March 14, 2010: One area I have found very fascinating for quite some time, are the pacific islands, especially the Polynesian islands. These 1,000(roughly)islands are

scattered over the central and southern portion of the Pacific Ocean, and belong to a main region of Islands called Oceania. Of course, I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii! I

would also love to visit Samoa, and possibly Tahiti. The majority of Polynesian folks(mainly Hawaiian and Samoan) are on the West Coast, so unfortunately I have not met too many Polynesians. I’ve met one wonderful Samoan family back in 2005 when

they visited a friend of ours.

Polynesian Triangle

Hawaiian folk:Of course we all know about Hawaii. It’s the 50th state, added in 1959. In 1887 the white landowners and elites, unfairly, and using force, made King Kalakaua sign a document stripping him of his power and giving much of it to the American, European(and some native Hawaiian) elites. Hawaii is very diverse, and have people of many different backgrounds living there. There are many people that are a mixture ethnically. But, there are still a good number of full-blooded, indigenous Hawaiians left. Here they are below. PS:I’m glad to find pics of real Hawaiian women, not those Chinese or Caucasian-looking ones.

Young woman in Molokai Fisherman Women fully dressed doing the hula. Nice colored skirts.

Man participating in Unity Day celebration

Woman playing an instrument called the Ipu. Young woman at beach

Women doing a traditional dance; playing ipus.

Hawaiian, Dorie-Ann Kahale and her family. Her family had become homeless and then were incredibly gifted a large mansion, which they moved in, in the spring of 2007.

Woman from island of Lanai Young lady in traditional headdress Woman in Oahu, wearing traditional dress

Woman weaving what’s called a Lahaula basket

Tito Makani; character from “Rocket Power” show on Nickelodeon

Queen Kapiolani, ruled Hawaii from 1874-1891 Queen Liliuokalani, last monarch, who ruled from 1891-1893

Men pounding poi, one with his familySamoans

The Samoan Islands: This group of islands includes, the independent nation of Samoa on the western side of this group, as well as the territory of American Samoa on the eastern side.

Man at Polynesian Cultural center Pretty Samoan woman during 4th of July celebration in West Jorday, Utah.

Gorgeous young woman Female Rugby Player

Two women in the middle of their day’s work,

Samoan guy. Either doing some ritual thing or getting ready to assault the camera man. Hope it’s the former.

Samoans have immigrated to other areas, for more opportunities, work relocation, etc.

The Samoan guy in the picture on the right actually lives in Hawaii. Samoan woman weaving at Polynesian cultural center in Oahu

Samoan man, also in Hawaii, shows off his muscle. Hey, if you have it, show it off, right?

Samoan woman being treated at a clinic in Auckland, Australia

Samoan woman at bar in Kiribati

Now, back to Samoans in Samoa

Young Samoan man, enjoying the beautiful waterfalls; Woman picking bananas

Young lady wearing traditional blouse Woman weaving mats

Woman, in Upolu, also doing her handicraft that she sells

Young woman looking super-traditional

Clip from a movie called, “Broken Promise” or “Tautoga Gausia”

. Unlike Hawaii, the other islands still have kings. This is the late King Tanumafili II of Samoa, who ruled from 1962 til his death in 2007. This man was also an avid golf-player and could, even in his old age, driving around in his golf cart.

Big Samoan guy with a young lady

Old pictures of Samoan folk

Tongans

Older lady Young woman

Certain, beloved Tongan woman who is a certified nurse’s aide, through a program sponsored by a United Methodist church.

1890s picture of man who was a leper.

Maori peoples(below)The Maori are the native people of New Zealand.

Ooooh(sigh), beautiful woman

There’s this really cool greeting, where upon meeting, people rub their noses together. It is the Hongi. It is used very much like a handshake. It is used at major ceremonies and traditional meetings. Once a person is greeted this way, they are no longer considered a visitor, but a person of the land.

Tiger Woods getting the traditional greeting as he arrives in New Zealand..

Princess Diana doing a forehead greeting, or Hongi, in New Zealand in 1983. Wow, she is like uber-taller than the other woman.

Two soldiers; a U.S. airman and a Maori warrior.

Prince William with hospital advisor, John Retimana in Auckland, New Zealand

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Women, looking fearless

The reason I don’t have a whole lot of pictures of the men, is that in a lot of the real, modern pictures the men are in these radical poses and some with this silly expression with their tongues sticking out, and stuff like that. I want more realistic pictures. Haha. Anyway, I think I’ll put up older pictures and paintings of the men.

Man in western attire of the 1800s

Maori chief

Young woman

Marquesas Islands: These are one of the main five administrative districts of French Polynesia, including Tahiti

Marquesan men

Marquesan men seem to be the most tattoo-oriented out of all Polynesian men. I tend to associate in my mind, tattoos with arrogance and machismo. But, I have to get rid of that stereotype, since in the case of men in this part of the world, tattoos are a cultural thing. Whereas here in the west, they are usually associated with rebels and antisocial type people.

Woman, with big warm smile, welcoming visitors. Nice picture. I like this woman’s hairstyle

Sports: Rugby is very popular on most Polynesian islands; in New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Cook Islands, etc. One of the Rugby pre-game rituals is derived from a traditional Maori war dance, the Haka. Rugby is not very popular in Hawaii. The main pastimes of Hawaiian folks are surfing and canoeing.

Entertainment

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson(Samoan through his mother) His grandfather, wrestler, Peter Maivia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMlAqW3KqU

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, great Hawaiian artist(vocalist) who passed away back in 1997. I am actually not familiar with his music and did not know who he was until this year. I think he is the fattest celebrity I know of. Yes, I say that he was fat. I don’t mean any disrespect, but I am just stating a fact. It was very unhealthy for him.

Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers is Samoan-American from Garden Grove, California