Tetiaroa (French: Tetiaroa) is an atoll in the Windward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territorial collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Once the vacation spot for Tahitian royalty, the islets are under a 99-year lease contracted by Marlon Brando and are home to The Brando Resort. Geography Tetiaroa is administratively part of the commune of Arue, whose main part is in the northeastern part of Tahiti. The atoll is located north of Tahiti. The atoll has a total surface area of ; approximately of sand divided by 12 motus (islets) with varying surface areas. The lagoon is approximately wide and deep. The atoll has no reef opening, making access by boat nearly impossible. The islets (or motus), in clockwise order starting from the southwest corner, include: Onetahi (with regulated airstrip and site of The Brando Resort), Honuea, Tiaruanu, Motu Tauvini (Tauini), Motu Ahurea (Auroa), Hiraanae, Horoatera (Oroatera), Motu 'Ā'ie, Tahuna Iti, Tahuna Rahi, Reiono, Motu One (emerging sandbank) and Rimatu'u (with an ornithology reserve). Climate Tetiꞌaroa has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). The average annual temperature in Tetiꞌaroa is . The average annual rainfall is with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in March, at around , and lowest in August, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Tetiꞌaroa was on 20 March 1995; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 25 July 1987. History Early years The atoll of Tetiaroa was a special place for the Tahitian chiefs, as a place to entertain themselves with song, dance, fishing and feasting. It was also a special place for the ariori to practice their custom of ha'apori'a. This custom included eating to gain weight, and staying out of the sun to whiten their skin. Plump and pale was a sign of "well-being and prosperity" for the ariori and chiefs. Tetiaroa was controlled by the chiefs of Pare-'Arue, and later, by members of the Pōmare Dynasty. In 1789, William Bligh is said to have been the first European to visit the atoll while looking for early mutineers prior to the departure of which eventually suffered a full mutiny. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island on 10 September 1839. Williams and Brando In 1904, the royal family sold Tetiaroa to Johnston Walter Williams, a Canadian national and the only dentist in Tahiti. Williams later became