Page 11 - IB September 2024

Tourism

no longer as widely spread. Axel Defngin is a writer with the Fourth Branch–Micronesia,
“The United States is not home,” said Melson Miko, Director based in Guåhan (Guam). Additional reporting by Kederang
of Palau’s Bureau of Tourism. “[The] tourism sector is strictly Ueda and Samantha Iyar.
reserved for the local people. So your opportunity, your
chance to start a business is pretty high.” The “Telling Your Pacific Story” workshop was sponsored by
PVA Director Ruluked agreed. “What’s a better way to build the Pacific Media Institute, the East-West Center, the Palau
a nation by building it with the people who are actually from Media Council and PCC.
the nation,” he said.

Agriculture

PROTECTING OUR LIFEBLOOD

By Nic Maclellan key agricultural sector for seven exporting nations: Fiji,
Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Kava is of immense cultural significance to peoples across Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. It’s big business: in 2022,
the region: yaqona in Fiji, malogu in Vanuatu, `ava in 18,478 households in Fiji were growing yaqona, with 498
Samoa, `awa in Hawai’i and sakau in the Federated States of tonnes exported that year.
Micronesia. Other Forum Island Countries are eyeing the possibility of
Today, beyond the nakamals of Port Vila and the ceremonial moving into the sector. President of French Polynesia, Moetai
tanoas of Fiji, Kava bars are springing up around the world – Brotherson, told Islands Business that his nation now has an
there are already more than 200 scattered across the United opportunity to join this regional initiative: “We are looking
States. The large Pasifika diaspora in Pacific Rim nations at the Kava economy: it’s huge in Tonga, and in Vanuatu
like Australia, New Zealand and the United States are a key and Fiji. We have just legalised Kava, so to speak, in French
market, but Pacific exporters hope to broaden their sales to Polynesia – it used to be illegal. So we are now discovering the
other communities and pharmaceutical companies. market and what can be done around the Kava economy. But
In a function on the sidelines of last month’s Pacific Islands you don’t want Kava to be mis-used. It has to be kept in its
Forum in Nuku’alofa, Tongan Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka original cultural intent.”
Tuku’aho formally launched a new Regional Kava Development Tongan exporters already have significant markets with
Strategy. The ceremony was addressed by Forum Secretary the Kingdom’s far-flung diaspora, but Minister for Trade and
General Baron Divavesi Waqa, government ministers, industry Economic Development, Viliami Latu, wants to reach out to
representatives and members of the Forum Kava Working new sectors.
Group (an advisory body for the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific “With the rapid change in foreign markets and increasing
Community and other regional organisations that worked on demand,” he said, “it is imperative that we approach Kava
the strategy). and its development with a clear mindset, one that ensures
Princess Angelika said that Kava is not just a product, but a sustainability, quality and equitable access.”
central part of Pacific identity and heritage. A Forum Kava Working Group was established in 2021,
“Kava is more than just a plant – it is the lifeblood of many as Forum Trade Ministers recognised the importance of the
Pacific Island cultures, a symbol of unity, peace, heritage, and sector for farmers across the region. For Vanuatu’s Tekon
tradition,” she said. “It has been cultivated and revered for Timothy Tumukon, Chairperson of the Working Group, “Kava
millennia, used in ceremonies that mark the most important holds a special place in the cultural, social, and economic
moments in our lives. It brings people together, fostering fabric of our region. This strategy represents our collective
dialogue and understanding, and embodies the essence of commitment to safeguarding its legacy, while ensuring its
what we call the Pacific Way.” sustainable growth and equitable benefits for all stakeholders
Launching the regional policy, Princess Angelika said it was in the Pacific.”
“a document that not only charts a path for the sustainable The Regional Kava Development Strategy grew out of the
growth of our Kava industry, but also honours the deep awareness that Kava producers and exporters in different
cultural roots that Kava holds across the Pacific. Today, we countries would sink or swim together. In past decades,
celebrate not just the economic potential of Kava but its crippling bans in Australia and the European Union blocked
profound significance in binding our communities together, the import of commercial quantities of Kava, damaging the
preserving our culture, and strengthening our shared growing niche industry. Since then, Forum Trade Ministers and
identity.” officials have worked to adopt regional standards, in line with
global ‘CODEX Alimentarius’ provisions on safety.
Expanding markets
Exports of Kava (Piper methysticum) have become a Continued on page 18

Islands Business, September 2024 11