The collective name for the islands of the central pacific ocean, including the Austral islands, Cook islands, Easter Island, hawaii; new zealand; Phoenix islands, pitcairn island; samoa; tonga; Tuamotu Archipelago, Wake Island, and Wallis and Futuna islands. Polynesians are of the Caucasoid race, but many are of mixed origin. polynesia is from the Greek poly, many + nesos, island, with reference to the many islands in the group. (From Webster's New Geographical dictionary, 1988, p966 & Room, Brewer's dictionary of names, 1992, p426)