BISHOP MUSEUMThe State Museum of Natural and Cultural History
For Museum Information, call (808) 847-3511
Settlement of the Pacific was one of the greatest feats in human history. Forming a mighty triangle, the islands of Polynesia stretch from Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the south, east to Rapanui (Easter Island), and north to the Hawaiian Islands.
The Polynesian triangle covers an area almost twice the size of the continental United States, Yet, Polynesia's 287 islands have a land area of roughly 120,000 square miles. Nearly 95% of this land is found in Aotearoa and Hawai‘i . Despite the small size of many islands, the ancient Pacific mariners found and settled most of the area by 1000 AD.
`Au i ke kai me he manu ala.
Cross the sea as a bird.
To sail across the sea.
(`Olelo No`eau 237; Pukui 1983)
BISHOP MUSEUM
The State Museum of Natural and Cultural History
For Museum Information, call (808) 847-3511