By Karen Robes Meeks
Honolulu-based Matson, Inc. recently kicked off a new direct service to Tahiti.
An extension of Matson's South Pacific Express, the new Tahiti service offers twice-monthly arrivals from the United States mainland and the fastest transit times from Hawaii to French Polynesia.
With Papeete, Tahiti, as a new port of call, Matson now offers export shipping from the US and Hawaii to major islands of Polynesia such as Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands (Rarotonga and Aitutaki), Tonga (Nukualofa and Vava'u), Niue, New Zealand, and Fiji (Suva and Lautoka).
The Tahiti service also includes use of Matson's terminal operations in Hawaii, Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle.
"This new service allows Matson to leverage existing operations in the region to offer market-leading service to a new destination," said Senior Vice President – Pacific Tuilaepa Vic Angoco. "The people of Tahiti and Hawaii have enjoyed a long and rich history together with shared ethnic and cultural ties. We look forward to strengthening ties between our island communities."