The famous Pacific Islander explorer known for his voyages in the 18th century was Captain James Cook. He made three significant voyages to the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1779, during which he charted many areas, including the coasts of New Zealand and Australia, as well as numerous islands in the Pacific. Cook's voyages greatly expanded European knowledge of the Pacific and contributed to mapping the region accurately. His interactions with indigenous peoples were both groundbreaking and complex, sometimes leading to conflict. Cook's explorations had lasting impacts on geography, navigation, and European imperial expansion in the Pacific.