“Hawaii” DNA
Revised 2 December 2009
Corrections (with sources) are welcome. The webmaster is a DNA hobbyist who lives in Hawaii. 

No Known “Hawaiian” DNA

DNA testing as a tool for genealogists has become popular but there are limitations to what DNA can tell you. If you are only interested in testing to establish your ancient Hawaiian ancestry, it is important to understand that while there is some information about the haplogroups -- deep ancestry going back thousands of years -- of ancient Polynesian DNA, there is NO known DNA that is specifically or exclusively Hawaiian. Furthermore, although DNA testing may be able identify Polynesian roots with a high degree of probability, testing can only do so if your Hawaiian ancestors include your direct maternal (mtDNA) or direct paternal (Y-DNA) line. Males and females have mtDNA from their mother, but only males have Y-DNA (hence a male member of the family is needed for that test).  In other words, you may have many Hawaiian ancestors but unless they include your direct maternal line or your direct paternal line (males only), the current state of DNA testing cannot identify any Polynesian connection.
See below definition of direct maternal/paternal lines.

mtDNA Haplogroup B 

This lineage is found in eastern and southeastern Eurasia, Native American Indians, and Polynesia. B is estimated to be the mtDNA haplogroup of about 93% of the males and females living today who report their maternal line as Polynesian.  The group of mutations 16189C, 16217C, 16247G, and 16261T collectively define the "Polynesian Motif" ("PM"), a special subgroup of haplogroup B which is found almost exclusively in Polynesia. This "PM" subset of B is estimated to be the haplogroup of more than 75% of the males and females living today who report their maternal line as Polynesian. (In some cases these mutations are reported as 189C, 217C, 247G, 261T - without the preceding number 16).
A few PM results

Y-DNA  Haplogroups

Y-DNA in Polynesia has more haplogroup variations than mtDNA; however, about 75% reporting their paternal line as Polynesian are in one of the below three Y-DNA haplogroups:
     
1) Haplogroup C2 [M38]
This is the haplogroup of about 34% who report their paternal line as Polynesian.
C2 is found in Polynesia, Melanesia, New Guinea, and Indonesia.

2) Haplogroup O [M122]
This is the haplogroup of about 24% who report their paternal line as Polynesian.
O is typical of populations of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and culturally Austronesian regions of Oceania [includes Polynesia], with a moderate distribution in Central Asia  [ISOGG tree – O3 M122] . 

3) Haplogroup K [M9]
This is the haplogroup of about 18% who report their paternal line as Polynesian.
K is an old lineage presently found only at low frequencies in Africa, Asia, and in the South Pacific. One descendent line of this lineage is restricted to aboriginal Australians, while another is found at low frequency in southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Sources for the above:

For more on this subject, see these papers and references therein:

Oppenheimer, S. and M. Richards. 2001
Fast Trains, Slow Boats, and the Ancestry of the Polynesian Islanders. Science Progress 84(3):157-181.
http://www.scilet.com/Papers/sciprog/sc843/SPOppenheimer.pdf
According to this paper, and/or references therein, an mtDNA sequence referred to the Polynesian Motif is found almost exclusively in Polynesia.  This sequence is a special subgroup of haplogroup mtDNA B containing the group of mutations 16189C, 16217C, 16247G, and 16261T collectively.  Paper contains additional information on the subject of Polynesia.

Kayser, et al, 2006
Melanesian and Asian Origins of Polynesians: mtDNA and Y Chromosome Gradients Across the Pacific
Molecular Biology and Evolution 2006 23(11):2234-2244; doi:10.1093/molbev/msl093
and Supplementary Material - Supplementary Tables S1–S5 and Figures S1 and S2

Information regarding haplogroups is subject to change as scientific research on this subject progresses over time.

 _________________
See also:
     Additional information at the link listed below under
     Hawaiian Ancestry ~ Native Hawaiian Direct Paternal or Maternal Line

See also:
     "Just wondering ... why no data on Hawaiian natives . . . . ."

What about all the other ethnic groups in Hawaii?

That is a very large and complicated subject!  For now, see the remarks at the link listed below under:
Hawaiian Islanders ~ All Ethnic Groups

Hawaii Related DNA Projects by Hobbyists

Many people wish to DNA test to learn more about their personal genealogy and/or ancient ancestry. This is a pioneer field and there is much to be learned.   Many hobbyists have begun surname projects or geographical projects.  One benefit of these group projects is a reduced rate for some of the tests.  At this time, there are few surname projects for names associated with the various diverse ethnic populations living in Hawaii.  Until this changes, interested participants with Hawaii connections are welcome to test through two projects that qualify for the group rate offered by Family Tree DNA (FTDNA).   There are other testing companies; however, the administrators of the below projects all found their way to FTDNA and are happy with their services.  In addition to other testing companies, there is the National Geographic Genographic Project . Genographic does not provide “match” information but you can transfer data to FTDNA from Genographic and see matches there.

The project administrators of the below projects are genealogy hobbyists - not scientists - using DNA as one of several resources to further their various genealogy and/or anthrogenealogical interests.  None are employed by FTDNA, nor do they, or their projects, receive any form of compensation, kickbacks, etc., from tests ordered at FTDNA.  They are willing to share with, and learn with, others with Island connections who are interested in this subject.

Important:
When you visit the below sites, please read all of the information before contacting the project administrator.

Hawaiian Ancestry ~ Native Hawaiian Direct Paternal or Maternal Line
This project is for persons whose direct maternal or direct paternal line is Native Hawaiian.  It is NOT required that you be 100% Native Hawaiian or that both your maternal and paternal lines be Native Hawaiian. Either the direct maternal or direct paternal line meets the requirement. The project requirement is based on the limitations of DNA testing, as known today, and should NOT be considered a definition of Hawaiian ancestry.  If your direct maternal or paternal line is not Native Hawaiian, you may participate via the Hawaiian Islanders project.  Direct maternal/paternal lines are described at the below link - please read all of the information at this link:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/hawaiianancestry

Hawaiian Islanders ~ All Ethnic Groups
This project is for all members of all ethnic groups who have roots in the Hawaiian Islands. This includes both those of "full-blooded" and of "mixed" ethnic backgrounds - including but not limited to Pacific Islanders, Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, etc.), Hispanics/Portuguese, and Caucasians. Hawaiian Islanders who participate in this project can obtain group rates available at FTDNA for some of the tests of interest to genealogy and anthrogenealogy hobbyists. 
Please read all of the information at this link.
http://www.ftdna.com/public/hawaii

Important:
When you visit the above sites, please read all of the information before contacting the project administrator.

What is a direct maternal/paternal line?

Direct maternal line
This refers to an unbroken line of maternal grandmothers.  In the case of Native Hawaiians, this means that your mother's mother's mother's mother, was Hawaiian - going back before the arrival of Captain Cook (about eleven generations). If so, you carry the mtDNA of that line going back to ancestral Polynesia. Both males and females have mtDNA; it is passed on to them by their mother.

Direct paternal line
This refers to an unbroken line of paternal grandfathers.  In the case of Native Hawaiians, this means that your father's father's father's father was Hawaiian - going back before the arrival of Captain Cook (about eleven generations). If so, you carry the Y-DNA of that line going back to ancestral Polynesia. Only males have Y-DNA; it is passed on by their father.

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Hawaiian Roots - Genealogy for Hawaiians
http://www.hawaiian-roots.com

Honolulu County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 235039
Honolulu, HI 96823-3500
http://www.rootsweb.com/~hihcgs

 = = = = =

Website address of this page (the page you are reading now):
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gkbopp/DNA/HAWAII%20DNA
A shorter url to this page is:
http://tinyurl.com/2znfzg