Ports & Harbours of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii
YearMaps maps 87 harbours on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii, in 18 countries and territories. The largest by the World Port Index's harbour size are Hilo, Apra Harbor and Honolulu. One is written up in full below, and every harbour is listed with its depths, tidal range and the largest ships it takes.
The islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia were settled by voyagers who navigated by the stars, the swells and the flight of birds over thousands of years. Their harbours, from Hawaii and Guam to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia, later served as coaling stations, whaling ports and naval bases, and several were fought over in the Pacific War of 1941–1945.
- Harbours
- 87
- Countries
- 18
- Written Up
- 1
Map of the Ports of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii
Blue dots are the harbours of the World Port Index; tap or click one to open its entry. Use the layer panel to add trade routes, rivers and historical borders.
Apra Harbor
The harbour of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii with an encyclopedia article, each with its figures from the World Port Index.
Apra Harbor
Medium harbour · Guam
Apra Harbor, also called Port Apra, is a deep-water port on the western side of the United States territory of Guam. It is considered one of the best natural ports in the Pacific Ocean. The harbor is bounded by Cabras Island and the Glass Breakwater to the north and the Orote Peninsula in the south. Naval Base Guam and the Port of Guam are the two major users of the harbor. It is also a popular recreation area for boaters, surfers, scuba divers, and other recreationalists.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Apra Harbor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Harbour size
- Medium
- Channel depth
- 34.7 m
- Anchorage depth
- 5.5 m
- Cargo pier depth
- 42.1 m
- Oil terminal depth
- 27.4 m
- Tidal range
- 1 m
- Largest vessel
- medium vessels
- Country
- Guam
- Province
- Guam
- Coordinates
- 13.4500°, 144.6200°
More about Apra Harbor
History
Apra comes from the Chamorro word "apapa", meaning "low." Apapa is the original name of Cabras Island. The harbor offered rich fishing grounds and was home to many Chamorro villages.
During Spanish rule, the name of Saint Louis IX was added and the harbor was referred to as the port of San Luis de Apra. However, it was not a favored anchorage during the Spanish–Chamorro Wars of the late seventeenth century and resulting the early Spanish period, mainly because of the many reefs and coral heads. The Spanish preferred ports were Umatac and Hagåtña, resulting in Apra Harbor being used by foreigners seeking to avoid Spanish authority. The English pirate John Eaton is reported to have anchored at Apra Harbor in 1685 to trade provisions with Chamorros.
Geography
The geography of Apra Harbor has been extensively modified from its pre-historical state by humans. The entrance to the harbor is flanked by Point Udall, formerly Orote Point, to the south and Spanish Rocks at the tip of the Glass Breakwater. The Glass Breakwater, built on top of Calalan Bank and the fringing Luminao Reef, connects to Cabras Island, the location of the Port of Guam, which handles more than 90% of civilian cargo imported to Guam. Inland areas in the villages of Piti and Santa Rita form the eastern boundary of the harbor. There are two small artificial peninsulas jutting into the eastern end of the harbor. The northernmost is named Drydock Island, the tip of which is a military reservation with wharves for fueling ships.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Apra Harbor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All Harbours of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii
87 harbours, the largest first by the index's harbour size. Channel depth and tidal range set the physical limit on which ships can call. 26 of them are recorded in the source with the city they serve.
| Harbour | Country | Size | Channel | Anchorage | Tide | Largest vessel | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo | United States | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Apra Harbor | Guam | Medium | 34.7 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Honolulu | United States | Medium | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Ushuaia | Argentina | Small | 56.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Papeete | French Polynesia | Small | 38.4 m | — | — | medium vessels | |
| Pohnpei Harbor | Micronesia | Small | 38.4 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Port Allen | United States | Small | 38.4 m | 23.8 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Port Moresby | Papua New Guinea | Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Saipanserves Capitol Hill | Northern Mariana Islands | Small | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Vanimo | Papua New Guinea | Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Kawaihae | United States | Small | 34.7 m | 27.4 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Wewak Harborserves Wewak | Papua New Guinea | Small | 23.8 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kavieng Harborserves Kavieng | Papua New Guinea | Small | 20.1 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Levuka | Fiji | Small | 16.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kieta | Papua New Guinea | Small | 5.5 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Pago Pago Harborserves Pago Pago | American Samoa | Small | 5.5 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Port Noro | Solomon Islands | Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Rabaul | Papua New Guinea | Small | 5.5 m | — | — | medium vessels | |
| Ringgi Cove | Solomon Islands | Small | 5.5 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Lahaina | United States | Very Small | 56.7 m | 20.1 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Savusavu Bay | Fiji | Very Small | 56.7 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kamalo | United States | Very Small | 53 m | 31.1 m | 1 m | — | |
| Pukoo | United States | Very Small | 53 m | 53 m | 1 m | — | |
| Baie de Kouaoua | New Caledonia | Very Small | 49.4 m | 12.8 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Funafuti Atollserves Funafuti | Tuvalu | Very Small | 49.4 m | — | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| Neiafu | Tonga | Very Small | 49.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Pangai | Tonga | Very Small | 49.4 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Tern Island | United States | Very Small | 49.4 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Alotoaserves Alotau | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 45.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kaunakakai | United States | Very Small | 45.7 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Mata-Utu | Wallis and Futuna | Very Small | 45.7 m | 34.7 m | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| Canton Island | Kiribati | Very Small | 42.1 m | 45.7 m | 3 m | — | |
| Honiara | Solomon Islands | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Johnston Atoll | Johnston Atoll | Very Small | 42.1 m | 38.4 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Moen | Micronesia | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 1 m | — | |
| Port Rikitea | French Polynesia | Very Small | 42.1 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Samarai | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 42.1 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Tarawa Atollserves Tarawa | Kiribati | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Tinian | Northern Mariana Islands | Very Small | 42.1 m | 20.1 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Baie Taiohae | French Polynesia | Very Small | 38.4 m | 31.1 m | 3 m | — | |
| Hana | United States | Very Small | 38.4 m | 42.1 m | 2 m | — | |
| Madang | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Vaitape | French Polynesia | Very Small | 38.4 m | 5.5 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Apia | Samoa | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Discovery Bay | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 34.7 m | 5.5 m | 4 m | — | |
| Kahuluiserves Wailuku | United States | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kaumalapau Harbor | United States | Very Small | 34.7 m | 31.1 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Kiholo | United States | Very Small | 34.7 m | 38.4 m | 1 m | — | |
| Lae | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Longan Island | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 34.7 m | 42.1 m | 2 m | — | |
| Mahukona | United States | Very Small | 34.7 m | 20.1 m | 1 m | — | |
| Midway Island | Midway Island | Very Small | 34.7 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Nuku Alofaserves Nukualofa | Tonga | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Oro Bay | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 34.7 m | 23.8 m | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| Port Vila | Vanuatu | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Uturoa | French Polynesia | Very Small | 34.7 m | 5.5 m | — | — | |
| Atuona | French Polynesia | Very Small | 31.1 m | 38.4 m | 3 m | — | |
| Barber'S Point | United States | Very Small | 31.1 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Enitwetak Island | Marshall Islands | Very Small | 31.1 m | 12.8 m | 1 m | — | |
| Gizo Harborserves Gizo | Solomon Islands | Very Small | 31.1 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Hamburg Harbor | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 31.1 m | 23.8 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Honokaa | United States | Very Small | 31.1 m | 31.1 m | 2 m | — | |
| Honuapo | United States | Very Small | 31.1 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | — | |
| Malakal Harborserves Koror | Palau | Very Small | 31.1 m | — | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| Napoopoo | United States | Very Small | 31.1 m | 38.4 m | 2 m | — | |
| Nonopapa | United States | Very Small | 31.1 m | 27.4 m | 1 m | — | |
| Kwajalein | Marshall Islands | Very Small | 27.4 m | 27.4 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Lele Harbor | Micronesia | Very Small | 27.4 m | 31.1 m | 1 m | — | |
| Queen Carola Harbor | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 20.1 m | 34.7 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Colonia | Micronesia | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| English Harbor | Kiribati | Very Small | 5.5 m | 20.1 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kauhako Bay | United States | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | — | |
| Kokopo | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 5.5 m | 20.1 m | 2 m | — | |
| Milolii | United States | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | — | |
| Nauru | Nauru | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Rota | Northern Mariana Islands | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Suloga Harbor | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 4 m | — | |
| Tulaghi | Solomon Islands | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Wake Island | Wake Island | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Yandina | Solomon Islands | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Baie Ugue | New Caledonia | Very Small | — | 27.4 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Barbers Point Terminal | United States | Very Small | — | 9.1 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Bialla | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | — | — | 1 m | — | |
| Forari Bay | Vanuatu | Very Small | — | 12.8 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Kimbe | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | — | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Kumul | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Lorengau | Papua New Guinea | Very Small | — | — | 1 m | medium vessels |
Port Cities of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii
The most populous cities with a harbour of the Pacific Islands and Hawaii within 25 km. Each city is listed with its country's other cities on the country page.
- Honolulu786,000
United States of America · Honolulu, Barbers Point Terminal (25 km)
- Port Moresby283,733
Capital of Papua New Guinea · Port Moresby
- Wahiawa174,766
United States of America · Barber'S Point (23 km)
- Papeete131,695
French Polynesia · Papeete
- Lae131,052
Papua New Guinea · Lae
- Agana122,411
Guam · Apra Harbor (14 km)
- Honiara76,328
Capital of Solomon Islands · Honiara
- Madang62,023
Papua New Guinea · Madang
- Apia61,916
Capital of Samoa · Apia
- Ushuaia58,028
Argentina · Ushuaia
- Hilo52,391
United States of America · Hilo
- Wailuku52,148
- Port Vila44,040
Capital of Vanuatu · Port Vila, Forari Bay (25 km)
- Nukualofa42,620
Capital of Tonga · Nuku Alofa
- Arawa40,266
Papua New Guinea · Kieta (8 km)
- Tarawa28,802
Capital of Kiribati · Tarawa Atoll
- Wewak25,143
Papua New Guinea · Wewak Harbor
- Melekeok7,026
Capital of Palau · Malakal Harbor (23 km)
- Funafuti4,749
Capital of Tuvalu · Funafuti Atoll
- Palikir4,645
Capital of Federated States of Micronesia · Pohnpei Harbor (9 km)
Countries with Harbours on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii
- United States map 22
- Papua New Guinea map 21
- French Polynesia map 6
- Solomon Islands map 6
- Micronesia map 4
- Kiribati map 3
- Northern Mariana Islands map 3
- Tonga map 3
- Fiji map 2
- Marshall Islands map 2
- New Caledonia map 2
- Vanuatu map 2
- American Samoa map 1
- Argentina map 1
- Guam map 1
- Palau map 1
- Samoa map 1
- Tuvalu map 1
More Seas and Coasts
See every sea, grouped from North America to Oceania & Antarctica, on the world ports index, or the voyages that crossed these waters on the famous sea voyages map.
Pacific Islands & Hawaii: Quick Answers
- How many ports are there on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii?
- YearMaps lists 87 ports and harbours on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii, from the World Port Index of the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Small fishing harbours and private terminals outside the index are not counted.
- Which countries have ports on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii?
- United States (22), Papua New Guinea (21), French Polynesia (6), Solomon Islands (6), Micronesia (4), Kiribati (3), Northern Mariana Islands (3), Tonga (3), Fiji (2), Marshall Islands (2), New Caledonia (2), Vanuatu (2), American Samoa (1), Argentina (1), Guam (1), Palau (1), Samoa (1) and Tuvalu (1).
- What are the largest ports on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii?
- By the World Port Index's harbour size, the largest are Hilo, Apra Harbor and Honolulu.
- What are the main port cities on the Pacific Islands and Hawaii?
- The most populous cities with a harbour here are Honolulu (786,000), Port Moresby (283,733), Wahiawa (174,766), Papeete (131,695) and Lae (131,052).