Hawaiian settlers traveled from Easter Island 1000 years ago
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Geneticists from the University of San Diego determined that the first people to settle Hawaii arrived around 1000 years ago by traveling from Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, a journey of over 7,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean.
Researchers compared the DNA of over 1,000 indigenous Polynesians, including 317 from Hawaii, to trace the origins of the islands’ first inhabitants.
The analysis revealed the closest genetic relationship between Hawaiians and the people of Easter Island, with those from the island of Mangareva showing the second closest connection. The study suggests this initial voyage to Hawaii occurred around the same time as an earlier migration from Mangareva, a Polynesian island 2,600 kilometers from Easter Island, to Easter Island itself. This means the ancestors of the Hawaiian settlers undertook a remarkable journey across vast distances of the Pacific.
The researchers estimate approximately 800 people made the voyage to Hawaii about 34 generations ago, or around 960 years in the past, assuming a generation lasts 28 years. This founding population’s small size created a “founder effect”, a limited range of genetic diversity among their descendants. Consequently, certain gene variants present in the original group became more common in Hawaii, including three rare variants linked to kidney failure and eye damage.
Scientists hope identifying these variants may help with earlier diagnosis and treatment of related conditions, potentially providing a medical benefit alongside understanding Polynesian history.
