After, or before, Columbus discovered the new world did anyone decide to try the same thing from Asia?
Edit for clarification: In school we learn a lot about westward expansion from the eastern settlers heading west, and we learn very little about Asian settlers landing in California. Who was the person who first discovered the route to the Americas from Asia?
Polynesian sailors and their Lapita forebears colonized the Pacific, spreading from New Zealand to Hawaii to Easter Island. Unfortunately we don't really have much in the way of names, but just seeing the distances involved it is clear they were both bold and highly capable.