History — From the Polynesians to Today
The history of Bora Bora begins over 1,000 years ago, when Polynesian navigators from Tonga and Samoa crossed the Pacific in their double-hulled canoes and settled the Society Islands. This navigation — thousands of kilometers across open sea, using only stars, waves, and birds — is one of the greatest maritime achievements in human history.
Polynesian Era
The Polynesians called the island “Pora Pora" (Firstborn) — according to legend, it was the first island to rise from the sea after the sacred Raiatea. Bora Bora was a warrior kingdom: The chiefs (Arii) ruled from their Marae (temples), and the warriors of Bora Bora were considered the most fearless of the Society Islands. The Marae Marotetini on the west coast was the spiritual center of the island.
European Contact & Colonial Era
1722 saw the Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen as the first European to sight the island. 1769 saw James Cook anchor off Bora Bora and map the lagoon. In the 19th century, Christian missionaries arrived, pushing back the Polynesian religion. In 1842, Bora Bora became a French protectorate and has belonged to France ever since — today as part of the overseas territory of French Polynesia.
World War II — Operation Bobcat
An unexpected episode: After the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941), the USA established a military base on Bora Bora — Operation Bobcat. Over 5,000 American soldiers were stationed on the tiny island, building the airport (still in use today), bunkers, coastal guns, and infrastructure. The guns never fired a shot — Bora Bora was never attacked. The relics (guns, bunkers) are now tourist attractions. A little-known consequence: Many GIs married local women — a cultural exchange that left a lasting impact on the island.
Tourism Boom
Tourism began in the 1960s when Marlon Brando and other Hollywood stars discovered the island as a retreat. 1967 saw the opening of the first overwater bungalow hotel — an innovation that would revolutionize luxury hospitality. Since the 1990s, international hotel chains (Four Seasons, St. Regis, InterContinental) have made Bora Bora the honeymoon capital of the world.
