What to know

• Whole-genome analysis of over 1,000 Polynesian people found Native Hawaiians are genetically closest to the people of Easter Island (Rapa Nui).
• The data indicates Rapa Nui was settled in the 1200s by people from Mangareva, and a subset of that population later voyaged roughly 4,400 miles to become the first humans in Hawaii.
• Researchers name the group behind these crossings 'Holomoana Nui' and argue the findings should reshape how history credits Polynesian navigators as explorers.
• The study appears in the journal Science; coverage so far is limited to wire/aggregator pickup with no public discussion recorded yet.

“In their canoes, they brought with them plants that they would need on the newly settled island, and they included bananas, taro and sweet potato, as well as animals like the chicken.”

Alexander Ioannidis, Stanford computational geneticist, co-senior author · Channel News Asia ↗ · Oct 19

Alexander Ioannidis Stanford computational geneticistKeolu Fox Genome scientist, UC San Diego