Somewhat smaller than Tahiti, Raiatea's the second largest of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The proper spelling of the name, rarely used though, in the Tahitian language's Ra’iatea, meaning bright sky; Ulieta's an obsolete transcription commonly used in the 19th century. The chief town on Raiatea's Uturoa, administrative center for the Leeward Islands (French Îles Sous-le-vent). The islands of Raiatea and Tahaa are both enclosed by the same coral reef, and may once have bee… (More on Raiatea)