Faʻaʻā

Faʻaʻā
Top: Faʻaʻā coastline; Middle: Tahiti Airport Hotel, Faa'a International Airport; Bottom: Marae Taumata, Faʻaʻā-Nuutania Prison
Location of the commune (in red) within the Windward Islands
Location of Faʻaʻā
Coordinates: 17°33′04″S 149°35′51″W / 17.551°S 149.5974°W / -17.551; -149.5974
CountryFrance
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
SubdivisionWindward Islands
Government
  Mayor (20202026) Oscar Temaru
Area
1
34.2 km2 (13.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
29,826
  Density870/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code
98715 /98704
Elevation0–1,493 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.

Faʻaʻā (also Faaa or Faaʻā; IPA: [fa.ʔa.ˈʔaː]) is a commune in the suburbs of Papeʻete in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France in the Pacific Ocean. Faʻaʻā 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 Faʻaʻā had a population of 29,826, making it the most populous commune on Tahiti and in French Polynesia. Faʻaʻā 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 Moʻorea. The area of Faʻaʻā is 9 m (30 ft) above mean sea level on average.

Faʻaʻā has a long history. Captain James Cook landed on Faʻaʻā 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.