Polynesian Origins: DNA, Migrations and History

Oceania was the last region to be settled by humans and the last part of Oceania to be settled by humans was Polynesia. Polynesians are famous for their voyages to remote islands in distant parts of the Pacific. Using outrigger canoes, they founded a society across islands stretching in a triangle from the Hawaiian Islands to Easter Island to New Zealand. That society was reasonably well-connected by trade, language, culture, and religion, despite its distribution over such a large area.

One major question today is where did the Polynesians originally come from? Several theories have been proposed over the years, but one which is gaining ground is that the Polynesians originated from Taiwan, parts of Papua New Guinea, and Southeast Asia. Another intriguing area of study is the genetic connection between Polynesians and South Americans.

Could the Polynesians Have Origins in South America?
One early theory of the origin of Polynesians is that they came from South America and sailed west, eventually reaching the Polynesian triangle. This was proposed by the archaeologist, writer, and explorer Thor Heyerdahl , who even constructed a Polynesian balsa wood raft and, with a team, sailed it west of Easter Island from the South American coast. This demonstrated the feasibility of using a primitive craft to cross the Pacific.

The thing to remember about experimental archaeology is that just because something could have theoretically been done doesn’t mean that it actually happened that way. Although it is plausible that Polynesia was settled by ancient South Americans; all the genetic, linguistic, and ethnographic evidence points toward a predominantly southeast Asian origin.

Original Article titled "Where Did the Polynesians Really Come From?"

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[mdb]

These Polynesian explorers of the Pacific are NOT given anywhere enough credit for their astonishing achievements. Crossing thousands of miles of ocean in canoes tied together into catamarans. They transported animals, plants, seeds with them. Truly ASTONISHING.

[TonyMcnaughton-uc]

I’m Polynesian and from NewZealand and was adopted at birth. I was raised with no cultural education or insight at all yet I’ve always known about my connection to Asia, South America and Native Americas through dreams and the world around me. I’ve learned what my ancestors have taught me. Not to doubt myself.

[rubinortiz]

I am Native American from Arizona so I can’t really relate but king Tupac of the Inca empire did sailed across the pacific and got over half way to Australia before encountering Polynesians and bribing them back to the Inca empire. Natives Americans and Polynesians had a lot of contact with each other before Europeans came.

[hyirrmah]

If anyone is intrigued to read this… My twin did one of those ancestry DNA tests and interestingly enough we have 19% Polynesian. This didn’t come as a surprise for us because we come from Vietnam that belong to an indigenous groups called the Degar-Montagnards. Our language is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

PA: I am no longer responding to this repeated question that I have already answered: “‘Montagnards’ doesn’t sound Indigenous.” No sh*t it doesn’t; it’s not what those Indigenous groups called themselves before colonization (duh). I have already explained that IT WAS THE TERM THE FRENCH called us during colonialism. However, in the modern day the term Degar-Montagnards was used by the American soldiers to identify those specific groups and it’s still used to this VERY DAY. Moreover, I think by now we all should understand how terms come to play when there have been a colonization to a country/nation. Just because another colony calls the nation this name or that name (in their spoken tongues), doesn’t mean that the group of people are not who they are.

[minners]

I was blessed to live in Hawaii for a few months, and the Polynesian people are the NICEST people I've ever met!! The children, OMG, stole my heart!! The little kids that lived on our street, whenever they saw me, would yell "AAUUNNTTIIIEE!" and would come running over just to say hi. Even if I was just getting in my car to go to work. So cute!! And the adults would INSIST I come over and eat dinner with them AT LEAST 3 times a week! And if I couldn't, they'd still drag me over saying "YOU TAKE A PLATE!! YOU TAKE A PLATE!!" I got to eat the most AMAZING food ever! They made this young white girl who was all alone in a new place feel loved! ❤ Will never forget them!

[julespryor]

As a Samoan related to a high cheif you’ve caught my interest and you honestly told a similar story I’ve been told as a kid by my grandmother as she bares what was left of what my grandfather taught her about his family before he died

[Dxco]

indonesian folk lore and song tells that their ancestor is a great sailorman who sailed east for a new land, that tale and song dates back more than 1000 years ago, and some of the eastern indonesian ethnics groups still resemble polynesian people

[kekoakaawa]

As a Native Hawaiian, I love hearing theories about my ancestors.

[suheylaa]

This is my MOST favorite topic/study above all others!
So glad I found you

[JustInTimeWorldbuilding]

I recently did a short on Polynesian navigation techniques. Their star charts were amazing. This video was an awesome longer look at the culture and it’s origins! Glad I found this channel.

[langa_rsa]

Polynesians are my favourite ethnicity; the language, the tropical culture, the traditional form of dancing, the athletic build of the men. If I wasn't African (and I like being African), I'd choose to be Polynesian.

[babycoke]

Along the southern coast of Papua new guinea, my mum's people look poly, they made large double hull canoes with large twin sails and would sail around the southern coast of PNG trading their Clay pots for Food. This was the Kula trade.

[joebombero]

The more I read about New Guinea and Australia the more fascinated I become. The linguistic and genetic diversity is greater than Europe. We have a long, long history we are only just beginning to uncover.

[taineemia]

We are Tanata Pasifika the names such as Polynesian, Micronesia, etc are coloniser terms to separate and label us. This man needs to study and know the Tui Manua, Tui Tonga and Tuifiti empires. We are from the Moana (ocean)connected by the ocean and not separated by it.There is more to us, history was just white washed.

[unluggy_uceee]

As a proud Atiuan from the Cook Islands I can confirm that this is true! The last family reunion I attended, we were taught about our bloodline and ancestry.. I didn’t believe we had ties with the Philippines when I was told back then but if you look at most Kukis (Cook Islanders) when they are growing up we all look like brown Asians similar to the Filipinos. I come from a bloodline of royalty, one of my ancestors married a chief in Atiu and created our bloodline and her name is Akepiatonga! I’ve also been told by family members that all 15 islands aren’t exactly islands but they are huge mountains that have survived Tsunamis, that’s why Rarotonga has signs around the whole island saying to head for “the mountains” if there’s a Tsunami.. In my opinion I’m pretty sure that’s why Polynesia isn’t whole anymore because the pacific ocean is highly dangerous due to the tectonic plates.. idk correct me if I’m wrong?

[Tokoa]

Great documentary guys!! I really enjoy the research efforts you all put in.
Kia Orana.. I am a son of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands..

[frontline]

I am Visayan and my people were considered the Pintados… aka the printed ones because of our tattoos. They look extremely similar to Tahitian and Hawaiian tattoo

[LT-yupg]

Well put together “condensed” version of such complex story. The “sweet potato”, native to South America and also found in Polynesia, should also be added to this presentation. Most important, I’m glad to see that the genetics are now incorporated to finding answers to this mystery.

[MeLancer]

I think it's important to remember that native American ethnicity has its origins in Asia. The suggestion of a Taiwanese origin with migrations through the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are on point but I'm thinking there may be missing populations under consideration. I have worked with people of the Caroline Islands, Gilbert and Marshall Islands. These groups are known for having exceptional navigation skills. Is it not possible members of these island groups represent a continuation of eastern migration that began in Taiwan and Papua New Guinea?