"Aloha." "Aroha." "Talofa."
The words are as similar in meaning as in sound. Each is a warm Polynesian greeting, or a fond farewell; the first is Hawaiian, the second Maori (New Zealand), the last Samoan.Such similarities make it easy to think that the people themselves are the same: one group of people, from one big island in the Pacific, called Polynesia.
Not true. Not even close.
"Even though in many ways our cultures seem pretty identical, it's like the difference between whites and blacks. It's that different," said Pele Tautu Jr., a Samoan now living in American Fork.
"It's unfair to lump all Polynesians together in the same category," said Richard Poulsen, a Maori and president of the Iosepa Society. Subtle differences distinguish one group from another.
History
The Polynesian people share a common history, passed down mostly through legend and story. Until Europeans colonized the nations, there was no written language. So, the precise history of the settlement of Polynesia is unknown.
There are two main theories, according to Ellen Selu, vice president of the Mainland Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. The first is that the Polynesians settled the islands by way of Asia or Asia Minor. However, many Polynesians believe their ancestors' path can be traced through the Easter Islands, down through the Americas, to Tahiti. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have theorized that it was Hagoth, a Book of Mormon explorer and shipbuilder, who took that path with a group of people, eventually settling in the islands known as Polynesia.
Since then, however, the islands have been subjected to the rule of other nations. Since Hawaii became America's 50th state in 1959, it has had to adapt to the Western culture more than the other islands, said Selu.
Tonga, once under German rule, is a free-ruling monarchy under the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, Selu said, Tongans have preserved more of their traditions and culture than islands still under foreign rule.
Samoa is divided along two lines: Western Samoa, recently emancipated from a New Zealand trusteeship, and American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Although there are definite links to Western culture in American Samoa, much of their culture is still intact. For example, the chief is still a key decision maker.
Tahiti remains under French rule, and the European influence is pervasive. Tahitian children often learn French, English and Tahitian. They include French cuisine in their diet. But resentment over France's nuclear testing nearby has grown, and there is a burgeoning movement for Tahitian independence.
Language and culture
The languages of Polynesia are quite similar. In fact, Selu said, often only the dialects differ.
"If you get a Hawaiian talking with the pure dialect, they can talk with a Samoan talking in their true dialect. If you speak your language well, others can generally understand you, no matter what island you come from."
There are some distinguishing characteristics, though. Selu said the Hawaiian and Maori languages are softer in volume and tone, whereas the Samoan and Tongan languages have more guttural sounds. Also, the Maoris do not have an "l" in their alphabet, so Hawaiian words like "aloha" become "aroha."
That Polynesians traveled from island to island long before the airplane may explain similarities in culture despite the distance that separates them, said Mili Peters, chairwoman of the Polynesian Advisory Council.
Music and dance
Distinctions show up in the expressive arts, though all tell a story. Hawaiians rely on the graceful movements of a dancer's hands to interpret the music's story. But to concentrate on a Tahitian dancer's hands would mean missing the whole show. Tahitians tell stories with rhythms and hip movements.
Maoris are "the most melodious of all the Polynesians," she said. They combine singing and dancing, often in war dances and historically are the only war-like Polynesian group. Maori David Atkinson said the highlight of their dances is the "haka." The warrior is presented to enemy groups while the villagers sing, chant and dance as a show of unity and strength.
Samoan dances "tend to be more exciting, unfortunately for us Tongans," said Bill Afeaki, director of Utah's Office of Polynesian Affairs. Samoans have two dances Tongans do not: the flashy fire-knife dances and the slap dance.
Tongan dances are more graceful and require more coordination, said Afeaki. Their costuming is also slightly different, due to the influence of Christian missionaries who demanded more "modest" clothing over bare skin.
What's for supper?
The climate of the islands differentiates what they eat. In New Zealand, the only sub-tropical Polynesian island, lack of tropical plants prevents Maoris from sharing in some of the more famous Polynesian delicacies. Coconuts and tropical fruits do not grow well there, so Maoris became expert hunters and farmers. Pork is a staple, along with "kumara," a sweet potato.
Generally, though, the Polynesian diet consists of meat and starch. Taro, a root cooked a variety of ways, is common to most Polynesian people. Samoans cook it with bananas and coconut to make a tasty dessert; Hawaiians pound it to make poi; and Maoris, who claim poi "looks and tastes like wallpaper paste," attach them to ropes and swing them around in dances.
Vegetables are not popular with Polynesians, especially with people who are native to the islands. "I gave my mother-in-law some vegetables once, and she looked at it and told me I was feeding her grass," Peters laughed.
A violent people?
When people think about Polynesians, the picture is often of big football players, dangerous gang members, punk kids, said Atkinson.
It's an image based largely on the behavior of a select few, Afeaki said. And the media have to share the blame.
"I recognize that there are some problems with our youth. But, I think we as an ethnic community have been dealt with unfairly by the media. If the same things happened with mainstream kids, it would not be covered in the same way. For the people who know Polynesians well enough, they know that the stereotype that is out there is not the truth."
The truth, said Afeaki, comes down to money.
"It's an economic problem. The parents struggle to survive and provide for the children."
Afeaki said the "system" has taken away traditional Polynesian parenting methods, a strict au-thor-i-tarian disciplinary system that includes corporal punishment. Though there are few cases of child abuse, Afeaki said, Polynesians are targeted by a system that does not recognize their traditions.
The lack of education among newly immigrated Polynesians may also be a part of the problem.
"A lot of guys I know that come over from the islands don't have an education," said Poulsen. "So, they work two or three jobs just to get by, to get a foothold in this country. And the kids suffer. They don't have mentors or people at home to help them. They don't have a place to go where people will help them, so they end up on the street, getting into trouble."
The Rev. Devida Eteaki of the First Tongan United Methodist Church finds much to be proud of in the Polynesian community.
"There are lots of good kids who have made many achievements. My own daughter at West High School was just elected senior class president for next year. I am very proud of her. And there are others. There are attorneys, and doctors, and business people who are Polynesian. They are doing very well.
"Those are the images I want people to have. There are many stories like that to highlight a better image in our community."
Despite their differences, the Polynesian people have remained united.
They are bound together first by a devout faith in deity, said Afeaki. Faith motivated them to make their own pioneer trek from the islands to Utah in the 1800s, and that faith drives them today.
The Polynesian culture also centers around love and respect.
"While other people's love seems to be `me' centered - from me, to the family, to the community - Polynesians are just the opposite," said Peters. "For us, love goes from community, to family, to the individual. We believe that if you take care of the community, your family will be taken care of, and then your personal needs will be cared for.
"This is the spirit of aloha and the spirit of Polynesia."