Comparing Hawaii & French Polynesia: Tahiti, Oahu, Moorea & other islands

The Hawaiian Islands and the islands of French Polynesia share a common heritage. They’re similar in so many ways, but there are big differences, too. If you’re thinking about visiting either or both, this video is for you. I’ll show you what it’s like to eat, sleep and explore these two dream destinations. And I’ll give you practical tips that will help you get the most out your time on these Pacific isles.
On my channel, / newsocracy , you find comprehensive guides on Moorea and Tahiti and all the Hawaiian islands.
Here are the links to the places, excursions and Airbnbs mentioned in the video.
FRENCH POLYNESIA
Hertz Rental Car | hertz.com
Tahiti/Moorea Ferry | Aremiti Ferry | www.aremiti.pf
Tahiti Iti Over-the-water Bungalow Airbnb with Boat Tours and Free Kayak Use | www.airbnb.com...
Treehouse Airbnb on Moorea’s Reef Wall | www.airbnb.com...
Northwest Shore of Moorea Airbnb with Free Kayak Use | www.airbnb.com...
West Coast of Moorea Airbnb with Spectacular Sunsets and Free Kayak Use | www.airbnb.com...
Coco Beach Moorea | www.cocobeachm...
Moorea Churros | / 100057239028089
Top Jet & Top Quad Moorea | topjetmoorea.c...
Moorea Miti Tours | www.mooreamiti...
Tahiti Iti Tour & Surf (Company used for coastal tour of Tahiti Iti and to view the huge surfing wave) | www.tahitiitit...
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Hertz Rental Car | hertz.com
Delta Airlines | www.delta.com
Hawaiian Airlines | hawaiianairline...
Kauai Airbnb | www.airbnb.com...
Big Island Pool House Airbnb | www.airbnb.com...
Big Island Captain Cook area Airbnb | www.airbnb.com...
Honolulu Airbnb (There are lots of other listings in this building) | www.airbnb.com...
Maui Airbnb | www.airbnb.com...
Newsocracy | / newsocracy
Newsocracy | The Freedom to Tell Your Story | newsocracy.tv

[@Robert-r4s4c]

In 1975, mum and i had a 15 day holiday from Australia to the US flying UTA French airlines, via Tahiti. On the way home from L.A. we had a 3 day stopover in Papeete. In 1983, we flew from Sydney to Honolulu staying 2 weeks in Hawaii. Both places were very different and enjoyable.

[@geezersurf]

Thanks for the video. I haven't been to Tahiti for 40 years when I camped at Matira Point on Bora Bora for $2/day. The largest barrier reef (reef wall) in Hawaii is off the east side of Oahu. It stretches from Kahuku in the north to Makapu in the south and it protects most of the east side from open ocean waves.

[@ArtFreeman]

I have visited Hawaii three times and enjoyed it very much. However, I have never been to French Polynesia but would love to visit.

[@rosapollard5470]

I'll take Tahiti and Moorea over Hawaii any day. My first visit was 30 years ago when Moorea was a lovely, sleepy place. I LOVE Polynesia and Polynesian Culture! Thanks for you beautiful video.

[@newsocracy]

Thanks for your comment. Moorea still seems like a lovely, sleepy place to me. I've only been once, but will be back.

[@goombas7966]

Leaving tomorrow Hawaii & Tahiti !!! Wifie 60 TH Birthday!11/18/24

[@newsocracy]

Happy birthday! Perhaps the happiest.

[@DixieLane304]

How was it? We are cruising there from LA in January.

[@jerrilynnbuechley1172]

No comparisons! French Polynesia is a world of it’s own plus french food!!

[@cathyjones7874]

Great video! Very informative! I’m ready to go visit both!

[@lizziemcdaniel]

As always, a wonderful tour, and tips from your travels! Thanks Jim!

[@christiansvensson3571]

He lā maikaʻi iā ʻoe! / Ia au i te hoê mahana faahiahia! - Have a nice day! Greetings from Sweden. 🙂🙂

[@LourdesA777]

I’m from Hawaii and I want to go back to Moorea.

[@cj9667]

Spent 40 years going to Hawaii! Got boring and over populated. Discovered FP and absolutely love it! So our yearly trip to Hawaii is done..3 hours more of flight time and it’s truly paradise. Tahiti the culture is still there, and not built up or over populated. Papette is similar to Oahu…yuck but once you explore the other islands…you’ll NEVER go back to Hawaii!

[@kevinhsu8184]

Hawaii and French Polynesia has a different feel to them. Heck, even the five Hawaiian islands are different from each other even though they are not that far apart. If you like beach and shopping (ie worry you will get bored easily), then Oahu is for you. If staying in resort the whole time is your cup of tea, I would try big island Hawaii and stay in the Kona side. Hilo side has lots of rain. Big island Hawaii actually has every climate zone which is kinda wild given the island size. It’s incredible to drive around the whole island and experience all the climate zones. Lanai is gorgeous if you are into very early on Hawaiian small village vibe. There’s not a lot to do and the whole downtown area can be walked within an hour. It’s basically a large town square and that’s it. Maui feels more like mainland. Now that Lahaina is gone, the only thing that feels mildly Hawaiian to me is road to Hana. Kauai is gorgeous. Known as the garden island because it’s very lush. Hanalei is stunning if not raining. The island is lush because it rains a lot. Tahiti feels more like an underdeveloped Oahu which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It def has a rundown feel to the island. Bora bora is stunning. But be aware that when you stay on those stilt villas and expecting to jump into lagoon and see multitude of tropical fish, you will be very disappointed because there are no fish under those stilt villas. You have to take a boat to a specific area in the lagoon to snorkel. Vaitape is the main city on bora bora. The best part imo is in July, local people put on heiva for themselves. It’s not touristy like the one in Tahiti. If you can drop some coins, I would recommend Tetiaroa Atoll in French Polynesia. The main island has zero mosquitoes in sight. The Brando is a stunning resort. If you want to see the Spanish Hawaii, then Rapa Nui (Easter island) is a must. Lots of incredible history and culture on this island and no huge tourist crowds because they purposely don’t have many hotels and flights into the island. Now if you really enjoy Polynesian culture, then you must visit Taiwan where Polynesians immigrated from. But that’s whole another topic.

[@SKrickyOficial]

Are there many mango farms in Tahiti?

[@Windmolenliefhebber]

As long as you got a Plan, Boah

[@guslevy3506]

I plan to move to Oahu to retire away my days…prob a new condo in Ward Village since it is such a convenient lifestyle with everything nearby. But if it were purely a choice to visit for a short stay, I would choose French Polynesia. It’s hard to describe how beautiful the lagoons are, how nice it is to move around the various islands given the much lower population, the relaxed vibe of the locals compared to the envious hatred of many Hawaiian locals, and the fact that it is much easier to island hop in Tahiti. The fundamental problem for Tahiti is that the positives of a “slower” lifestyle also are a negative…there simply is not enough good medical facilities and modern conveniences to stay there long term…

[@newsocracy]

I couldn't agree more.The lagoons are incredible. So spectacular that they're hard to adequately describe.The lack of modern conveniences would get to me fairly quickly, too. But I'll be willing push my stay it to the limit next time.

[@kimcoffee-isaak2921]

Would have appreciated a section about the people, culture, economy, politics and what tourism means to the locals in each destination.

[@johnnyjoe0515]

the water in tahiti is much warmer than in hawaii.

[@newsocracy]

Yes, it is. I should have mentioned that.

[@SoTiredzZ]

cant wait to farm mangos with my gang in Tahiti

[@djudjamarinkovic9337]

Hawaii 😊

[@Pasovineyard]

See you in Fatu Hiva

[@joeblow1942]

I’ve been stung four times by stingrays. The pain is excruciating. No way I’m petting those things and especially ones that big with barbs that are probably 6” long.

[@newsocracy]

I can’t imagine experiencing that once, much less four times. Steve Irwin did come to mind, but like most tourists, I went along with the plan, assuming all is safe since hundreds do it daily. It was one a done experience for me just as high speed ocean jet skiing was on that trip. Hearing from you, in retrospect, I count myself lucky.

[@joeblow1942]

@ I was stung because I stepped on them while surfing. I think I recall that Steve Irwin was stung because they believe the stingray got spooked by the filmer. I don’t want to be a downer, but those huge stingrays you guys play with are as prone to be spooked as any other fish. And unlike the little rays I stepped on with maybe 2” long barbs, the size of the barb on those monsters must be freaking huge!

[@newsocracy]

@@joeblow1942 Lesson learned. I appreciate the your comments.

[@debrafirestone861]

I want to go back to Hawaii one day I honeymooned there But it’s so expensive

[@newsocracy]

I always find the best low-cost Airbnb available and I don’t eat out a lot because I don’t enjoy eating by myself. Typically, I travel alone. But I would love to go there one day with a bundle of cash and really live it up.

[@cathylewis2181]

This was an enjoyable video and I'm thinking about going to French Polynesia. I live on the Big Island. You should know, since you're making videos about these places, that the word Hawaii is not pronounced the same way Kauai is pronounced. You must actually pronounce the i (as an e) at the end of the word. Also, the O's in Molokai and other Hawaiian words are not pronounced as an a, instead, you give it a long O, like in the word so. So the first two syllables of Molokai are pronounced the same. Aloha!

[@newsocracy]

I appreciate your comment. I love Hawaii and French Polynesia but I should be barred from attempting to speak any Polynesian language. I do attempt to get it right, mimicking online pronunciations, but by the time I record the audio multiple times, I usually botch it. I’m from a part of the country where we pronounce Biloxi as Ba-loxi and Belzoni as Belzona. Clearly, we have a thing for the letter A. But on the plus side, I didn’t completely go with my regional dialect: ha-why-yah. Thanks for watching my video. Go to French Polynesia. The lagoons more than make up for the long flight.

[@dkr1988glacier]

@@newsocracy Based on those pronunciation examples, perhaps you might be from the Mississippi Delta?

[@newsocracy]

@@dkr1988glacier right state, wrong region. Just over the state line 100 miles north of New Orleans. Lots of different accents in these two states. And nobody gets mad when a visitor doesn’t pronounce a name the way locals do. And we rarely pronounce them the way they are spelled.

[@jouzzo1]

I live in Raglan Nz..I take Tahiti over Hawaii anyday,I visited Oahu and lived at sunset beach.Nice spot.On that side of Oahu the best on the island.I was put off of all the homeles people everywhere.who werent traated kindly by the mainland USA.I met some genuine hawaiians 3rd genuation plus .I can feell the hawaii in them defitnetly not from the mainlandesrs who pretend to have their spirit. but not even close..Its all about $$ with them.Plus theres military presence everywhere,choppers flying by all day long.Because of all this i shorten my stay went back to my NZ home and 2 weeks later landed in Samoa.Spent nearly 3 months there from the money i saved for my hawaii trip.This was 10 years ago and probably poor Hawaii got worse..Waikiki{ ,if you like tourist in your face all the time,)i is one big rip-off,spent 2 hours there and i was out of there...All Hawaii is beautiful along wuth the originals but sadly its been spoilt from the capitalistic usa

[@divineangelic2727]

Some people have alll the luck. Love the beach and clean ocean. Here on east coast dirty beach. I need lots of 💵💵💵💵💵💰💰💰💰my Christmas wish 🙏💛🥰🎁🎄🎅🏻🍰☕️💛🏝️🏖️💵🎁💋💋💋

[@Windycajr]

You realize Oahu is also surrounded by reefs especially along the windward side of the island?! Sounds like you have never stepped foot outside Honolulu

[@newsocracy]

Most of the islands of French Polynesia have reef walls that completely surround the islands, creating massive lagoons with calm water with little wave action. That's why surfing happens off shore at the walls. I love Oahu, but in the "island surrounding reef wall" category, FP wins. I didn't say there weren't reefs in Hawaii, just that there aren't continuous reef walls.

[@makaveli1216]

Hawaii is a fringing reef. French Polynesia has barrier reefs and atolls, which are much older geologically speaking.

[@Windycajr]

@makaveli1216 plenty of barrier reefs in Hawaii especially the east side of Oahu including kaneohe Bay

[@peb3970]

I wouldn't recommend Oahu, especially Honoulu, as a representative of Hawaii to visit.

[@GrinGillis]

Wdw?

[@carysymmons983]

No comparison at all. Hawaii is like Vegas with a Beach.

[@konumusic]

How do you mean exactly?

[@carysymmons983]

@@konumusic - It all depends on what you are looking for.

[@konumusic]

@@carysymmons983 I’m looking for the perspective. What about Hawaii reminds you about Vegas?

[@carysymmons983]

@@konumusic It is what it is. Very Western/American/Mass Tourism. It is what some folks like, it's just not my cup of tea. It's kool if folks luv it :) Cheers

[@konumusic]

@ Mahalo. Not your cup of tea Is a fair and much clearer statement. I live in one and frequently visit family in the other two. All three are extremely unique and more vibrant after you crack the surface. Thanks for the perspective 🙏🏽🤙🏽

[@RodSwansmad]

Papeete is a shit hole, the French government need to clean it up. Restaurants will blatantly rip you off by over charging.

[@cj9667]

So is parts of Oahu!

[@minipoopuu12340]

Hawaii is not so different

[@mandykehau]

They only rip ppl off b/c the cost of living is inappropriate to the wages paid.

[@davidwelty9763]

While both places are beautiful, Tahiti has a decidedly 3rd world feel that Hawaii does not have.