Polynesia is a group of island chains spread across much of the Pacific Ocean, and includes many countries and territories. Internationally, Polynesian music is mostly associated with twinkling guitars and grass skirts, Hawaiian hula and other tourist-friendly forms of music. While these elements are justifiably a part of Polynesian history and culture, there is actually a wide variety of music made in the far-flung reaches of Polynesia.

Throughout most of Polynesia, music has been influenced by European, American and East Asian contact. The only major stronghold to hold to traditional culture without much evolution has been Tonga, which has pursued a relatively isolationist history.

Song and dance are integral parts of the same cultural elements throughout Polynesia. Within songs, the lyrics are by far more important than the melodic accompaniment, which is sometimes changed to Western pop music structures. The most important instrument is the voice, though multiple varieties of slit drums and conch shells are also popular. Other instruments include the pandanus, a sitting mat that is also used as a percussion instrument, nose flutes (best-known for Tonga's Honourable Ve'ehala) and derivatives of Portuguese guitars like the ukulele and slack-key guitar.

In the 1790s, Christian missionaries arrived in Polynesia for the first time. Hymns and other forms of Christian music were instituted, and native musical genres were driven underground and prohibited. Soon, traditional polyphonic singing was merged with Christian styles and church singing became an important part of Polynesian culture across the Pacific.

Some Polynesian islands have developed a cassette industry, most notably Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. In the 1980s, Fijian stars like Laisa Vulakoro and Lagani Rabukawaqa became popular across the Pacific.

• Music of the Cook Islands
• Music of Fiji
• Music of French Polynesia
• Music of Hawaii
• Music of New Zealand
• Music of Samoa
• Music of Tonga
• Music of Tuvalu
• Music of Pitcairn Islands

References

• Linkels, Ad. "The Real Music of Paradise". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 218-229. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0