Pāʻea is a commune in the suburbs of Papeʻete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the southern Pacific Ocean.

[2] Tahiti's west coast freeway runs through Pāʻea and ends in Teahupoʻo down south.

Pāʻea was part of the Kingdom of Tahiti until France claimed the islands of French Polynesia.

Close to where the crash site is located lies a rock with the names of those people killed in the accident.

Moʻorea is north of Pāʻea and is seen as a gray mound sticking out of the Pacific Ocean.