Hawaii-based ocean cargo carrier Matson Inc. plans to extend its reach into the South Pacific with a new twice-monthly service to Tahiti starting in September.

The company announced the new route Monday, following a move in June to increase frequency of service to Samoa and American Samoa.

Matson will use a bigger and faster ship, the MV Samoana, it acquired as part of the improved Samoas service to haul goods bound for Tahiti or French Polynesia.

The first sailing is scheduled to depart Honolulu on Aug. 22 and arrive in Papeete, Tahiti, on Sept. 4. via transshipment from Apia, Samoa.

Matson said it will use Papeete Seairland Transports as its exclusive agent in Tahiti.

“This new service allows Matson to leverage existing operations in the region to offer market-leading service to a new destination,” Vic Angoco, Matson’s senior vice president for Pacific operations, said in a statement. “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.”