You are not as likely to be pestered to buy black pearls on Huahine as on Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora -- another of Huahine's appealing attributes, in my opinion. One stop you should make is Huahine Nui Pearls & Pottery (tel. 78.30.20; www.huahinepearlfarm.com), a pearl farm and pottery studio operated by American expatriate Peter Owen on a motu off Baie Faie. Peter offers free tours daily from 10am to 4pm, with the boat leaving Faie Bay every 15 minutes. If you aren't going to the Tuamotus, this is a good place to see how black pearls are grown.
Local women sell shell jewelry, bedspreads, and other handicrafts at Huahine Mata Aiai (no phone) in a thatch building at the south end of the Fare waterfront. Be sure to look in the small art galleries and other shops along the waterfront, especially Pacific Art (tel. 68.70.09).
