# Pao Pao

Pao Pao is an associated commune on the island of Moʻorea, in French Polynesia. It is part of the commune Moʻorea-Maiʻao. According to the census in 2022, it had a population of 4,895. It is the largest village in Moʻorea.

## History

The Pao Pao area was first settled by travelers from Asia. They built houses out of branches and hunted fish. When James Cook came to Moʻorea, he made contact with them and continued his journey. That is how Cook's Bay got its name.

## Transport

Residents of Pao Pao often take the Moʻorea Airport to travel to other islands in French Polynesia. The nearby island of Tahiti is a 45-minute ferry ride from Moʻorea, which draws a fair amount of tourism to the area.

## Geography

Pao Pao is located at the bottom of Cook's Bay on Moʻorea. It is surrounded by many mountains and flat land is limited.

### Climate

Pao Pao has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af). The average annual temperature in Pao Pao is 26.0 °C (78.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,945.6 mm (115.97 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in March, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in August, at around 24.5 °C (76.1 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Pao Pao was 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) on 23 December 2009; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) on 10 August 2008.
Climate data for Pao Pao (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1997−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.1 (93.4) | 34.7 (94.5) | 34.8 (94.6) | 34.8 (94.6) | 34.9 (94.8) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.2 (91.8) | 34.4 (93.9) | 34.6 (94.3) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.5 (95.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.2 (86.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.1 (84.4) | 29.7 (85.5) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.2 (86.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.5 (77.9) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.0 (78.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.9 (73.2) | 23.0 (73.4) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.7 (72.9) | 21.9 (71.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 20.6 (69.1) | 20.2 (68.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 21.9 (71.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) | 18.1 (64.6) | 18.5 (65.3) | 18.1 (64.6) | 17.3 (63.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 14.2 (57.6) | 16.1 (61.0) | 16.9 (62.4) | 17.5 (63.5) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.2 (57.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 423.1 (16.66) | 363.2 (14.30) | 256.2 (10.09) | 215.5 (8.48) | 183.6 (7.23) | 167.0 (6.57) | 126.8 (4.99) | 119.6 (4.71) | 170.3 (6.70) | 229.9 (9.05) | 267.3 (10.52) | 423.1 (16.66) | 2,945.6 (115.97) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 16.1 | 14.5 | 13.0 | 13.1 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 10.5 | 13.3 | 14.0 | 17.4 | 152.7 |
| Source: Météo-France ||||||||||||||

## Economy

Pao Pao is known for being the home to the Moʻorea Juice Factory, which offers tours on how the juice is made and sells juice in a nearby store. The Supermarché (which is supermarket in French) of Pao Pao is a major store in the village.