In this bulletin:
1. TONGA — Tonga appoints three new Ministers
2. COOKS — Mangaia trio boosts Cook Islands Party bid for supermajority
3. HAWAII — Hurricane poised to hit Hawaii as El Nino stirs Pacific
4. FIJI — Fiji High Court declares Commission of Inquiry report null and void
5. VAN — Visa overstayer concerns put Vanuatu under US$20,000 bond
6. FIJI — Approximately 90 percent of new HIV diagnoses among iTaukei
7. AUST — Monoculture threatens nation’s security, minister warns
8. PACNEWS BIZ — International Transport Workers Federation supports $8 minimum wage push in Fiji
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Biosecurity Dep’t on alert as bird flu spreads near Vanuatu
10. PACNEWS DIGEST — Our ocean has no borders: wayfinding, memory and labels that divide
11 PACNEWS DIGEST — Strengthening community voices: Integrating GEDSI and traditional knowledge for invasive species management in Vava’u
TONGA – CABINET RESHUFLLE: PACNEWS/TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Tonga appoints three new Ministers
NUKU’ALOFA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/TALANOAOTONGA) —Royal Warrants for three newly appointed Ministers in Tonga were formally read on Sunday, 16 August 2026, at ceremonies held at their respective locations.
The Royal Warrants were read for:
* Minister of Infrastructure,Tevita Fatafehi Puloka, at the Free Wesleyan Church in ‘Isileli.
* Minister of Finance, Vika Sivoki Lavemaau, at Ngele’ia Free Wesleyan Church.
*Minister of Health, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, at his residence in Pahu.
The appointments will formally take effect on Monday, 17 August 2026.
The three Ministers will assume responsibility for their respective portfolios from that date.
The appointments follow the removal of former Infrastructure Minister Semisi Sika and former Finance Minister Lata Tangimana, creating vacancies that had prompted Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua to signal a wider Cabinet reshuffle.
Tevita Fatafehi Puloka has been appointed Minister of Infrastructure, while Vika Sivoki Lavemaau becomes Minister of Finance. Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola returns as Minister of Health, having previously held the portfolio.
Puloka is the sitting People’s Representative for Tongatapu 1 and was first elected in 2021. His appointment brings an elected People’s Representative directly into the Infrastructure portfolio.
Lavemau’s appointment places a woman at the head of the Ministry of Finance at a time when Government finances, the cost of living and economic pressures remain major issues for households and businesses. She is not an elected People’s Representative but has served within the Ministry of Finance, including as Deputy CEO.
The Women and Children Crisis Centre welcomed the appointment, describing it as an important signal to young women and girls about opportunities for leadership.
Her appointment was also welcomed by Take The Lead, which noted that she becomes the youngest person to hold the Finance portfolio, while stressing that she should be given the opportunity to demonstrate her leadership.
For ‘Akau’ola, the appointment marks a return to the Health portfolio. He previously served as Minister of Health after a long career in the Ministry, including 14 years as its CEO.
The appointments come as Government prepares for further political changes, with two parliamentary by-elections scheduled following the vacancies….PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTION: PACNEWS/COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Mangaia trio boosts Cook Islands Party bid for supermajority
RAROTONGA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/COOK ISLANDS NEWS) —The Cook Islands Party (CIP) is closing in on a two-thirds majority in Parliament after three independent female candidates who won seats in Mangaia agreed to join the party.
The three independent MPs are Agnes Armstrong, Rimmel Poila-Mokoroa and Tetangi Matapo.
Their decision to join the CIP strengthens the party’s numbers as it seeks a fifth consecutive term in government and moves it closer to securing a supermajority in Parliament.
First-time independent candidate Dr Kirianu “Dash” Nio also secured the Pukapuka-Nassau seat by just three votes.
Nio polled 134 votes, defeating caretaker Minister and Cook Islands Party candidate Tingika Elikana, who received 131 votes.
The addition of the three Mangaia MPs could give the CIP the numbers needed to reach the two-thirds threshold in Parliament, strengthening its ability to advance legislation and constitutional changes requiring a supermajority…..PACNEWS
HAWAII – WEATHER WATCH: AP PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Hurricane poised to hit Hawaii as El Nino stirs Pacific
HONOLULU, 17 AUGUST 20926 (AP)—The governor of the U.S Pacific island state declared a state of emergency as the storm barrelled towards the archipelago, packing winds that could gust up to 85 miles (137 kilometers) an hour.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Hawaii County, which covers the Big Island, and a tropical storm warning held for the islands of Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe to its northwest. Lower grade tropical storm watches were in place for other islands.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said rainfall of up to 12 inches (30 centimetres) was expected across Maui and the Big Island, with up to 25 inches in certain pockets of the latter, and storm surge of 1-3 feet.
Governor Josh Green proclaimed a state of emergency to ensure the state and its counties “have sufficient resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and take other measures to prepare.”
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said Friday his adminstration had spent days preparing the area for the impact of the storm, and urged residents to be ready.
“I am asking everyone to finish your preparations today. Don’t wait for the weather to deteriorate,” he said.
“Stay informed, stay away from dangerous areas, and make sure your family knows what to do if conditions worsen.”
Hawaii’s emergency management agency recommended residents clear gutters and drains and move valuables off the ground, seal gaps in doors and remove tree limbs that threaten their properties.
“Stay away from beaches and coastal areas where rough surf and rip currents could sweep you away,” it added.
Hawaii was menaced by Hurricane Fausto last month, before the storm weakened and skirted north of the island chain.
The state was last hit by a “major” hurricane — meaning Category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale — in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki caused at least six deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
The storm comes as a powerful El Nino has formed in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, with temperatures already so high that NOAA now predicts a 69 percent chance of a “historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Nino events dating back to 1950” when it peaks between October-December.
El Nino, a natural climate pattern when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, tends to promote hurricane activity in the Pacific while suppressing it in the Atlantic.
Human-caused climate change can amplify El Nino’s impacts because a warmer ocean and atmosphere increase the availability of energy and moisture for extreme weather events, such as heat waves and heavy rainfall…..PACNEWS
FIJI – COURTS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Fiji High Court declares Commission of Inquiry report null and void
SUVA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—-Fiji High Court in Suva has declared the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report null and void, quashing its recommendations in their entirety after finding the inquiry was tainted by bias and breached the rules of natural justice.
Justice Dane Tuiqereqere delivered the landmark ruling Friday, reading from a 154-page judgment.
The court found that the Commissioner of Inquiry, Justice Ashton Lewis, had acted with bias during the inquiry.
Justice Tuiqereqere also ruled that several parties were denied natural justice during the proceedings.
They include former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney-General Graham Leung, Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clarke and former Fiji Law Society president Laurel Vaurasi.
As a result, the court declared the COI report null and void and set aside its recommendations in their entirety.
The matter has been adjourned to 25 Augus5, when the court will hear submissions on costs.
Meanwhile, former Attorney-General Graham Leung is taking a cautious approach to his next move as the State considers whether to appeal the High Court ruling in his favour and that of three other applicants.
“I haven’t had time to read the ruling, the State can appeal, so I have to be circumspect in what I say,” Leung said.
He thanked God, his legal team, family and supporters who stood by him throughout the ordeal.
Clarke and Vaurasi also thanked their supporters and lawyers for remaining steadfast in the case.
“The cost of this has been personal in the sense that there was uncertainty, knowing that there were people out there who said these things about you,” Mr Clarke said.
Government has yet to confirm whether it will appeal the ruling.
She said the impact of the dismissals went beyond employment, affecting reputations.
In another development, a court ruling that quashed adverse findings against several officials has reopened a bigger question: what happens to those who lost their jobs as a result of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) process?
Counsel Tanya Waqanaika is now pressing the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to act on the implications of the ruling, arguing that the findings against her client can no longer stand.
Waqanaika said her client’s position was that the court decision effectively rendered the Commission of Inquiry report null and void and raised serious questions over the constitutionality of dismissals linked to the process.
She said she met with the JSC last week to push for the commission to recognise the consequences of the court’s decision.
Correspondence was first sent to the JSC in January, when the commission had initially accepted the position before later rejecting it, she said.
“We wrote to them, and now they are doing it again,” Waqanaika said.
However, she stressed that her client was not seeking a simple return to her former position after the ordeal she had endured.
“There has been a lot that has happened,” she said.
Waqanaika said there was no concrete outcome from her latest meeting with the JSC, but maintained that the Government now had a responsibility to address the consequences of the court ruling.
“They have to do the right thing, especially now that it is an election year,” she said.
She said the impact of the dismissals went beyond employment, with the controversy affecting the reputations, careers and future prospects of those involved.
“Graham-Leung lost his job,” she said.
The court had found that the applicants were not afforded natural justice during the Commission of Inquiry process and subsequently quashed the adverse findings against them.
The ruling has now left the JSC and Government facing a difficult question; if the findings that led to the dismissals have been quashed, what should happen to the people whose careers were affected?
For Waqanaika, the issue is no longer simply about the original CoI findings, but about what the authorities do next…..PACNEWS
VAN – VISA BOND: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Visa overstayer concerns put Vanuatu under US$20,000 bond
PORT VILA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —The United States (U.S) Embassy in Port Moresby, which handles U.S interests in Vanuatu, has defended the decision to permanently include Vanuatu in the U.S Visa Bond Programme, saying the measure is aimed at enforcing immigration laws and reducing visa overstays.
The Embassy told the Daily Post that visa bonds may be required from nationals of countries with “high overstay rates, deficient information sharing, insufficient identity verification and criminal records”.
It also pointed to areas requiring improvement in screening and vetting, as well as the security of travel and civil documents, including in the granting of citizenship.
However, the Embassy did not provide the Daily Post with a specific figure for the number of Ni-Vanuatu who have overstayed their visas in the U.S. or say how many are currently living illegally in the country.
The response comes after the Daily Post reported that Vanuatu is among five Pacific Islands Forum member states permanently included in the programme, alongside Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Tuvalu.
The U.S State Department’s published list confirms Vanuatu was placed under the visa-bond requirement on 21 January 2026.
Under the programme, certain applicants for B1/B2 business and visitor visas may be required to post a financial bond before being granted a visa. The final programme allows the bond to reach US$20,000, equivalent to about VT2.35 million.
The U.S Embassy said the Trump Administration is continuing to put American interests first by “fully enforcing U.S immigration laws and ensuring lawful travel through our visa process”.
It said visa bonds have proven effective in deterring visa overstays and enforcing compliance with U.S. visa regulations.
“This action reflects President Trump’s commitment to protecting the American people, enforcing our immigration laws, and safeguarding U.S. taxpayer resources by reducing illegal overstays,” the Embassy said.
The programme was initially introduced as a pilot in August 2025. The earlier arrangement allowed bonds of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, but the final rule removed the US$5,000 option and increased the maximum bond to US$20,000.
The requirement does not mean every Ni-Vanuatu applicant will automatically have to pay US$20,000.
The Embassy said Ni-Vanuatu citizens who are eligible for a U.S visa and intend to comply with U.S law remain welcome to apply.
“As Secretary Marco Antonio Rubio has repeatedly made clear, a U.S visa is a privilege, not a right,” the Embassy said.
The Embassy has encouraged applicants to carefully review the visa-bond requirements before applying.
The U.S decision places Vanuatu alongside four other Pacific countries under a measure that Washington says is designed to address visa overstays and strengthen compliance with U.S immigration requirements.
The move has raised questions about Vanuatu’s own visa overstay record, information-sharing arrangements, identity verification and the security of its travel and civil documents.
While the U.S Embassy has outlined the broad criteria used for the programme, it has not publicly provided a Vanuatu-specific breakdown showing which of those factors contributed most heavily to Vanuatu’s inclusion.
The financial impact could be significant for Ni-Vanuatu travellers required to post the maximum bond, with US$20,000 equivalent to around VT2.35 million — a substantial amount for an individual seeking to travel temporarily to the United States….PACNEWS
FIJI – HIV/AIDS/HEALTH: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Approximately 90 percent of new HIV diagnoses among iTaukei
LAUTOKA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Approximately 90 percent of Fiji’s new HIV diagnoses in 2025 were among the iTaukei population, with young people also accounting for a significant proportion of cases, according to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa highlighted the figures during International Youth Day and the launch of the University of Fiji HIV prevention campaign at the UniFiji Saweni Campus in Lautoka last Friday.
“When we invest in the health and wellbeing of our young people, we are investing directly in Fiji’s human capital, productivity, resilience and national development,” he said.
Ravunawa said Fiji’s future was being challenged by one of the most serious public health threats confronting the country.
“Fiji is experiencing a rapidly escalating HIV epidemic,” he said.
“In 2025, Fiji recorded 2016 new HIV diagnoses compared with 245 in 2022. Current estimates indicate that around 12,000 people may now be living with HIV, with approximately one in every 60 adults aged 15 to 49 affected.”
Of particular concern was the impact on young people.
“Two-thirds of those diagnosed in 2025 were between 20 and 34 years of age. We have also seen a 45 percent increase in infections among children and teenagers aged 10 to 19 years,” he said.
“Approximately 90 percent of new diagnoses are among our iTaukei population while infections among women are also increasing.”
Ravunawa said the figures represented more than statistics.
“Behind every diagnosis is a person. Behind every person is a family. And behind every young person is a future we have responsibility to protect,” Mr Ravunawa said.
“HIV is no longer somebody else’s problem. It is a national public health challenge requiring a whole of Government and society’s response.”
He said the Government could not tackle the challenge alone…..PACNEWS
AUST – POLITICS: AAP PACNEWS 1: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Monoculture threatens nation’s security, minister warns
SYDNEY, 17 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—The foreign minister Penny Wong has taken a swipe at One Nation in a major speech, warning a monoculture Australia would risk national security.
In a wide-ranging speech at the Lowy Institute on Friday, Wong argued ignoring a multicultural society would cause Australia irreparable damage.
She said going down the path of a monoculture would damage hard-fought diplomatic gains.
“The call for a monoculture is a call for Australia to curtail our choices and cut off our connection, to look inwards, to have no friends to work with,” Senator Wong said.
“There is a lot of damage that can be done, because Australians would be turned against each other. Australia would be a more hostile place.
“At a time where external and internal forces are seeking to divide us, turning Australians against each other makes us more vulnerable.”
The comments took aim at the policies of One Nation, whose leader Pauline Hanson called for a monoculture in a speech to the National Press Club in June.
While One Nation and Senator Hanson were not named in Senator Wong’s speech, she used the address to highlight criticisms of the minor party’s approach.
“Division makes us easier to exploit; it doesn’t make us stronger,” she said.
“Turning Australians against each other is the opposite of patriotism. Our resilience starts with how we choose to live together.”
Multiculturalism remained one of Australia’s greatest strengths, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“We can be a microcosm … living side by side, people of different backgrounds, overwhelmingly in harmony,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“My government will not do anything that breaches harmony. What we want is for Australia to be more united.
“It is other forces that seek to divide people for political ends.”
Senator Wong said the push for multiculturalism was critical at a time of rising social divisions.
“It has been one of our country’s greatest strengths and … we are still going through a difficult time, but it is something all of us contribute to,” she said.
“We live in a time where social media and the fermenting of anger and division is kind of the way so much is dealt with.
“We just have to keep pushing back against that because, ultimately, I do think it makes us weaker.”
Senator Wong said partnerships with neighbouring countries, particularly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, were valuable in a time of global disruption.
Relations with Asia helped secure fuel during oil shortages, while Pacific alliances, such as the Ocean of Peace agreement signed with Fiji in July, would help provide stability.
“Denigrating our region and neglecting our partners is no way to secure Australia’s interests – neither is encouraging some kind of retreat from the world and the institutions that go with it,” Senator Wong said.
“I’ve always believed the ability of Australians to connect with people from every part of the world is a national asset.”
Senator Hanson has come under fire for failing to name the leaders of crucial allies.
In an interview with News24, the One Nation leader said diplomacy with Southeast Asia would be “no problem”, despite her previous comments about Asian countries.
Asked in the interview if she could name the president of Indonesia or the prime minister of Japan, two crucial allies of Australia, Senator Hanson said she did not know.
She did, however, know the president of China was Xi Jinping…PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – MINIMUM WAGE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
International Transport Workers Federation supports $8 minimum wage push in Fiji
SUVA, 17 AGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The International Transport Workers Federation(ITF) has thrown its support behind the Fiji Trade Union Congress push for a $8 (US$4 hourly minimum wage.
This after the FTUC led a nationwide campaign collecting signatures in support of the drive.
ITF Asia Pacific Regional secretary Scott McDine said it was essential that Fijian workers were able to earn a living wage that enabled them to meet the basic cost of living.
“Continuing to suppress the minimum wage at such a low level is government-mandated exploitation, locking people into poverty.
“The failure of wages in Fiji to keep pace with the cost of living is a major reason for the continual drain of Fijian workers moving to other countries.”
McDine said raising the safety net level of pay to a living wage would enable more Fijians to spend money on goods and services.
Unionist Sailesh Naidu said the current minimum wage of $5 (US$2.50)was not enough to meet a worker’s basic needs.
He said with the proposed $8(US4) hourly minimum wage rate, a worker would be able to spend $360(US$180) per week on basic items.
“That means the argument for $8(US$4) should not be that the worker will become wealthy,” he said.
“The argument is that $8 (US$4) gives the worker a realistic chance of meeting basic living costs and maintaining a minimum level of dignity,” said Naidu….PACNEWS
VAN – BIOSECURITY: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Biosecurity Dep’t on alert as bird flu spreads near Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST)—The Vanuatu Department of Biosecurity (DoB) is on alert as H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu (avian influenza) causing severe disease in wild birds and poultry overseas, has now been detected in Australia and New Zealand.
While Vanuatu remains free from the deadly H5N1 strain, the department has warned that there is a potential risk of the disease reaching the country.
H5N1 bird flu can spread through the movement of migratory birds. Australia recorded its first case in migratory seabirds along its southern coast in June.
According to the DoB, some bird species use islands in Vanuatu as part of their migratory routes, while other species are occasional visitors.
For example, pelicans have been sighted in Vanuatu this month.
As a precaution, the department is urging members of the public to avoid touching, handling or consuming sick or wild dead birds and their eggs. Children must be kept away from sick or dead birds.
People must wash their hands and clean any equipment that has come into contact with birds with soap and water as soon as possible.
Anyone who spots any sick or dead seabirds along the shoreline, or large numbers of sick or dead wild birds or chickens, should report them immediately to the DoB, Department of Livestock or the Ministry of Health, and take a photo or video from a safe distance and record the location.
Globally, hundreds of millions of poultry have died or been slaughtered because of bird flu. Some strains of avian influenza can infect other animals, including humans. H5N1 can cause severe illness and, in some cases, death.
H5N1 has been circulating among wild bird populations in the Northern Hemisphere. The World Organisation for Animal Health received 8,100 reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 between July 2025 and June 2026.
During the same period, cases were reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which resulted in fatalities.
However, there is currently no evidence of significant sustained human-to-human transmission.
Recently, possibly due to changes in water temperatures near Antarctica, a number of seabirds that normally live close to the Antarctic continent have moved further north, bringing them closer to Australia and New Zealand.
Sick and dead seabirds infected with H5N1 have been found onshore in several Australian states.
A seabird in New Zealand was confirmed to have H5N1, and a case was also reported near Brisbane.
Currently, the Pacific Islands remain among the few regions where H5N1 cases have not been detected….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Our ocean has no borders: wayfinding, memory and labels that divide
By Amota Ataneka
CALIFORNIA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—Those whose islands fall within the formal definition of Polynesia have every reason to celebrate the film Moana with pride. Hawaiians, Samoans and others represented most directly in it should celebrate this historic achievement, and the rest of us across the Pacific should celebrate with them.
For those of us outside Polynesia, however, the relationship can feel more complicated. We may wonder whether this is also our story and whether we should be grateful to Seiuli Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the team behind it. My answer is yes. The reflections that follow are not a critique of Moana, but opinions and stories that may help clarify why we should celebrate the live-action film and how public figures like The Rock can help advance the broader work of decolonising the Pacific.
In the weeks leading up to the Los Angeles premiere in early July which prominently featured Samoan culture with the Taualuga ceremonial dance, I watched almost every interview from the Moana world tour. And, if I am honest, hearing the interviews repeatedly framed only in terms of “Polynesia” sometimes made me feel increasingly invisible.
Only those who truly grew up in villages like the one portrayed in Moana can fully understand why it matters deeply. When I watch the film, I do not simply see Hollywood. I see my childhood. I see Muribenua on Nikunau Island in Kiribati. I see the ocean that raised us, the way we lived, the values we learned and the stories that shaped us.
The line that hit me the most was when Moana screamed, “we were voyagers”. I became emotional. I was seeing part of my father’s story, my village’s story and the ocean heritage of Pacific Islanders reflected on screen.
Part of the reason I feel strongly about words such as Polynesia and Micronesia being used so freely is the history of Pius “Mau” Piailug from the Federated States of Micronesia, together with my own memories of watching my father and other men from my village struggle to preserve the knowledge of celestial wayfinding.
Back in Muribenua, my father and a group of men would regularly gather in the maneaba, our community meeting house, with a man named Uriam from Onotoa. For weeks, they discussed and carefully recorded knowledge about the stars, ocean currents, winds, waves and other principles of traditional navigation.
The story passed down to us was that this particular body of wayfinding knowledge had originally travelled from the ancestors of Muribenua to Onotoa. Generations later, Uriam came to Muribenua to return that knowledge to the place from which it had come.
After those weeks of theoretical discussion, the men would gather outside at night. I remember them standing together in the darkness, pointing toward particular stars with a six-battery torch that we called te bwa onoua.
Then they would begin the actual voyage from Muribenua to Beru and Onotoa, islands southwest of us. They travelled there and returned without GPS or modern navigational technology.
These journeys involved real danger. During one of those voyages, a boat did not make it back. I remember the names Teun Otineru and Teawaki Tebania, my close neighbours, as being among the three or four people connected to that tragedy.
People from my village sacrificed their lives while trying to practise and preserve these ancient skills.
My father also kept three thick notebooks filled with handwritten notes from those meetings and workshops. Those books showed that Indigenous navigation was not simply instinct, mythology or folklore. It was a complex body of knowledge that people worked seriously to study, test, understand and preserve.
This is also why the story of Pius “Mau” Piailug matters.
Mau came from the tiny coral island of Satawal in Yap State — an island that outsiders would place under the label “Micronesia”. Yet without his knowledge, courage and willingness to share the ancient art of traditional navigation, Hokuleʻa — the canoe now so often presented as a symbol of “Polynesian navigation” — might never have completed the voyages that helped revive traditional wayfinding in Hawaiʻi.
Mau’s story demonstrates something important. Knowledge did not remain confined within the colonial categories that now divide our region. It travelled between islands. Navigators taught other navigators. Pacific peoples learned from one another.
Our ocean connected us long before outsiders divided us into Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia.
This is not a competition between Pacific peoples. It is about dismantling foreign labels that have encouraged unnecessary divisions, tensions and competition among people who have always been connected by the same ocean.
When stories, documentaries, academic studies and social-media posts discuss traditional wayfinding without GPS but automatically place the entire history under the title of “Polynesia”, they have already failed to tell the full story.
They overlook Mau. They overlook Satawal in Yap. They overlook Tungaru navigators. They overlook Uriam, my father and the people of Muribenua.
My message to The Rock, his co-star Australian actor Catherine Lagaʻaia and the Moana team is a plea to do one seemingly small thing: just for that moment, speak about us simply as Pacific Islanders.
The Rock deserves enormous credit for helping place Pacific Islanders on the map. But representation is not only about seeing a brown Pacific face on the screen. It is also about whose history is named, whose knowledge is recognised, whose islands are included and whose identities disappear when one regional label is repeatedly used to represent everyone.
I propose that he lead the way in slowly moving beyond labels such as Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. I encourage him and his team to consider using broader terms like Pacific cultures, Pacific peoples, Pacific Islanders. Michael Alisa, who played Chief Tautai Vasa in Moana, made this effort in his social media content.
My point here is that traditional ocean navigation is a shared Pacific inheritance.
Hokuleʻa itself should teach us this lesson. Its modern voyages became possible because Pacific knowledge crossed the very boundaries that outsiders had imposed. A navigator from Satawal helped restore knowledge in Hawaiʻi that led to the success of the first voyage of Hokule’a in 1976.
My father’s notebooks, Uriam’s return to Muribenua, Mau’s teaching in Hawaiʻi and the voyages of Hokuleʻa all tell the same deeper story: we were voyagers long before anyone divided us with these labels.
So my respectful appeal to The Rock is that you have already helped make Pacific people visible to the world. Now please help us take the next step. Every Pacific child deserves to see themselves inside the story.
Faafetai lava and ko rabwa — thank you, in Samoan and Tungaru (Kiribati)…PACNEWS
Dr Amota Ataneka is an I-Tungaru (I-Kiribati) researcher who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education at James Cook University and now working as a quantitative methodologist at the University of Cincinnati (USA)
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Strengthening community voices: Integrating GEDSI and traditional knowledge for invasive species management in Vava’u
VAVA’U, 17 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP)—As Tonga continues to strengthen national efforts to protect its unique biodiversity and ecosystems from the growing threat of invasive species, recognising the vital role of communities, traditional knowledge and inclusive participation has become increasingly important.
Effective invasive species management is not only dependent on innovative technologies and scientific approaches, but also on ensuring that the knowledge, experiences and perspectives of all community members are valued and incorporated into conservation actions.
Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles help ensure that no one is left behind in environmental decision-making, while Traditional Knowledge (TK) provides generations of locally grounded solutions and environmental understanding that remain highly relevant today.
By combining these approaches, Tonga is enhancing the effectiveness, sustainability, and community ownership of conservation initiatives. The Vava’u GEDSI and TK workshop was therefore an important step in strengthening local capacity, empowering community voices, and supporting more inclusive and culturally informed invasive species management efforts across the Kingdom.
The GEDSI and TK workshop brought together 18 participants, including 15 women and three men, representing communities across the island and Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) ambassadors actively involved in invasive species management on Mount Talau. The workshop created an opportunity for participants to explore how inclusive community engagement and traditional knowledge can strengthen conservation efforts and improve environmental outcomes.
The workshop was aligned to Tonga strengthening its invasive species management capacity with the deployment and initial field trialling of the Spitfire rat management systems on Mt Talau in Vava’u, positioning it to explore the possibility of expanding automated invasive species management technologies to other priority conservation sites around the country where invasive rats continue to threaten biodiversity.
The deployment was led by Tonga’s Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) in partnership with VEPA and with technical support from SPREP and BirdLife International.
The mission was undertaken in late July, through the SPREP led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) under the PRISMSS Resilient Ecosystems and Resilient Communities (RERC) programme. These initiatives are part of the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project funded by the New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade and United Kingdom International Development.
Throughout the workshop, participants examined the diverse groups that make up their communities and discussed the importance of ensuring that everyone has a voice in community development and decision-making processes. Men, women, youth, children, elders, people with disabilities, farmers, fishers, church members, weaving groups, and community committees were all recognised as important contributors to village life.
Participants highlighted the many roles community members play through farming, fishing, weaving, livestock management, household responsibilities, church activities, and service on local committees. They agreed that stronger and more sustainable outcomes can be achieved when all members of the community are given opportunities to participate and contribute.
SPREP Invasive Species Officer, Josef Pisi commented that, “discussions also identified groups that are often underrepresented in community activities, including women married into villages, youth, elderly people and persons with disabilities.”
“Participants stressed the need to create safe and inclusive environments where all voices can be heard, supported and valued and recommendations included providing leadership opportunities for women and young people, strengthening support systems for vulnerable groups and ensuring equal participation in discussions and decision-making processes.”
A key focus of the workshop was the role of TK in invasive species management. Participants shared practical techniques that have been used for generations, including attaching timber to coconut trees to prevent rat damage, keeping cats to control rat populations, removing rubbish that provides shelter for pests, and burning beneath fruiting trees to discourage invasive species.
These practices demonstrate how local knowledge continues to provide valuable and effective solutions to environmental challenges. Participants also shared traditional observations relating to lunar cycles and seasonal indicators.
The workshop also explored best practices for integrating GEDSI principles and traditional knowledge into conservation initiatives. Participants emphasised the importance of using local languages during awareness and consultation activities to ensure information is accessible to everyone.
They highlighted the need to work closely with town officers, community leaders, churches, and local organisations to encourage broad participation and strengthen community ownership of conservation activities.
Consulting separately with men, women, youth, and elders where appropriate was identified as an effective way to create safe spaces for discussion and ensure that different perspectives are heard. Community workshops, seminars, and door-to-door engagement were also recognised as valuable tools for reaching a wider audience and building capacity within communities.
The final reflection session provided participants with an opportunity to share personal insights gained throughout the workshop. Many reflected on the important role that churches and faith-based activities play in uniting communities and fostering inclusion.
Others spoke about the value of understanding GEDSI and TK as essential components of successful project planning and implementation. Participants agreed that projects are more likely to succeed when all members of the community are included and informed about their purpose and benefits.
Several powerful reflections captured the impact of the workshop on participants. A participant, Ms. Lopiseni Fifita, shared, “I came into the workshop with a childlike mindset, but after participating in the activities, I am happy to have learned about the importance of inclusion within the community.”
Another participant emphasised the connection between community participation and project success, noting that “when everyone in the community is included in workshops and given the opportunity to learn about the importance of GEDSI and TK, projects are more likely to be implemented smoothly and successfully.”
Participants also recognised the importance of preserving and transferring knowledge between generations. One participant reflected that “when communication is clear and TK is passed down through generations, valuable knowledge can be preserved and incorporated into invasive species management practices.”
A youth participant highlighted the responsibility of future generations, stating, “As a youth, I will benefit from the work done by previous generations. It is important for community leaders to set good examples in invasive species management and inspire younger generations to continue protecting and caring for their environment.”
The importance of family and collective action was another recurring theme as participants observed that family involvement can significantly strengthen conservation efforts, with one participant noting that “after the workshop, it is important to involve families in invasive species management. Support from family members, including spouses and children, can strengthen community participation and contribute to the success of invasive species management activities.”
Another participant reflected on the importance of unity, stating that “if the whole community works together as a strong and united group, including everyone in the process, all community members on Talau will become more aware of invasive species management and their role in protecting the environment.”
The workshop demonstrated that successful invasive species management is not solely dependent on technical interventions but also on the strength of community participation, the inclusion of diverse voices, and the recognition of traditional knowledge systems.
By embracing both GEDSI principles and traditional knowledge, communities in Vava’u are building stronger foundations for conservation, fostering social cohesion, and empowering current and future generations to protect and care for their environment.
The workshop enabled participants access to practical tools, renewed motivation, and a shared commitment to ensuring that conservation efforts are inclusive, culturally grounded and community-led…..PACNEWS
For additional information please contact Dominic Sadler, PRISMSS Manager on dominics@sprep.orgor Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.org
