Polynesia

Polynesia is one of three major cultural areas of the Pacific Ocean islands, along with Melanesia and Micronesia.

Polynesia is a cultural area consisting of a number of island groups in the South Pacific Northeast of New Zealand. The island groups associated with Polynesia are:

• American Samoa - An unincorporated territory of the United States comprising the eastern part of the Samoan Islands.
• Cook Islands - A self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand.
  • Northern Cook Islands
  • Southern Cook Islands
• Easter Island (Rapa Nui) - A Chilean territory famous for its 887 monumental statues called moat.
• French Polynesia - An overseas collectivity of France, including some famous islands like Tahiti and Bora Bora.
  • Archeoek Des Tuamotu
  • Iles De La Société (Society Islands)
  • Iles Gasibier
  • Iles Marquesas
• Niue - A small island country in free association with New Zealand.
• Pitcairn Island - A group of four volcanic islands, a British Overseas Territory, and the least populous national jurisdiction in the world.
• Samoa - An independent nation comprising the westernmost group of the Samoan Islands.
• Tokelau - A dependent territory of New Zealand.
• Tonga - A sovereign state and archipelago comprising 169 islands.
• Tuvalu - An independent island nation within the British Commonwealth.
• Wallis and Futuna Islands - A French overseas collectivity.

New Zealand is sometimes included in the Polynesian Islands. More detail is available for most of the island groups individually.

History

Polynesia is perhaps first mentioned in tablet 7 of the Tablets of the Divine Plan as one of the "great island groups of the Pacific Ocean."