ABSTRACT
During the twentieth century, while some of the islands, including Western Samoa and New Zealand, claimed their independence, others made various alliances. Hawaii joined the United States, the Cook Islands became part of New Zealand, and the French organized some 120 islands into French Polynesia. In the present day, tourism contributes a great deal to Polynesian economies, and most Polynesians have
adopted Western ways, though islanders on Samoa and Tonga retain aspects of their traditional culture.
