History
In ancient times the island of Bora Bora was known as Vava’u, which suggests that the island’s first settlers back in ancient history were Tongan people. Captain Samuel Wallis and the H.M.S. Dolphin was the first to visit the island of Tahiti during his journey to discover terra australis incognita in 1722. Only 42 years later did James Cook first set his sights on Bora Bora in 1769 on his first voyage to French Polynesia. In 1842, under the leadership of Admiral Abel Aubert Dupetit Thouars, Bora Bora was named a colony of France. Due to this, the arrival of British missionaries and French military expeditions changed the way of life on Tahiti and Bora Bora.
During World War II, the US picked Bora Bora as the base for a military supply, oil depot, air strip and seaplane base. Fortunately, no conflict and battle took place on the island and the United States Military Base officially closed on June 2, 1946 following the end of the war. The abandoned military base became French Polynesia’s only international airport until Faa'a International Airport opened in the 1962 in Papeete, Tahiti.
By 1984, all the islands of Tahiti including Bora Bora were reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia. It became an overseas country with better self-governing powers allowing them to create their own Assembly and President.
During World War II, the US picked Bora Bora as the base for a military supply, oil depot, air strip and seaplane base. Fortunately, no conflict and battle took place on the island and the United States Military Base officially closed on June 2, 1946 following the end of the war. The abandoned military base became French Polynesia’s only international airport until Faa'a International Airport opened in the 1962 in Papeete, Tahiti.
By 1984, all the islands of Tahiti including Bora Bora were reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia. It became an overseas country with better self-governing powers allowing them to create their own Assembly and President.