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If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting the tropical paradises of Tahiti and Hawaii, you may be wondering—just how far apart are they? At first glance on a world map, they may seem close neighbors in the South Pacific Ocean.
But if you’re planning travel between these iconic island getaways, you’ll want to know the precise distance and journey time.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Tahiti is approximately 2,600 miles (4,200 km) from Hawaii. More specifically, Tahiti is around 2,390 miles (3,845 km) from Honolulu, Hawaii. This equates to about a 5 hour and 30 minute nonstop flight.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide detailed information on exactly how far Tahiti is from the Hawaiian islands. We’ll look at the precise mileage between key locations like Papeete, Tahiti and Honolulu. We’ll break down travel times by air and sea.
And we’ll compare the difference in time zones between these two Pacific paradises.
Determining the Distance from Tahiti to Hawaii
Measuring from Papeete, Tahiti to Honolulu, Hawaii
When determining the distance between the beautiful islands of Tahiti and Hawaii, the most logical starting and end points are the capitals and largest cities of each island group. For Tahiti, this is Papeete on the island of Tahiti, while for Hawaii, it is Honolulu on the island of Oahu.
Using advanced modern technology, the exact distance between Papeete and Honolulu is 2,660 miles or 4,283 kilometers. This straight-line distance crosses the expansive Pacific Ocean, where the two island paradises are relatively isolated with no landmasses in between.
Mileage and Kilometers Between the Islands
To put the distance between Tahiti and Hawaii into perspective, here is a comparison with major mainland US cities:
- Papeete to Honolulu: 2,660 miles
- New York City to Los Angeles: 2,451 miles
- Seattle to Miami: 3,337 miles
As the miles indicate, Tahiti lies almost as far from Hawaii as the entire continental United States stretches from coast to coast. This emphasizes just how remote Hawaii is from the South Pacific island of Tahiti.
In kilometers, the numbers are similarly impressive:
- Papeete to Honolulu: 4,283 kilometers
- New York City to Los Angeles: 3,945 kilometers
- Seattle to Miami: 5,367 kilometers
| Cities | Distance in Miles | Distance in Kilometers |
| Papeete to Honolulu | 2,660 | 4,283 |
| New York City to Los Angeles | 2,451 | 3,945 |
| Seattle to Miami | 3,337 | 5,367 |
As the reference table shows, Tahiti and Hawaii rank second in distance behind only the Seattle to Miami route. This really highlights the distances involved in island hopping the Pacific!
Flight Times from Tahiti to Hawaiian Islands
Nonstop Flights
Currently, there are no direct flights available between Tahiti and Hawaii. The two island groups are separated by about 2,600 miles of open ocean, making nonstop service impractical with most commercial aircraft. However, a few chartered business jets make the long haul across the Pacific.
For example, a Gulfstream G650 private jet could fly nonstop from Tahiti to Honolulu in about 5.5 hours.
Flights with Layovers
Most travelers connecting Tahiti and Hawaii will need to stop in mainland cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco. Common routes include:
- Papeete to Honolulu with a layover in LAX – total travel time around 12-14 hours
- Bora Bora to Kona with a change of planes in SFO – about 15-17 hours gate-to-gate
- Moorea to Maui via LAX or SFO – roughly 13-15 hours depending on routing
French Bee offers some of the most affordable fares between Tahiti and California, while Hawaiian Airlines, United, and Delta feature extensive connecting flights through their mainland hubs. Be sure to comparison shop across airlines and airports to find the best deal!
| Route | Average Time | Best Airline Option |
|---|---|---|
| Papeete to Honolulu via LAX | 13 hours | Hawaiian Airlines |
| Bora Bora to Kona via SFO | 16 hours | United |
The journey between Tahiti and Hawaii covers immense ocean stretches, so travelers should be prepared for lengthy flights even with a stopover on the U.S. mainland. But the reward is reaching two amazing island paradises!
Comparing Time Zones Between Tahiti and Hawaii
When considering travel between Tahiti and Hawaii, an important factor to consider is the time zone difference. Tahiti is located in French Polynesia and follows the time zone UTC/GMT -10 hours. Hawaii, on the other hand, follows UTC/GMT -10 hours as well, meaning there is no time difference between the two destinations.
This makes travel planning between the two islands very convenient. Travelers do not have to worry about adjusting to a new time zone or figuring out the time conversion. Whether taking a morning or evening flight, the local time will remain the same after landing.
Having no time zone difference allows travelers to seamlessly continue on with their regular sleep schedules without disruption. Often when crossing multiple time zones, jet lag can set in making the vacation start off rocky.
But by remaining in the same time zone, travelers can avoid feeling jet lagged and out of sorts.
The synchronization in time zones also means that connecting flights between Hawaii and Tahiti are simplified. There’s no need to think about convoluted connection times due to time zone changes. Travelers can book connecting flights just as they would domestic connections, focusing simply on the duration of the layover.
This time zone parallel makes inter-island hopping between Hawaii and Tahiti much more convenient. Island hopping vacations have risen in popularity in recent years and the shared time zone adds to the ease of zipping around to various islands without missing a beat.
Travel Time by Sea: Cruising Distance Between Tahiti and Hawaii
For those looking to island hop the South Pacific by cruise ship, the distance between beautiful Tahiti and stunning Hawaii spans about 2,600 nautical miles. That’s quite a journey across the open ocean waters!
Average Sailing Times
The total travel time for a cruise ship sailing between Papeete, Tahiti and Honolulu, Hawaii can vary greatly depending on the ship’s cruising speed. Most cruise liners average a speed of 20-25 knots. At 20 knots, it would take around 6 days and 6 hours to cover the 2,600 nm route.
At a faster 25 knots, you could shave it down to about 5 days and 4 hours of peaceful Pacific cruising.
Of course weather and ocean conditions also impact actual sailing times. Ideal smooth seas could allow a slightly faster pace, while encounters with storms or heavy wind and waves may slow the ship down.
But under normal circumstances, you can expect a total travel time between 5-7 days from port to port.
Major Cruise Routes
Some of the most popular Tahiti and Hawaii cruise itineraries sailing across this beautiful blue stretch of the Pacific include:
- Papeete, Tahiti to Honolulu, Hawaii – The classic Tahiti to Hawaii route.
- Papeete, Tahiti to Hilo, Hawaii – Sails into the exotic Big Island of Hawaii.
- Papeete, Tahiti to Nawiliwili/Kauai, Hawaii – Visits the idyllic “Garden Isle” of Kauai.
On longer Hawaiian island-hopping cruises, ships will often depart from Tahiti, sail to Hawaii, visit ports throughout the islands, and return on the reverse route back to Tahiti again over anywhere from 2-3 amazing weeks.
Planning Your South Pacific Cruise Adventure
With sparkling blue lagoons, lush jungle landscapes, and the warm embrace of aloha spirit, cruising from Tahiti to Hawaii lets you enjoy the very best of tropical island life. As you sail between these two South Pacific paradises, days at sea let you relax on deck, feast at lavish buffets, and be thoroughly entertained.
Just be aware that crossing the Pacific doesn’t come cheap. Fares for Tahiti/Hawaii cruises typically start around $2,499 per person for the lowest level interior cabin, then go up to the $3,000-$5,000 range for nicer oceanview rooms, then on up to the tens of thousands for ultra luxurious suites.
It’s not a budget trip, but rather a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When planning your cruise itinerary, it’s also good to remember that French Polynesia and Hawaii are located in different time zones. Tahiti is 10 hours behind Hawaii time. So you’ll want to factor this difference into your onboard scheduling and island activities.
With some advance planning and by following the trade winds across the sea, you’ll be sailing in tropical paradise before you know it. Let the dream trip from Tahiti to Hawaii begin!
Planning Your Island-Hopping Adventure Between Tahiti and Hawaii
Air Travel is Fastest for Inter-Island Trips
When planning your bucket-list trip hopping between the idyllic South Pacific islands of Tahiti and Hawaii, flying is undoubtedly the quickest and most convenient way to go. The total flight time clocks in at about 8-10 hours depending on routing, letting you maximize your time soaking up the sun on those world-famous beaches!
Most major airlines like United and Delta offer nonstop service between Honolulu and Tahiti, with flights departing 1-2 times daily. You’ll typically have a short layover in Los Angeles or San Francisco when hopping islands.
Air Tahiti also flies directly from Honolulu to Tahiti and other French Polynesian islands several times a week.
With airfares regularly in the $800-1200 range roundtrip, flying is very affordable once you factor in the shorter travel time.
Factor in Time Zone Changes
One key logistical detail when planning your Tahiti-Hawaii air travel is the time zone change. Hawaii observes Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time and is 5 hours behind Tahiti, which follows GMT-10 time. So a 6pm Friday evening flight from Honolulu will have you touching down in Tahiti at just after 11pm on Saturday night, which can be disorienting.
Be sure to account for the time zone variance when booking ongoing ground transport and lodging in Tahiti. You’ll likely want to arrive earlier in the day to smoothly transfer to your island hotel. Contacting resorts ahead of time to inform them of late night arrivals is also advised.
Bon voyage and safe travels on your South Seas escape! With pristine beaches, lush rainforests and vibrant Polynesian culture in abundance, this epic Tahiti and Hawaii multi-island vacation is sure to be the trip of a lifetime 🏝😎
Conclusion
Whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to both Hawaii and Tahiti or dreaming about island-hopping between these South Pacific paradises, we hope this guide has helped illustrate the distance and travel times involved.
In summary: Tahiti lies approximately 2,600 miles (4,200 km) from Hawaii, with flights spanning 5-12 hours depending on layovers. And while close neighbors on the world map, significant differences in time zones must be factored into inter-island travels.
