Polynesians By holly1 Period: 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE the Lapita people spread across Polynesia Period: 1000 BCE to 1000 BCE Samona is settled Period: 200 BCE to 1500 BCE first travelers begin to move from Asia through the islands Period: 300 to 500 hawaiian islands settled Period: 700 to 700 Polynesians settle Rapa Nui (Easter Islands) Period: 1000 to 1000 Polynesians arrive at Aotearoa (New Zealand)