tubuai Islands. The most well known of the archipelagos are the Society Group, which includes the island of Tahiti, on which the capital of Papeete is located, as well as the islands of Moorea and Bora Bora.
The Society Islands, and most of the other islands of French Polynesia, are formed from volcanic cones that are now heavily eroded and give certain islands the striking characteristics of sharp, twisting peaks and plunging valleys at the centre of the island. The Society Islands are surrounded by coral reefs that protect the island from the sea, but not all islands are similarly protected. Certain islands are also known for their islets and lagoons, which create unique geographical features that are fun to explore and even stay on!
The climate is tropical and warm, and the temperature varies only slightly throughout the year. A rainy season lasts from November to April, which can bring intense precipitation, with the dry season being from May to October.
Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands are composed of 6 main islands, and numerous other isles, located in the central Pacific. Moving from right to left across the Pacific Plate, the main islands that are open to visitors include the island of Hawaii, otherwise known as the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, where the capital city Honolulu is located, and Kauai.
All of the Hawaiian islands were created as the Pacific Plate slowly moved across the Hawaiian volcanic hot spot, creating the islands one by one. While many of the islands sport craters and beautifully eroded mountains that were once volcano rims, only the youngest of the islands, the Big Island, still has active volcanoes. Check out this article for more information about Hawaii’s volcanoes and how you can visit them!
The climate is tropical and warm with little variation throughout the year. Generally, the lowlands of the Hawaiian islands receive the most precipitation from October to April, with dryer conditions being from May to September. However, the precipitation also largely depends on where on the island you are – on Oahu, the windward side is known for being much more wet than the sunny leeward side. Hawaii is also known for its many micro-climates depending on the altitude and surroundings. The islands have lush valleys, soaring mountains, and the highest point of Mauna Kea, on the Big Island, is often topped with snow! In fact, the Big Island alone has 10 out of the world’s 14 climate zones!
Culture
The ancestors of Hawaiians and French Polynesians both came from the Polynesian culture that emerged in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga from the Lapita culture, which itself formed from the mixing of Oceanic peoples. The first voyagers departed from South East Asia and made their way across the Pacific, notably settling on the islands of New Zealand, the Easter Islands, French Polynesia, and Hawaii.
French Polynesia
Having arrived on the islands sometime between 1500-300 BC, the Polynesians developed a rich culture and lived relatively undisturbed until the 1500s when European explorers started coming into contact with the islands. After a series of Christian missionaries came over in the 1700s, including the Spanish, English, and later on, the French, in 1880, France annexed Tahiti and soon after colonised the islands that are now known as French Polynesia. Today, French Polynesia is considered as an overseas French department: French Polynesians are French citizens and the main language spoken on the islands is French, but the Tahitian language is also widely spoken, and certain islands also have their own Polynesian languages. English is taught as a third language, and those working in the tourism industry are often required to speak English.
As mentioned, Polynesians have a rich culture and learning more about their sophisticated sea voyaging, art, dance, and spiritual tradition is a must when you are visiting the islands!
Hawaii
Similarly to French Polynesia, Polynesians have lived on the Hawaiian islands for over a thousand years. In 1810, Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands and began a ruling dynasty that would last until 1893 when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown. In 1898 Hawaii was annexed by the United States, and in 1959, it would become the 50th US state. Since Hawaii is a US state, the main language spoken across the islands is English, though a creole dialect of English, called Pidgin English, is often spoken by locals. The Ole Hawaiian language is also an official language of Hawaii.
Notably, there is a significant Japanese influence on Hawaii as originally many Japanese came to the islands as labourers. Japanese and Japanese mixed ethnicities make up a significant portion of Hawaii’s population, and over 50% of the population is Asiatique, making Hawaii a very ethnically diverse state.
Polynesian culture remains an important pillar of Hawaiian life, and it is highly recommended to check out a luau or two, watch a hula dance, and learn more about Hawaiian culture while you visit!
Food
When it comes to food, tropical fruit and vegetables (like coconut, taro and breadfruit) and fresh fish are staples across both French Polynesia and Hawaii!
French Polynesia
Polynesian cuisine is based around fresh, local produce, and Tahitian vanilla and fresh coconut are often used to flavour savoury and sweet dishes. The national dish is said to be poisson cru, which is raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lime – heavenly! A popular dessert is called poe, a sweet and starchy pudding made from taro root flavoured with banana, vanilla, papaya or pumpkin, and served with fresh coconut milk.
French tastes have also become integrated into the local cuisine, and you will be able to find fresh croissants and baguettes at the boulangeries. You will also be able to find international cuisines at the restaurants across the islands!
Hawaii
The first Hawaiians brought certain crops with them on their boats, and were thus able to plant taro, sweet potato, banana, sugarcane, and breadfruit – staples of Hawaiian traditional cuisine. Traditional fare also includes feasts of poi (pounded taro root), Kalua roast pig, lomi salmon, and haupia (coconut pudding), all of which are a must try when you visit!
When it comes to fresh fish, Hawaii is widely known for its popularisation of poke, a dish of raw fish marinated in shoyu, sesame oil and other delicious ingredients that are a product of Hawaii’s cultural melting pot society! Many other local dishes have asian roots – from Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine, you have a large choice of diverse foods at your disposal when you visit Hawaii!
Another local Hawaiian speciality is called a plate lunch, which often consists of scoops of white rice, macaroni salad, and a meat option (spare ribs, pork katsu, loco moco burgers, to name a few) – you can try a plate lunch at any number of diners! Popular island desserts include malasadas, an addictive Portuguese donut, and shave ice.
Hawaii is certainly a destination for foodies, especially the capital city Honolulu!
Travel
French Polynesia
Due to the many islands that welcome visitors in French Polynesia, depending on where you want to go, you have the choice of going by plane or boat. The only international airport in French Polynesia is located on Tahiti, and from there, you can make your way to the other islands!
Depending on the island you choose to visit, you may be able to rent a car to explore yourself, but in the case of an island like Bora Bora, which is made up of many islets, your main mode of transportation will likely be by boat shuttle provided by your hotel! Bike and scooter rentals are another popular transportation option and of course you can always book a jeep excursion or helicopter tour to get a better overview of the island!
Hawaii
The airports on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai service international flights and domestic flights from the US mainland, making these islands relatively easy to get to for those visiting from abroad! You also have the option of flying into Oahu and then taking inter-island flights to any of the other islands open to visitors, including Lanai and Molokai. For the most part, unless you are on a cruise, there are no inter-island boat trips, with the exception being the Maui-Lanai ferry.
Once you are on the island of your choice, car rental is a popular option to explore the island, but you can also choose to rent bikes (check out this article about how to get explore Hawaii by bike) and book a variety of bus or helicopter tours to discover the beautiful Hawaiian islands! Many tours also provide hotel pick-up and drop off so that you may not need a car at all!
Activities
French Polynesia and Hawaii are all about nature and the outdoors! Visiting these islands means enjoying and respecting their natural landscapes of mountain and sea. Both places offer many great activities, especially ocean based ones, to make your trip even more exciting and memorable!
French Polynesia
The activities available in French Polynesia will largely depend on which island you are staying on. As the largest island, Tahiti will have the greatest variety of activities to offer – one super unique and unmissable activity to do on Tahiti is to catch a sight of the famous Teahupoo wave, as seen during the 2024 Olympic surf trials!
Other popular activities across the islands include boat tours to explore blue lagoons, snorkelling, diving, whale watching, and helicopter rides! Most of the activities on French Polynesia revolve around the water, with a few jeep tours, canyoning, and hiking options that will let you explore the interiors. Check out all the activities we offer in French Polynesia here!
If you are staying on a smaller island known for its secluded beaches, your main activity might be to simply get some rest and relaxation during your holiday!
Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands are an active, active place! From sunrise to sunset, people are on the move: hiking, paddle boarding, snorkelling, surfing – there are endless things to do in Hawaii when it comes to getting out in nature.
Each island has its own unique landscape and characteristics to explore, but no matter which island you are on, there will be a lot to do! From biking down a volcano on Maui, to night swimming with manta rays on the Big Island, and flying over Oahu in a microlight aircraft, you will never be bored in Hawaii!
The larger islands of Hawaii also offer a more urban side than most of French Polynesia, and Honolulu’s beautiful skyline is even dotted with a number of skyscrapers! With multiple cities and towns that offer a large variety of shopping malls, boutiques, museums, restaurants, and bars to explore, Hawaii’s urban centres leave you with much to explore.
Whether you want to relax by a beach or fill every spare moment with fun, each Hawaiian island offers the best of both worlds whilst also giving you a totally different experience depending on the island you choose! From luxurious Lanai to bustling Oahu, you are bound to have a blast no matter where you go. Check out all of the activities we offer in Hawaii to make the most out of your time on the islands!
Accommodation
French Polynesia
When you think of French Polynesia, charming bungalows perched over a blue lagoon likely come to mind. Indeed, the bungalow hotel was first made popular in French Polynesia, and there are now over 800 bungalows spread across 22 hotels and 7 islands. Moorea and Bora Bora are particularly known for their abundance of overwater bungalows, with most of Bora Bora’s bungalows located on secluded motus! In addition to the overwater bungalow options, you will also have the option of resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals located inland, in town, or along the shore.
Hawaii
Unlike French Polynesia, Hawaii does not offer any overwater bungalows! You can, however, find a range of accommodation across the islands, from all-inclusive beachside resorts to charming vacation rentals. While an island like Oahu will have a wide variety of accommodation options, at the other end of the spectrum, the much smaller Lanai only offers 3 hotels (2 Four Seasons resorts and a more budget friendly hotel in town) as well as some licensed vacation rentals. It is worth noting that if you do choose to stay at the Four Seasons resort on Lanai, your flight from Honolulu to Lanai, and back, will be included in the price of your stay and arranged by the resort.
Another point worth noting is that all beaches in Hawaii are public! This means that no matter where you end up staying, you will have access to any beach your heart desires, even those that are located in front of grand resorts.
Deciding between French Polynesia and Hawaii is no easy task, but if you find yourself having to make the choice, you can consider yourself lucky!
In short, Hawaii offers a great mix of urban and wild: in the capital city of Honolulu you can experience big city living, with the history, ethnic diversity, and cultural variety that comes with it! At the same time, you also have access to breathtaking natural wonders and so many family friendly activities to better experience the soaring mountains and turquoise sea. Each Hawaiian island is unique and visiting multiple islands is a great way to enhance your time in Hawaii!
French Polynesia is tranquil, luxurious, and popular with honeymooners! There are many islands to choose between, from the largest island of Tahiti to many smaller islands where entertainment mostly revolves around the resorts. If you are staying in one of the many over-water bungalows on the islands, you will likely want to take it easy and enjoy your peaceful surroundings at a slower pace, whether that means getting out into the water or just lounging about!
While there are similarities and differences between French Polynesia and Hawaii, the bottom line is that you will not be disappointed with your choice! Depending on what you are looking for during your holiday, in both places, you can pick from a variety of incredible activities to explore the islands, relax by the beach, discover a new culture, and spend your time out in nature. Both island chains offer romantic destinations, family friendly activities, and a peaceful environment that is sure to revitalise you.