Charles Gordon Hopkins (1848-1849, 1855-1860) The Polynesian was a 4-8 page weekly newspaper published in Honolulu, that had two periods of publication: from June 6, 1840, to December 11, 1841, and then from May 18, 1844, to February 6, 1864.

James Jackson Jarves founded the newspaper in June 1840, running it with funds from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, advertisements, and subscriptions.

Written for Honolulu's foreign residents, it was among the first Hawaiian newspapers to feature puff pieces that were barely disguised advertising.

[2] King Kamehameha III commissioned the paper as the "Official Journal of the Hawaiian Government."

[1] Despite being the mouthpiece of the Hawaiian government, Jarves had a pro-American editorial bias, promoting Christianity and Western culture as superior, advocating for the Great Māhele, and endorsing English language for instruction in schools.