The Polynesian Triangle is a group of over 1000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, with seven primary cultures and a language subgroup of Malayo-Polynesian languages. Colonization began around 1600-1200 BC and was completed by AD 1000, with the Lapita culture spreading eastward. The outrigger canoe enabled long-distance travel between islands. Today, New Zealand and Hawaii have the largest populations in Polynesia and are popular tourist spots.
The Polynesian Triangle is a large imaginary triangle in the Pacific Ocean, comprising over 1000 islands. Its vertices include the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Within the Polynesian Triangle is the area known as Polynesia (“many islands”), made up of seven primary cultures: New Zealand, Hawai’i, Rapa Nui, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga. The native languages within the Polynesian triangle are known as a subgroup of Malayo-Polynesian languages by linguists. This language group derives from the Proto-Austronesian language spoken in Southeast Asia 5,000 years ago.
The Polynesian Triangle is one of the last areas on Earth to be settled by humans. Colonization began around 1600-1200 BC and was not completed until AD 1000. It began from the Bismarck Archipelago, near New Guinea, which had been connected to the mainland by land bridge during the last ice age, which ended 10,000 Years ago. Beginning in 1600 – 1200 BC and over hundreds of years, the Lapita culture, originating in the Bismarck Archipelago, spread eastward to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
An elaborate culture developed along the way. Around 300 BC, these people spread to the Cook Islands, Tuamotus, Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. Between 300 and 1200 AD, Polynesians discovered and settled Rapa Nui. By AD 500 they reached Hawaii and by AD 1000 New Zealand.
The outrigger canoe is often cited as the technological innovation that enabled long-distance travel between islands. Despite this, the Pacific Ocean covers nearly half of the entire Earth, and most of the islands are separated by large expanses of ocean.
Today, the Polynesian Triangle is known to many Westerners as a popular tourist spot. New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands are the only Polynesian islands large enough to have non-typical island characteristics. New Zealand has a population of around 4.2 million while Hawaii has a population of 1.1 million. Together these represent over 90% of the total population of Polynesia.
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