Pacific Islands Context

Overview | Migration & Settlement | European Exploration | Pacific People & Cultures

The Pacific Ocean, covering one-third of our planet, is home to more than 2,000 U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands spanning millions of square miles. America's day begins in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Greenwich Mean Time [GMT] +10 hours) and ends in American Samoa (GMT +11). The largest aggregate of land is the State of Hawai‘i, with 6,470 square miles (making it the fourth smallest of the United States). The total land area of all the remaining islands is less than half that of Rhode Island, the nation's smallest state. The 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the islands represents over half of America's EEZ. Land is scarce, but the ocean resources are vast, encompassing 20 times more area than the total square miles of land.

The Pacific islands are characterized by enormous ecological and cultural diversity, a rich human history, and pressing contemporary issues that command the interest and expertise of governments and institutions of higher learning in many different fields. Unlike the predominantly European roots of the U.S. mainland, the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands were settled as early as 1500 B.C. by seafaring people of common origin. A series of foreign countries have, at different times, governed these islands. The notion of local self-governance (via elections) is a relatively recent occurrence: Hawai‘i in 1960; Guam in 1971; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa in 1977.

The region is ethnically diverse and young. Most have experienced rapid growth (2.2-8.9%) even though the total aggregate population of the islands is less than 2.5 million. Outside of Hawai‘i, the vast majority of the island populations are comprised of indigenous and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Despite their small population and rich diversity, they are also among the most loyal American citizens, having among the highest per-capita participation in the Gulf War.

While the ocean is a major asset for all these islands, they also have relatively few natural resources. The fact that these lands masses are islands with environmentally sensitive ecosystems also precludes the development of certain economic activities. The visitor industry dominates the local economies, except in American Samoa. However, their geo-insular characteristics (isolation, limited local resources, etc.) compound the challenges of business development and survival. In addition, 80% of the islands' basic needs must be imported, making harbors and airports the lifelines of island communities.