Where did the first Polynesian settlers of Samoa probably come from?

The first Polynesian settlers arrived in the Samoan archipelago around 1000 bce, traveling in outrigger canoes. Based on characteristics of the Samoan language, scholars believe these settlers most likely came from Tonga.12

Archaeological evidence, such as Lapita pottery shards discovered in the Mulifanua Lagoon on Upolu, supports this early timeline of settlement. By approximately 500 ce, Samoa had become a central hub for voyagers who went on to settle much of eastern Polynesia.12