Polynesia facts & tidbits

candid Polynesia pointers

 

Polynesia

Geography

Polynesia is the largest and internationally the most famous of the three Nesia segments.

Areas

Polynesia is more than French Polynesia. It covers a broad Pacific Ocean expanse shared by a number of nations. The seven best-known areas are

American Samoa
Cook Islands
Easter Island
French Polynesia
Hawaii
Tonga
Western Samoa

For a perspective view:

See my Polynesia map

New Zealand

Is it Polynesian? Some people say yes, others, no. I'm with the latter group. True, Polynesian islands were settled, populated, and cultured by ancient Maoris from New Zealand. And, 15% of today's New Zealand population is Maori. However, that country lacks the tropical and geological feel of what is generally regarded as Polynesia by travelers.

Kon-Tiki

In 1947, the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl sailed from South America to Polynesia in his Kon-Tiki reed boat to prove that Polynesia was settled by pre-Columbian South Americans. His theory sank in 1990 when DNA testing proved that the Polynesians' forbearers migrated from Asia.

Tattoo

That word and the elaborate tattooing artform originated in Polynesia.

The unofficial

island continent of Nesia

Divisions

Nesia has three major insular groupings: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

Size

Together, the three areas cover much of the Pacific Ocean.

Meanings

The three Nesia divisions translate as "many islands", "black islands" and "small islands". Poly (many), mela (black), micro (small), and nesia (islands) are Greek.

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