South Pacific islands history A to Z

A

Renowned pioneer of Samoa's hotel industry

B

Coral reef in the Marshall Islands used by the United States for nuclear testing

C

Fijian leader who united the country and sought the protection of the United Kingdom

D

A large, double-hulled canoe, capable of long journeys and carrying up to 200 people. Also the Fijian word for twin.

E

The 19th century British name for Tuvalu

F

French Territory named Hoornse Eylanden by 17th century Dutch explorers from the town of Hoorn

G

Largest island in the Solomons, and site of an American victory in WWII

H

Both Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel lived and died on this Marquesas island, also known for its stone tiki statues

I

This boundary was moved from west to east of Tokelau at midnight on 29 December 2011

J

Country that occupied the Gilbert Islands from December 1941 to November 1943

K

An island that was split into two (Tongoa and Epi) by a major volcanic eruption in the 15th century

L

Prehistoric Austronesian people who were the first to settle in the Pacific islands

M

Coral reef in French Polynesia used by France for nuclear testing

N

French penal colony between 1864 and 1924

O

Polynesian god particularly venerated in Tahiti in the 17th and 18th centuries

P

The final destination of HMS Bounty

Q

Woman of Samoan and American heritage who became a successful entrepreneur in New Britain

R

In 1932 this island held celebrations and a rugby match to welcome the New Zealand Olympic team, the Australian delegation to the Imperial Economic Conference, and an Australian cricket team, including Donald Bradman, all sailing home from North America

S

In 2009 this country switched from driving on the right to driving on the left side of the road

T

A sport, unique to a PNG island, that combines local traditions of competition and combat with a game introduced by a British missionary in 1903

U

Major scientific surveying voyage conducted under Lieutenant Wilkes in 1838-42

V

This name was adopted by the New Hebrides in 1980 to signify independence from Britain and France

W

Māori genealogy, connecting people to ancestry and place

X

Chinese explorer who commanded a fleet of ships in the Pacific in the 3rd century BCE, searching for the elixir of life

Y

Group in the Caroline Islands that gave its name to one of the Federated states of Micronesia

Z

A powerful sorceress who was the main character in a Mexican comic book and film set on an exoticized Pacific island