Music of Polynesia
Polynesian music blends tradition, dance, and colonial influences across the Pacific.
The music of Polynesia encompasses the diverse musical traditions of islands within a large area of the central and southern Pacific Ocean, roughly a triangle with New Zealand, Hawaii, and Easter Island at its corners. Traditional Polynesian music is largely inseparable from broader performance art forms, incorporating dance and recital of oral traditions, with most literature treating Polynesian music and dance together.
- region
- Central and southern Pacific Ocean (Polynesian triangle: New Zealand, Hawaii, Easter Island)
- field
- Music and dance
- known_for
- Integration of dance and oral tradition; acculturation with European instruments and styles; Christian hymn influence; kī hōʻalu (slack key) guitar; steel guitar; Pacific reggae; Urban Pasifika
- key_instruments
- Nose flute (Tonga), wooden drums (Rarotonga), ukulele, Pacific Island drums, brass bands
- awards
- Pacific Music Awards (New Zealand), Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii)
Lore & Background
Polynesian music expanded with colonial European contact, incorporating instruments and styles through a process of acculturation that continues to the present day. The European tradition of hymn-singing brought by Christian missionaries was probably the most important influence. Hawaii's influential kī hōʻalu ('slack key') music incorporated the Spanish guitar introduced in the late 19th century, and later introduced the steel guitar to country music. Hip hop and R&B influences have created a contemporary Urban Pasifika music genre with a strong Polynesian identity, supported by the annual Pacific Music Awards in New Zealand.
Reader's Guide
Christian missionaries arriving in the 1790s instituted hymns and other Christian music, driving native genres underground. Traditional polyphonic singing merged with church singing, and brass bands became important across the Pacific. Popular music mixes traditional instruments like the nose flute in Tonga and wooden drums of Rarotonga with contemporary instruments and rhythms. In the 1980s, Fijian stars Laisa Vulakoro and Lagani Rabukawaqa became popular. Hawaiian artists Raiatea Helm and Kalani Pe'a have achieved Grammy recognition; Pe'a sings traditional-style Hawaiian songs with four-part-harmony oli aloha and translates popular songs into Hawaiian. Pacific reggae features the ukulele and Pacific Island drums; notable artists include Herbs (New Zealand), J Boog (USA, Samoan descent), and Chris Boomer (Guam). Polynesian heritage artists also appear in pop music, such as Dinah Jane of Fifth Harmony. Some islands, notably Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, have developed a cassette industry. Steel guitarists Bill Sevesi and Bill Wolfgramm led popular dance bands in the 1950s.
Did You Know?
- Traditional Polynesian music is largely inseparable from dance and recital of oral traditions.
- Hawaii's kī hōʻalu (slack key) music incorporated the Spanish guitar introduced in the late 19th century.
- Pacific reggae features different instruments such as the ukulele and Pacific Island drums than reggae in other places.
- Some Polynesian islands have developed a cassette industry, most notably Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Music of Polynesia?
It refers to the collective musical traditions found across the Polynesian triangle—a vast stretch of the central and southern Pacific bounded by New Zealand, Hawaii, and Easter Island. Rather than existing as standalone songs, the music is deeply woven into dance performances and the oral storytelling traditions of each island community.
What makes Polynesian music different from other regional traditions?
Its defining feature is how tightly it is bound to movement and spoken word—singing, drumming, and reciting genealogies or myths are treated as one unified art form rather than separate disciplines. Most scholarly and cultural discussions group the music and dance together because separating them would strip away essential meaning.
What instruments are most associated with Polynesian music?
Traditional setups feature wooden hand drums (especially on Rarotonga), a nose flute used in Tonga, and various Pacific Island drums, while later additions include the ukulele, the Hawaiian slack-key guitar, and the steel guitar. Brass bands have also become a significant part of the soundscape in several island communities.
How did outside cultures influence Polynesian music?
Contact with European colonizers introduced instruments like the guitar and brass, and Christian hymn structures reshaped vocal styles across many islands. In more recent decades, genres like Pacific reggae and Urban Pasifika have blended those earlier acculturation patterns with global pop and hip-hop sensibilities.
What major awards celebrate Polynesian music?
New Zealand's Pacific Music Awards and Hawaii's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards are the two most prominent industry honors recognizing artists working in these traditions. Both ceremonies highlight the breadth of the genre, from traditional ensemble performances to contemporary fusion acts.
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