The peoples of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia: their voyaging heritage, colonisation, and the threat that climate change poses to island nations.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-26
Pacific Islanders are the indigenous peoples of Oceania, the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The region is usually divided into three areas: Polynesia (including Hawai‘i, Samoa, Tonga and Māori New Zealand), Melanesia (including Fiji and Papua New Guinea) and Micronesia (including Kiribati and the Marshall Islands).
A heritage of voyaging
Pacific peoples were among the greatest navigators in human history. Using the stars, ocean swells and bird movements, they sailed huge distances in canoes to settle remote islands – a skill known as wayfinding. The region is home to hundreds of languages and cultures.
Colonisation
From the 1700s, European powers and later the United States and Japan colonised much of the Pacific. Some islands were used for nuclear weapons testing in the 20th century, forcing communities from their homes and causing lasting harm.
Climate change
Today the greatest threat to many Pacific nations is climate change. Low-lying islands and atolls such as Tuvalu and Kiribati face rising sea levels, stronger storms and saltwater ruining drinking water and crops. Pacific leaders are among the strongest voices in the world calling for climate action, and some people may become climate refugees.
The situation today
Many Pacific islands are now independent nations, though small and economically vulnerable. Large communities also live in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Traditional arts, dance, tattooing and a strong sense of community remain central to Pacific identity. …