Study finds Hawaiians closest to Rapa Nui

A study of ancient and modern Polynesian DNA, published in Science, found that Native Hawaiians share their closest genetic ties with the people of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island; Hawaii and Rapa Nui were paired in 61% of the reconstructed genetic family trees. The findings support long-distance voyaging across the Pacific and suggest that settlers of Rapa Nui traced their ancestry to Mangareva and that some people from this wider voyaging population later reached Hawaii, likely in the 13th century. Researchers caution that the genetic link does not by itself establish a direct voyage from Rapa Nui to Hawaii, instead pointing to shared ancestry and a broader migration network. The study also highlights population bottlenecks among Polynesians, which may help researchers understand genetic diversity and health risks today.