The islands, peaks of submarine volcanoes, are exposed to a cold current that flows north from the Antarctic along the coast of Peru and west out into the Pacific. The coast is generally unprotected, with few good harbors or beaches. Early inhabitants settled on the bottom land near the m ouths of the narrow valleys. The temperature in the Isles of Hiva is moderated by the southeast trade winds and the sea. There is no marked rainy season, though rainfall is most frequent from January to July.
Droughts affect the growth and productivity of coconuts and breadfruit.