Welcome to Fiji
Bula Vinaka!

Over 515 miles of open water separate Fiji and the rest of Polynesia from the islands of Melanesia! People settled Melanesia over 30,000 years, but did not make it across this water gap until 3,000 years ago. Fiji's first settlers carried with them an elaborately decorated pottery that we call Lapita. How far east did Lapita potters sail? They also settled the islands of Samoa and Tonga to the east.

Why did their voyaging end? Was the 650 miles of open sea beyond Tonga and Samoa a barrier to continued eastward migrations? Or does the evidence for early Lapita settlements in East Polynesia still lie buried in the ground? Whatever the reason, no Lapita pottery has ever been found in the islands east of Samoa.

At this island station follow the Lapita pottery trail that archaeologists are uncovering.
Welcome to Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Upstairs Gallery of the Hawai`iloa Exhibit

Back to the Hawai'iloa page
Back to the Past Exhibits Page
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Revised on August 29, 1996 by mcb