Polynesian Airlines was founded in 1959 by Captain Sir Reginald Barnewall, an Australian airline captain who had previously managed an airline called Southern Airlines in Melbourne and Samoan businessman Eugene Paul. With a rich and colorful past, the airline is one of the best known in the South Pacific region. Polynesian Airlines previously operated jet flights linking Samoa with Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Nadi, Rarotonga, Papeete, Tongatapu, Niue and Pago Pago.