A Polynesian Nation
According to the mainstream theory, the Polynesian people are by ancestry a subset of the sea-migrating Austronesian people and the tracing of Polynesian languages places their prehistoric origins in the Malay archipelago.
Between about 3000 and 1000 BC speakers of Austronesian languages spread through island South-East Asia – almost certainly starting out from Taiwan, as tribes whose natives had thought to have previously arrived about from mainland South China about 8000 years ago– into the edges of western Micronesia and on into Melanesia. In the archaeological record there are well-defined traces of this expansion which allow the path it took to be followed and dated with a degree of certainty. In the mid 2nd millennium BC, the Lapita culture appeared suddenly in north-west Melanesia, in the Bismarck Archipelago. Within a mere three or four centuries between about 1300 and 900 BC, the Lapita culture spread 6000 km further to the east from the Bismarck Archipelago, until it reached as far as Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. In this region, the distinctive Polynesian culture developed.
Between 300 and 500 AD, the Polynesians discovered and settled Rapa Nui (Easter Island). This is supported by archaeological evidence as well as the introduction of flora and fauna consistent with the Polynesian culture and characteristic of the tropics to this subtropical island. Around AD 500, Hawai’i was settled by the Polynesians and around AD 1000 Aotearoa (New Zealand) was settled as well. The migration of the Polynesians is impressive considering that the islands settled by them are spread out over great distances—the Pacific Ocean covers nearly a half of the Earth’s surface area. Most contemporary cultures, by comparison, never voyaged beyond sight of land.
Even though we are all Polynesians throughout the Pacific Ocean, why don’t we identify as Polynesians?
Would you want to be identified as a Polynesian, an American, or both?
How can Polynesians unite in the future? What can you do about it?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
We are not identified as Polynesians because we have been colonised by America. They are brainwashing us to think we are Americans and they want to make us forget about our Hawai’ian culture.
I am okay with being American, but I would rather be Polynesian. I would want to be Polynesian because I do not like Americans just taking the credit that they took us Polynesians over when we were here first.
We, Polynesians, can unite by keeping our culture strong and teaching the next generations. We will keep our culture alive even if we do not have our land.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
We don’t identify ourselves as Polynesian because ever since President McKinley took over the Hawaiian islands we’ve been Americanized. We’ve been brainwashed to think like an American because when they took us over there was a law that said you couldn’t speak or teach Hawaiian.
I would want to be identified as Hawaiian because it is unique to be a Hawaiian. There are only around 138,742 Hawaiians left compared to many Americans.
Polynesians can unite by just going to meet other Polynesian people. I can help by meeting other Polynesians and just learning more about Polynesia and its different cultures.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
We don’t identify ourselves as Polynesians because the Americans colonized us. They are slowly killing our nation by brainwashing us. Every day I see Hawaiians at fast food restaurants eating unhealthy foods. We are losing our diets and losing our culture because the Americans have influenced us to follow their ways.
Although I am identified as an American I would prefer to be know as a Polynesian. Americans have horrible food habits, waste and lied to everyone by saying that they had a Treaty of Annexation with the Hawaiians.
Polynesians can unite by meeting other people that come from other Polynesian cultures and learning about their culture. When you know everything about your nation you can become a leader and lead your people into complete happiness.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I think that we are not identified as Polynesians because of the White folks who took us over with the Treaty of Annexation, and colonized us making us think we’re Americans.
I don’t want to be recognized as an American because if I am American, people will think of me as selfish and mean just like Colombus and all those other so-called American heroes. But if I am identified as a Hawaiian, I will be treated with respect and I will have pride.
I can unite the Polynesians together by first learning my native tongue Hawaiian, then second, learning other Polynesian languages and spreading them.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
We are not identified as Polynesians because we were colonized by the Americans over a hundred years ago. We have lost our old Hawaiian traditions like harvesting kalo, fishing, and hunting food. As Polynesians are dying out, so are the old ways of Hawaiian lifestyle.
I would rather be a Polynesian because I’m proud of my heritage and I wouldn’t want to be known as an American because they lied about the treaty of annexation and are tried to erase that knowledge.
Polynesians can unite by learning each other’s cultures and language. We can help by being good leaders and respecting the aina. We can also help get back the Polynesian’s land and plan ahead for the future.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I think we are not identified as Polynesian people because all the Polynesian islands were annexed by all different countries such as Hawaii being annexed by America, New Zealand being annexed by the UK, and Easter Island being annexed by Chile.
I would want to be identified as a POLYNESIAN because I am proud of what my ancestors did crossing the great Pacific Ocean and finding all of these great and beautiful islands spread out like any other large continent.
I think all us Polynesians should start asking to have some of our land back and show other people that we can rule ourselves. I think we should start having good leaders so when we get our land back we can show that we can rule our own Polynesian nation! ! !
September 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I think that we are not recognized as Polynesians because the White people or Americans colonized us and brainwashed us to think that American is our #1 culture or religion, and that Polynesian is not a good culture. They also tell us about the White people like Captain Cook, Columbus, and McKinley who colonized us and other cultures like the Native Americans.
I would like to be recognized as both American and Polynesian because we should not hide who we are. I don’t want to be recognized as an American who is violent. I want to be recognized as an American that is proud and happy, and I want to be recognized as a Polynesian who wants to take care of the culture.
I think the Polynesians can unite by doing what our ancestors did like traveling by canoe, planting kalo, speaking our native languages, and building Polynesian leaders that will lead in our future. I can help by trying to learn a lot in school about Hawaiian values and culture.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:14 am
The reason I think Polynesians are not identified as Polynesians is because the people that colonized them brainwashed them into thinking that they are French or American.
I would rather be identified as a Polynesian because Polynesian people are the people who the Hawaiians are really related to not the Americans, but the Americans made Hawaiians think they are such good people which is not the full truth.
The Polynesians can come together if there are more Polynesian leaders. If there are more Polynesian leaders we would get more land back and hopefully take care of it, and maybe one day Polynesians will unite.