Traditionally known as Mu Nggaca and Mu Ngiki respectively, Rennell and Bellona Islands are Polynesian outliners sharing similar languages and cultures.  Because of its unique and specialised ecology, east Rennell has been made a national wildlife park and nominated for World Heritage listing. Historically, the Lapita people occupied Bellona briefly in about 1,000 BC with settlements on both islands following in around 130 BC, followed by another major occupation in about 1000 AD.  Rennell is sparsely populated for its size with only 1,500 inhabitants, whilst the smaller Bellona is home to approximately 1,500 people.  The people of both islands are skilled and inventive woodworkers and in pre-Christianity they wore tapa and were ornately tattooed.  Officially discovered in 1793 by Captain Benjamin Boyd in the merchant ship Bellona, the people of Rennell and Bellona speak similar Polynesian languages closely related to Maori.

Hetakai, which is the most traditional form of wrestling, involves males of all ages with two contestants competing at a time with the victor being the one who knocks down his opponent first and wins all his bouts.