Polynesia

All Polynesian societies descend from what is called 'Ancestral Polynesian Society' which developed in the Fiji/Tonga/Samoa area about 1500 B.C. The population was Austronesian speaking and had been part of the Eastern subgroup of the Lapita Cultural Complex. Lapita is the founding culture which produced the Neolithic societies of Polynesia, Eastern Melanesia and island Melanesia. Either of two language groups, Austroasiatic or Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) could have originated the ideas which led to the megalith building. The Austronesians came from the Proto-Austronesian speakers who left mainland Southern China for Taiwan in c. 4000 B.C. and began to spread through the Indonesian archipelago in c. 3000 B.C.

Esene Faimalo


Tubuai

Male

TaroamivaTaroatehoaTinnarowTummotoa


Raiatea

Male

TalalooTararo


Solomon Islands

Capital : Honiara

Monarchy, languages English, Solomon Islands Pidgin, local languages

Surnames

Kabitana


Nauru

Capital: Yaren

languages Nauruan, Gilbertese, English

Edouwe Appin


Palau Islands

Capital : Koror

languages Paluan, English

s Adachi


Guam

Capital : Agana

US Territory

languages Chamorro, English, Tagalog

RC


Kiribati

Capital : Bairiki

Language I-Kiribati (Gilbertese), English

RC Prot Bahai Mormon


Hawai'i

Capital : Honolulu

American State

Male

Ala'imoanaKamakanaKamu KeanuLeugaLeva'ula

The following names have all been used in the United States in recent years with the origin given as Hawai'i.

Aolani Athalia Aulii Inoke IokinaIpo
KeliiKinaKinipelaKonane LahelaLiko
LilihaLiloMaikMakaniMalia Malo
MauliMeiMeleMilianiMoana Moanna
MokePalaniUlani


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This collection of names compiled by Kate Monk. Copyright January 1997, Kate Monk. Last updated November, 97. Copies may be made for personal use only.