I N   T H I S   I S S U E ____________________________________

Objectives
News and Views
Notice Board
Oceania Resources
Pacific Islands Radio
About Books
Coming Events
Recollections and Memoirs
Feature Web Sites
Oceania Web Sites
Interesting Places
Interesting Links
Letters
It's Time to Chat

T H E  V I E W _________________________________
News and Views from Oceania

Welcome to our Newsletter for July
2006! It is certainly great to be back
in touch again and, as always, I would
like to take this wonderful opportunity
to sincerely wish everybody good
health, prosperity, happiness, peace
and harmony.

As usual, my heartfelt thanks go to our
many valued members who have taken
the time to write and for sharing so
much with us all. In this respect, your
very kind and motivational thoughts
are greatly appreciated.

Please join with me in extending our very
warm and sincere Pacific Island welcome
to all new members who have joined us
since our last Newsletter. Welcome on
board, please make yourselves feel at
home, and may your stay with us be
most enjoyable, mutually beneficial and
rewarding!

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this Newsletter is to promote
worldwide the Pacific Islands and, in particular,
the island people. In addition, the intention
of the Newsletter is to aid in the preservation
of our island culture, history, genealogy,
mythology, ethnology and customs, including
rituals and lifestyles.

In doing this, the Newsletter shares and
makes available a wide selection of rare,
historical and contemporary postcards,
along with extensive picture galleries of the
countries and the people of Oceania. These
are still being extensively upgraded and are
of tremendous interest and value to people
who are interested in the history of Oceania,
as well as to our island people who wish to
gain a greater appreciation of their beautiful
island heritage.

In addition, the Newsletter introduces some
of the many lesser known beautiful and
interesting islands and places of the Pacific.
http://www.janeresture.com/home/index.htm
http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_resources/postcards.htm

NEWS AND VIEWS

In this July 2006 edition of Jane's Oceania
Home Page Newsletter, I would like to
begin by discussing a little about the
involvement of some of the world's super
powers in the Oceania region. Certainly,
China, Taiwan, Japan and France have
all expressed a desire for a closer
involvement in the Oceania region.

With just one per cent of the world's population
and six per cent of the voting rights in the
United Nations General Assembly, it is certainly
not surprising that Pacific Island nations should
continue to be feted by major countries seeking
to gain influence in the United Nations General
Assembly as well as other International Forums.

In particular the China-Taiwan struggle for
support from Pacific Island nations promises
to have a significant impact on the Pacific
region for many years to come. The China-Taiwan
conflict has its origins at the end of the Chinese
civil war in 1949 when an alternative government
was set up on Taiwan by Chiang Kai-shek.
Taiwan has since used its economic might to
win diplomatic recognition from a few dozen
small and poor nations, including, for example,
the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and the Solomon
Islands. Taiwan wants to be recognized at the
United Nations, however, China is determined
not to let that happen by undermining support
for all diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

Indeed, the China-Taiwan struggle for
recognition continues to play out in the
Marshall Islands, which has, for eight years,
maintained ties with Taiwan. Recently, as a
delegation of Marshall Islands parliamentarians
was touring the People's Republic of China,
Taiwan was sponsoring a flurry of high-profile
activities with government leaders and the
public in the Marshall Islands. These activities
included a visit by Taiwan's first mobile
medical team which brought 13 doctors and
nurses to Majuro, Marshall Islands, to
provide specialized services to patients,
including eye, dental and general surgeries.

Recently, the Taiwan Ambassador delivered
a cheque for $550,000 to the Marshall
Islands Foreign Minister, for airport runway
paving and renovation work. It was the second
major aid donation in three weeks, with the
Taiwan Ambassador also presenting a cheque
for $373,000 earlier last month for several
development projects on remote outer
islands. Taiwan provides about $10 million
in direct funding to the government annually,
and its annual contribution to a national trust
fund, agriculture support services, technical
volunteers, micro loan funding and
scholarships are estimated at an additional
$3 million annually.

Marshall Islands bank officials have also
confirmed that they are gearing up to launch
the new, Taiwan-provided $800,000 micro
loan fund. Details of the small scale loan
program are being put in place, with August
(next month) the target for opening loans to
the public. It is understood that a national
trust fund and a micro loan scheme will be
made available to all six countries in the
Pacific region who support Taiwan.

Certainly, the China-Taiwan conflict has left
Japan struggling to maintain a significant Pacific
influence, particularly in the face of growing
Chinese might in the region. Japan has indicated
that its recent fourth Pacific Island Forum Summit
was held with the aim of enhancing sustainable
development and security in the region. But,
behind the scenes, however, there is little doubt
that the Forum was held as a result of growing
competition for influence with the 14 nations that
are small and remote, but hold strategic appeal to
major powers.

Japan has recently announced that it will boost
development aid to troubled Pacific Island nations
by about a quarter to $US476 million over the
next three years. Japan has also signed an agreement
with the Solomon Islands Government to construct
three bridges on Guadalcanal. The bridges will be
built over Tenaru One and Tenaru Two and Ngalibiu
Rivers.Work on the bridges is expected to start
early in 2007.

The United States military has also expressed
concern over China's rising diplomatic and
military influence in the Pacific. Some experts
have suggested, however, that China is just
filling a gap created by Japan and the United
States, which have been cutting back on aid
to the Pacific Islands.

Interestingly, the recent second meeting of the
France-Oceania summit, held  in Paris under the
chairmanship of French President Jacques Chirac,
has been regarded as heralding a new era in the
relationships between France, the Pacific Islands
and two of its largest countries, Australia and
New Zealand.With the two regional powers, relations
with France had been lukewarm and sometimes
tense during the past two decades, mainly due to
the French nuclear tests in French Polynesia (which
ended in 1996), and in the mid-1980s, the sinking
of the Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior.
But in recent years, in a mending exercise, France
has stepped up cooperation efforts with Canberra
(Australia) and Wellington (New Zealand) in
terms of regional cooperation and assistance to
the Pacific Islands.

The new, pragmatic approach was also regarded
as a precondition to a better acceptance of
France in the Pacific region, French President
Chirac admitted at a post-summit press conference
and in presence of 16 Pacific Forum heads of
member States and governments, plus the three
heads of executives of France's Pacific countries
and territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia,
Wallis and Futuna).

The France-Oceania joint declaration reflects
new areas of interest on the part of France and
what is regarded as its increased and long term
engagement in the Pacific region.

Following the second France-Oceania summit
in Paris, the French President, Jacques Chirac,
also announced that Europe will push to protect
the Pacific Island states against the impacts of
climate change at the coming G8 summit in
St. Petersburg, Russia.

President Chirac told reporters he had
discussed with a number of Pacific leaders the
tragedy presented by global warming and climate
change in the Pacific region, and the impact they
could have on rising sea levels. President Chirac
also indicated that many low-lying atolls could be
wiped off the map if the impact of global warming
was not addressed.The President's comments
could put France and Europe at odds with
Australia. France strongly supports the Kyoto
Protocol, which Australia, along with the United
States, have refused to ratify.

It is certainly pleasing to see that a revamped
Air Nauru expects to resume full air services
in the central Pacific in August 2006. This was
made possible by the purchase of a new aircraft,
a 737 300, bought with the financial backing of
Taiwan. The aircraft was flown via Nauru to
Australia, where it will undergo registration
formalities.

Nauru may also benefit by a decision of the
Australian Government to pay $40 million for
Nauru to clean up corruption and to accept
asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by
boat. The corruption relates to the selling of
'investor passports' and to discontinue the
practice of money laundering by the Bank
of Nauru.

Australia continues to be troubled by the
so-called 'arc of instability' which stretches
from East Timor, through Papua New Guinea
and the Solomon Islands to Fiji. In most cases
these troubled countries are Melanesian in
origin, have interacted closely with Australia
over a number of years and all are relatively
'new' nations. The problems they have been
experiencing also appear to have a number
of common elements.

Australia rushed its troops back to East Timor
to bring back a sense of peace and order after
violent conflicts which sadly killed and
wounded many Timorese.

The recent resignation of East Timor Prime
Minister Mari Alkatiri may well be a move that
will ease tensions although present indications
are that the resignation may well spark a new
round of violence from supporters of  Mari
Alkatiri.

Papua New Guinea, although not racked by
civil unrest, appears to face a rather bleak
future. Indeed, some experts have suggested
that the country is in an administrative and
political mess and on the verge of collapse.
The 2006 election in the Solomon Islands
was, in the hearts and minds of many
people, about change.The new election was
the opportunity to flush money politics and
corrupt practices out of the system. But this
did not happen and frustration boiled over
when old government members were voted
back into power. In the end, it was People
Power that forced the issue.

Clearly, the Solomon Islands and Timor,
along with other Melanesian nations, share
the same deep problems which stem not
just from ethnic violence but from chronic
crime, severe poverty and unemployment.
These are issues that must be addressed,
with a sense of urgency, by the governments
of these countries.

From Tonga comes news that a Melbourne
Company believes it has found a natural
alternative in an ancient vine used by traditional
healers in the Pacific Islands to the anti-diabetes
drug insulin. It is understood that the plant has
been used by traditional healers in Tonga over
hundreds of years to treat type two diabetes
and obesity. The vine is mixed with a potion of
various plants and tree barks which are ground
and mixed with water. The mixture is taken
orally with great results.

In a recent court case in Papua New Guinea,
two brothers were found guilty of causing
death using sorcery and were sentenced to
prison for three years with hard labour.

The case was a difficult one for the
prosecution who had to prove, beyond
reasonable doubt, that sorcery had been
used to bring about the man's death.

There is no doubt that sorcery cases are
very complicated particularly as sorcery
involves invisible forces, the existence of
which is difficult to prove. Certainly, the
prosecution was able to prove that the
element of sorcery existed in this case.
These comprised leaves, grass, small
objects associated with sorcery, parcel
and packages designed to bring illness
or death, and most importantly, hair or
nail clippings from the deceased.

Using Western law which calls for
material evidence is certainly a big
problem in countries where sorcery
is still in use.

For early article on sorcery in Papua
New Guinea, you are invited to visit
the following Web site:
http://www.janesoceania.com/png_sorcery/index.htm

The Musee du quai Branly in Paris, next
to the Eiffel Tower on the Seine, is an
impressive building made even more so
by the integration into its visionary architecture,
the indigenous art of the Australian Aboriginal
people. The art is produced by eight different
Aboriginal art communities across Australia and
reflects the spiritualism of a rich art form that
has its origins on the wall of a cave possibly as
early as 40,000 years ago.

Indeed, the unfolding history of Aboriginal art
is encoded in the architecture of this creative
building. From its early beginnings on an ancient
cave wall, Aboriginal art has continuously shifted
shape. From the x-ray styles of ancient Arnhem
land to colonial-era paintings on bark to Albert
Namatjira's mid-century watercolours to
contemporary Aboriginal art, we now have an
industry described as a cultural treasure which
generates an income of hundreds of millions of
dollars a year. In doing so, the work of talented
Aboriginal artists is providing much needed
funds to purchase medical equipment for
Aboriginal communities.

It is perhaps not surprising that France, one of
the most cultured of Western nations, should
embrace the beautiful and ancient art forms of
the Aboriginal people. Indeed, French
fascination with Australia's indigenous culture
began when Napoleon sent scientific voyages
to the South Pacific.

For a little further information on Aboriginal
mythology and art, you are invited to visit
the following Web site:
www.janesoceania.com/oceaniamyths_australia/index.htm

One would have to suspect that there is a
message here for the many talented artists
throughout the Pacific region. Certainly, our
indigenous art has considerable cultural and
artistic merit as well as financial worth. In
this respect, the intellectual copyright should
remain with our people and the financial
rewards should, hopefully, in the longer term,
provide appropriate benefits to our Oceania
communities.
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
NOTICE BOARD

KIRIBATI - QUALIFIED SECONDARY
SCHOOL TEACHERS REQUIRED

In 2006 the Catholic Education Office,
Tarawa, Kiribati, Central Pacific, has
vacancies for persons qualified to teach:
In three rural senior secondary schools:
English, Maths, History, Geography,
Science and Accounting.

In two schools on urban Tarawa:
qualified volunteers are required to
teach English, Maths, History,
Geography, Science, Accounting,
Economics, Home Economics,
Industrial Arts and Biology.

St. Joseph's College, Tabwiroa,
Abaiang, and Immaculate Heart
College, Taborio, Tarawa, require
History teachers for Forms 4, 5
and 6.

Experienced teachers preferred.
Volunteers allowance will be paid.

For further information please contact:
Sr Margaret Sullivan or
Sr Tiura Kaiuea at:
E-mail: dot.ceo@tskl.net.ki
Telephone: +686 21169 or Fax: +686 21677

Web Sites and Links:
http://www.janesoceania.com/kiribati_schools/index.htm
http://www.janeresture.com/kirihome/index.htm

OCEANIA RESOURCES

JANE RESTURE'S OCEANIA PAGE

Jane Resture's Oceania Page was developed
to present and highlight an extended range
of material in conjunction with Jane's Oceania
Home Page. In doing this, it will allow the
visitor to readily access information about
the Pacific Islands.
http://www.janesoceania.com/index.html

JANE'S OCEANIA TRAVEL PAGE

Jane's Oceania Travel Page exists to
provide the traveller with information
to assist in the preparation of a travel
agenda. The information on these pages
is complemented by links to the various
travel authorities throughout Melanesia,
Micronesia and Polynesia as well as
other Pacific Islands. These authorities
will be able to make available more
detailed information as well as arranging
accommodation and attending to the
other needs of the traveller.

Throughout Oceania, there is a vast and
comprehensive variety of attractions and
interesting places to visit and see. From
the ancient mountains of Papua New
Guinea to the coral atolls of Tuvalu and
Kiribati to the modern cities of Hawaii,
please settle back and enjoy an armchair
traveller's visit to the exotic, enchanting,
mysterious and beautiful Pacific Islands.
http://www.janesoceania.com/tourism/index.htm

OCEANIA RESOURCES PAGE

This Web site draws together a wide range
of Oceania material in order to allow
visitors to access this information from
a common source. This information includes
an extensive range of Oceania mythology,
ethnology, tribal art, tattoos, postcards
and picture galleries, as well as links to
the home pages of the countries of Oceania,
Pacific Islands Radio Stations Web sites
and to other Oceania Web sites.
http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_resources/index.htm

OCEANIA GENEALOGY

This Web site contains a short list of reference
material that may be useful for people wishing
to trace their genealogy, particularly if they are
descendants of the early traders of Oceania.
http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_genealogy/index.htm

PACIFIC ISLANDS RADIO STATIONS

Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter is being
sent out monthly on the alternate fortnight to
Jane's Oceania Home Page Newsletter. In this
respect, I would like to take this opportunity
of thanking the many people who have
subscribed to this free Newsletter.

The Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter
discusses in more detail the exciting changes
that are taking place in Internet Radio along
with details of the operations of the four
Internet Pacific Islands Radio Stations. Also
included are Feature Artists, additions to
the Playlists, along with other technical and
programming changes. The Internet Radio
Revolution is very exciting and you are most
welcome to enjoy being part of these changes
by becoming a valued member of our free Jane's
Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music).

I am pleased to be able to share with you that
the Micronesia Music Anthology is available on
Micronesia Music Radio. The anthology can be
accessed by clicking on the Broadcast Schedule
after logging in to Micronesia Music Radio:
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

This will allow the listener to determine when
the anthology can be heard at different places
around the world. The anthology runs for 90
minutes in which the traditional chants are
introduced followed by many of the beautiful
traditional and contemporary songs of
Micronesia. Thank you.

The supporting Web site for the Micronesia
Music Anthology:
http://www.janesoceania.com/micronesia_music_anthology/index.htm

GOSPEL MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to be
able to share that a collection of some of
the most exciting and absorbing gospel music
from the Pacific Islands is a regular feature
on Pacific Music Radio 32 kbps (mp3PRO),
Pacific Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps) as well
as Pacific Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps).

With an extended running time of three hours,
the gospel collection is available each Sunday
from 12 noon - 3 pm Australian eastern
standard time, and features the music of a
number of talented artists.

Please consult the Broadcast Schedule of the
above three Pacific Islands Radio stations
regarding the broadcast times for the Gospel
Music collection in your part of the world.

MELANESIAN MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is very  pleased to
be able to advise that Pacific Islands
Radio 28K is now referred to as
RADIO MELANESIA, highlighting the
vibrant and exciting music of Melanesia,
such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu,
Solomon Islands and New Caledonia,
along with a selection of music from
Polynesia and Micronesia.

PACIFIC ISLANDS RADIO
MUSIC SUPPLIERS

The following are some of the main
specialist suppliers of our music from
the Pacific Islands, who are highly
recommended by Pacific Islands Radio.

KINGMUSIC - AUCKLAND,
NEW ZEALAND

Kingmusic offers a wide selection of Pacific
Island music which is available on the Internet.
http://www.kingmusic.co.nz/

ISLANDMELODY.COM

Pacific Islands Radio recommends
Islandmelody.com for a selection of traditional
and contemporary music with an emphasis on
Micronesian music.
http://www.islandmelody.com

BWANARAOI MUSIC SHOP -
TARAWA, REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

For the beautiful music of Kiribati along with
the enchanting music of other Pacific Islands,
you are invited to contact the following
exclusive distributor:
E-mail: angirota@tskl.net.ki

Our four Pacific Islands Radio Stations play the
enchanting music of the Pacific Islands 24 hours
daily.
www.pacificislandsradio.com
http://www.janeresture.com/radio/index.htm

Pacific Music Radio 32 kbps (mp3PRO)
http://www.live365.com/stations/drjaneresture
Pacific Islands Radio
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeresture
Radio Melanesia
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeres
Micronesia Music Radio
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

ABOUT BOOKS

VOYAGE OF COMMITMENT
Morning Star Around The World
by Raymond F. Triiplett
Dodd, Mead & Company
New York, 1983

This book tells the story of Ray and
Shirley Triplett's eight-year journey
around the world in their twenty-ton
sketch Morning Star. Along the way,
they encountered violent storms,
groundings on coral reefs, wars,
confrontation with pirates, shipwrecks,
and critical illness at sea. Of particular
interest is their fascinating journey
across the vast Pacific Ocean.

SOUTH SEA TALES
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Oxford University Press, 1996

The literary world was shocked when
in 1890, at the height of his career,
Robert Louis Stevenson announced
his intention to settle permanently
in Samoa. His readers were equally
shocked when he began to use the
subject material offered by his new
environment, not to promote a romance
of empire, but to produce some of the
more ironic and critical treatment of
imperialism of nineteenth-century fiction.

In stories such as 'The Beach of Falesa',
'The Bottle Imp' and 'The Isle of Voices',
Stevenson shows himself to be virtuoso
of narrative styles. This is the first
collection to bring together all his shorter
Pacific fiction in one volume and, in it,
Stevenson emerges as a witness both to
the cross-cultural encounters of nineteenth-
century imperialism and to the creation of
the global culture which characterizes the
post-colonial world.

In my humble opinion, there is no doubt
that this book would be greatly appreciated
by the many friends of Oceania and, in
particular those who enjoy the marvellous
writings of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Please contact me should you like any further
information on any of the books mentioned in
this Newsletter. I would like to mention also
that we have our own Oceania Books Web
Forum linked from www.janeresture.com or
http://pub49.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=4145645411&cpv=1
You are most welcome to use this forum to
discuss any books in which you are interested
as well as those books that perhaps you may
wish to buy/sell or even swap amongst each
other.

COMING EVENTS

Congratulations should go to the
wonderful people of the Solomon Islands
and the Republic of Kiribati, along with
the many friends of the Solomon Islands
and Kiribati, who will be celebrating the
very important and significant occasion
of their independence on the following
dates:

Solomon Islands - Independence Day:
7th July 2006
Republic of Kiribati - Independence Day:
12th July 2006

Independence Day Celebrations are
wonderful times of great reflections,
happiness, joy and festivities. The many
events include traditional dance, singing
and cultural activities in appreciation of
their recognition as a free and independent
nation. It is also a time of prayer,
thanksgiving and gratitude for life, peace,
good health and prosperity.

Please join me in sending our best wishes,
love and prayers to all the beautiful people
of the Solomon Islands and the Republic of
Kiribati, along with those wonderful countries/
islands and people of Oceania and worldwide
who are celebrating important occasions
during this beautiful month of July 2006!

"Coming Events" outlines some of the
many happenings on our calendar
throughout the year, hence the inclusion
in our monthly Jane's Oceania Home
Page Newsletter.

As valued members of our Newsletter,
you are invited to recommend appropriate
and happy events, etc. that you feel
should be shared with all our members.
I am sure that our members would greatly
appreciate your kind gesture in sharing
this information with us. Thank you.
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
RECOLLECTIONS AND MEMOIRS

TROBRIAND ISLANDS - EROTIC LIFE

To understand the effect of personal charm
on the native, it may be helpful to present a
typical Trobriand love affair against the
background of Western romance. Love is
precipitated with them, as with us, by the
first shock received from beauty and personality;
but a world of customary and cultural differences
divides the after-effects of this. The initial
barriers preventing a rapid sexual intimacy between
two people in love, which are so characteristic of
all higher civilizations, for us endow the beloved
with inestimable virtues and enclose him or her
in an area of holy and mysterious desirability.
In men whose creative imagination is developed
beyond their practical sense of the realities,
such passionate attachments may lead simply
to day-dreaming and excessive shyness in the
romantic relation ---
http://www.janesoceania.com/trobriands_erotic_life/index.htm

OCEANIA - VOYAGE OF COMMITMENT

Ray and Shirley Triplett shared a dream to
escape the rut of their daily lives and to
sail around the world to exotic places. But
unlike the dreams of many successful
middle-aged American couples, theirs was
to come true, largely because of their faith
and dedication to the commitment they had
made to the fulfilment of their great adventure.

Over a period of eight years, they alone sailed
their twenty-ton ketch Morning Star one and
a half times around the world, undeterred by
violent storms, groundings on coral reefs,
wars, confrontation with pirates, shipwrecks,
and skipper's falling overboard, critical illness
at sea, and the human problems of adjusting to
the exclusive companionship of another for so
long a time. Woven throughout the tapestry of
this tale is a philosophy and an all-pervading
faith in a higher power which enabled these
two adventurers to overcome the sometimes
seemingly insurmountable physical and
spiritual obstacles.

This Web site follows their journey from the
Marquesas Islands to New Zealand as they
journeyed across the vast Pacific in 1976.
http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_triplett/index.htm

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
SOUTH SEA TALES

I saw that island first when it was neither
night nor morning. The moon was to the
west, setting, but still broad and bright.
To the east, and right amidships of the dawn,
which was all pink, the daystar sparkled
like a diamond. the land breeze blew in
our faces, and smelt strong of wild lime
and vanilla; other things besides, but these
were the most plain; and the chill of it set
me sneezing. I should say I had been for
years on a low island near the line, living
for the most part solitary among natives.
Here was a fresh experience even the
tongue would be quite strange to me;
and the look of these woods and mountains,
and the rare smell of them, renewed my
blood.
http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_rls_tales/index.htm

FEATURE WEB SITES
BULLY HAYES - SOUTH SEA PIRATE 2

When day broke, sail was made and the
Leonora headed into where a gap in the
line of white surf showed the entrance to
the harbour. There was a heavy swell
running, and as the brig approached, the
booming of the surf upon the reef became
deafening. Clouds of spray filled the air
on either side of the passage, but in the
centre a clear view could be obtained of
the narrow little harbour of Utwe or Port
Lottin. to Hayes's disgust this revealed
four whalers at anchor inside, which
meant that there would be no room for
the Leonora to bring up. One of the
vessels had her canvas loosed, however,
and it was evident that she was getting
under way. Hayes at once gave the order
for the main yard to be backed, and the
brig lay bobbing up and down just clear
of the broken water and ready to slip
through the entrance directly the whaler
had passed. The latter rolled so heavily
as she came out that her boats barely
cleared the water. She proved to be the
Marathon, and as she passed close under
the Leonora's stern her captain sang out
that one of the other south Seamen was
going to follow him in a few minutes.
http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_hayes/index1.htm

OCEANIA WEB SITES

POLYNESIAN MUSIC

Generally throughout Polynesia, the lyrics of
traditional songs are by far more important
than the melodic accompaniment, as it is the
lyrics that contain the elements of our cultural
heritage that are being preserved such as the
stories of the people, genealogies, histories
and migrations. Elements like rhythm melody,
harmony and dance are traditionally viewed
as accompaniment to the primary focus, the
lyrics, serving to embellish, illustrate and
decorate the words.
http://www.janesoceania.com/polynesia_music/index.htm

AUSTRALIA - ABORIGINAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Aborigines were limited to the range of foods
occurring naturally in their area, but they knew
exactly when, where and how to find everything
edible. Anthropologists and nutrition experts
who studied the tribal diet in Arnhem Land found
it to be well-balanced, with most of the nutrients
modern dieticians recommend. but food was not
obtained without effort. In some areas both men
and women had to spend from half to two-thirds
of each day hunting or foraging for food. Each
day the women of the horde went into successive
parts of one countryside, with wooden digging
sticks and plaited dilly bags or wooden coolamons.
They dug yams and edible roots and collected fruits,
berries, seeds, vegetables and insects. They killed
lizards, bandicoots and other small creatures with
digging sticks. The men went hunting. Small game
such as birds, opossums, lizards and snakes were
often taken by hand. Larger animals and birds
such as kangaroos and emus were seared or
disabled with a thrown club, boomerang, or stone.
Many indigenous devices were used to get within
striking distance of prey. The men were excellent
trackers and stalkers and approached their prey
running where there was cover, or 'freezing' and
crawling in the open. they were careful to stay
downwind, and sometimes covered themselves
with mud to disguise their smell.
http://www.janesoceania.com/australian_aboriginal_anthropology/index1.htm

THE STORY OF KAMEHAMEHA, HAWAII

Kamehameha was born on 1736, and he died
in 1819. the Pacific was still a vast uncharted
ocean, as far as Europeans were concerned,
when he was a child. By the time of his death,
it was already becoming a great route across
the world for merchants, and a hunting ground
for whalers. Not only Europeans ships and men
were coming in, but European ideas. Above all
there was the European religion of Christianity,
spread by the missionaries. So the life story of
Kamehameha shows two things: what might
have happened if Europeans had not arrived at
that particular time, and what did happen, in the
end.
http://www.janesoceania.com/hawaii_kamehameha/index.htm

HAWAIIAN HULA 13
The following hula images comprise a rare
collection of historical  images showing some
of the many fascinating aspects of the beautiful
Hawaiian hula.
http://www.janesoceania.com/hawaii_hula9/index2.htm

SAMOA POSTCARDS
An updated collection of interesting historical
postcards from beautiful Samoa.
http://www.janesoceania.com/samoa_postcards/index.htm

TAHITI POSTCARDS 23
More historical postcards from beautiful
Tahiti.
http://www.janesoceania.com/tahiti_postcards13/index2.htm

AUSTRALIA - ABORIGINAL POSTCARDS 2
Rare and historical images of the
Australian Aboriginal people and their
environment.
http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_postcards9/index1.htm

INTERESTING PLACES

WAKE ISLAND

Wake Island consists of three islets, Wake islet,
the largest, on the southwest, has the shape of a
V, the arms of which are about two and
three-quarters land miles long. Each arm is
continued as a separate islet, there being a narrow
channel between it and the end of the arms of the
V. The western ends of the two islets are connected
by a sweep of flat reef, which continues as a narrow
border around the three islets. Enclosed is a
rectangular lagoon with depths up to fifteen feet.
This measures about two and a half miles northwest -
southeast by one and a third miles wide. The
south-eastern portion of the lagoon becomes
shallower until it ends in a large expanse of hard
white sand which dries at low tide. The entire atoll
measures about two and a half by five miles.
http://www.janeresture.com/wake/index.htm

VOSTOK ISLAND, LINE ISLANDS
REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

Vostok Island lies 605 nautical miles south of
the equator. It is about 325 miles east-northeast
of Tongareva (Penrhyn) Island, 86 miles
north-northwest of Flint Island, 125 miles west
of Caroline Island (Millennium Island), 385 miles
south-southeast of Malden Island, and 800 miles
northwest of Rarotonga.

It is a triangular, low sand and coral island,
about 1,400 yards long, north and south,
and not over 15 feet high to the land surface.
The central part of the island is covered by
a continuous thicket of buka (Pisonia) trees,
which reach a height of about 80 feet above
the sea. This type of vegetation is very
distinctive, being found also on Rose Islet.
The canopy is so dense that no other plants
will grow beneath the buka trees. The soil is
rich in humus, from decaying leaves and
branches, damp about the bases of the soft,
massive trunks.
http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_line/vostok.htm

SOLOMON ISLANDS - ABOUT TIKOPIA

Tikopia is part of Temotu Province, the most
easterly part of the Solomon Islands. It is a
remote society that has changed very little with
the times. The people have tremendous pride
in their customs and see themselves as holding
their customs while the Melanesians around
them had lost some of theirs.
http://www.janesoceania.com/solomons_tikopia/index.htm

INTERESTING LINKS

THE UNIQUE COCOTAP

CocoTap is a patented quality product, made
to last from marine grade 316 stainless steel
tube, professionally milled and hand finished in
Australia. It is easily re-sharpened and cleaned
and can be hygienically used in premises serving
the public. The T-bar handle is hinged so that
the CocoTap folds to a straight tube for easy
use and storage.
http://www.cocotap.com/

VAKA TAUMAKO PROJECT

A large collection of very interesting and most
useful Pacific Island links.
http://www.aloha.net/~vaka/links.html

LETTERS

The following are extracts from a few of the
many most interesting and often touching letters
that I have recently received. I would very much
like to share them with you as I find many of
these letters to be most gratifying and motivating.
Please join me in thanking these wonderful people
for sharing their thoughts with us.

Should you like to get in touch with any of the writers
of the letters below, please do not hesitate to send me
an e-mail and I will arrange a contact. Certainly, many
of our members and the writers of these wonderful
letters have been in mutually beneficial contact with
each other. Indeed, it is one of the aims of making
these letters available to our members so that people
can share their common interests in the Pacific Islands.

As an aid to appreciating these letters, I have also
included, in conjunction with the letters, the relevant
Web sites to which these letters relate.
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
WOW! What a website!
Well done, Jane!
I'll keep this short, because it's bedtime. I
spent 3 years in high school with a National
Geographic wall map completely taking up
1 wall of the classroom. Instead of paying
attention to English, I daydreamed about all
those faraway places in the Pacific, so very
off the beaten path...Man, I scoured all kinds
of books for every shred of info I could find,
and your website eclipses all of that effort
put together!
I always wanted to know what these places
looked like, how to get there, etc...
If only I had a money tree.
Love it all, thanks so much for your work,
sincerely,
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
http://www.janeresture.com/home/index.htm

Ko na mauri! Pardon me for saying this but
I feel so great right now... I am here in the
USA in Washington DC and I got lonesome
at times...I checked the Telephone Directory
from time to time, hoping that I would see an
I-Kiribati name but.. nah... nothing! I was
feeling so homesick earlier this evening that I
decided to check out anything about Kiribati!
I am so glad that I took the time to search and
stumble over this web page.. something I never
expected! I have travelled extensively for the
past 9 years but at the end of each day, I knew
that nothing felt as home as Kiribati to me! I
like your poem, it brought tears to my eyes...it
had been more than 3 years since I left home! I
saw some names on this website that are so
familiar to me... Anyway, ko bati n rabwa n am
poem and your views about Kiribati.. It's true we
are a tiny country but, hey, we are a country
anyway, right? Are i eta.
http://www.janeresture.com/kirihome/index.htm

Jane, Hi. My name is Ron Williams. I came
across your web pages and postcard collection
on the web this morning and wanted to write to
say thank you. I travelled to Tahiti a number of
years ago, and have never forgotten the place
or people that I met there. Have been to several
other islands over the years, and many other
countries/ locations. No place has affected me
like Moorea. Kind of haunts me through my life,
like I need to return there for some reason. When
I visited many years ago, I was pretty certain it
was where I was meant to grow old.
Anyway, sorry to digress. I just wanted to thank
you. Your website is a huge gift to the rest of
us who cannot be there, but also cannot seem to
leave it behind. Thanks again.

Hello Jane,
Incidentally I've come to your website looking
for information about the Tuvalu isles. I was
amazed by your research and pages. I hope
one day I visit there... anyway, for the
meantime thanks for sharing the information
& pictures. Regards

Dear Jane,
Wow I love your page. I see now that the
movie "Once were Warriors" may have done
some wrong by using the moko on gang faces.
I would have thought they'd have more respect
and especially of the ancestors. It must have
been truly magnificent to have one of your own
I'm guessing, I applaud you for educating us
that the tattooing was highly personal and of
national identity. Thank you for the tattoo
photos on your page. I wish you well.
Respectfully --- (native Canadian)

Hello Jane,
My name is Ben Hodges. I live in Everett,
Washington. I was looking up Robert
Louis Stevenson on line and discovered
your excellent website. Thank you for all
the effort you have put into educating the
public about Oceania. I will return many
times to this very informative website.
Regards

Jane,
Hello my name is Paul.
I found your name and E-mail while doing
a Google search for South Pacific Music.
I hope you might be able to help me, by
suggesting where I might get a copy of a
CD with Vanuatu music.

I went for a cruise to Vanuatu recently
and was absolutely mesmerized by the
local's music. The sound of a Tea Chest
Bass, numerous Guitars (most with only
3 or 4 strings) and Singers belting out
their music with such passion, absolutely
filled my heart with joy.

Could you please suggest a CD with a
similar theme and where I might get one?
Thank You in advance
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Hi Jane.
Cool website. one of the best I've seen
of Palau. Take care
http://www.janeresture.com/palau/Palau.htm

Dear Ms. Resture,
As I start this simple e-mail of mine please
let me first greet you a pleasant day and I
very much hope that you are in the state
of good health. And on your vacant time
please feel free to read this e-mail.

By the way, I am Marc Christopher M.
Labastilla, 22 years of age, a college
student from Cebu, Philippines. Ever since
I was younger I have been curious and
interested to know about the people and
traditions of the Pacific Islands, especially
the role of women in their traditional society.

When I saw your website on the internet,
I have been able to gain more information
and increased my knowledge about the
people of the Pacific Islands. The different
sections of your website really provide an
outlook on the aspects of the people and
culture of the islands, including the sections
that are specially dedicated for Pacific
women. Thru these I read the articles
about women and somehow I felt respect
and (sorry if anybody might be offended)
pity for them. Respect because women of
the Pacific tend to make most of the work
for the better living of their families even
on extreme conditions. On the other side I
felt pity on them because of their sacrifices
on everything that has  to be done in order
for things to improve, possibly also they
sacrifice their lives. Another thing I
observed on Pacific women is that they
always live in traditional ways that they
have inherited from their ancestors since
ancient times. At least they have kept
them even in this modern electronic age.
Despite these traditional ways Pacific
women have endured, I am sure they
always have a sense of self-reliance
and independence. And for these I
admire them.

I am thankful that you developed this
website in order for other people to
understand and appreciate the culture
and traditions Pacific Islanders have
carried on for many centuries. Every
now and then I will continue to visit
your website.

Before I end, I would like to say
thanks to you for reading my e-mail.
And also, I wish that I could also
make friends with the people of the
Pacific, specially women. I'm sure
there is always an understanding
among Filipinos and Pacific islanders
when it comes to friendship. I hope
that thru your website I might be
able to develop friendship with
Pacific islanders to know more
about their culture.

God bless and more power.
Marc Christopher M. Labastilla
(marc101384@yahoo.com)
Cebu, Philippines

Jane, by some strange fortune I stumbled
across your website today.  I don't know
how it happened, but having happened I
now count myself as blessed. I looked at
your counter and see that you are receiving
well over 335,000 visits per year. I should
be so fortunate! The geography, the history,
and the social lore of Micronesia are so
interesting and have such vitality.
Thank you so much for your work.
Joel Dobson
South Carolina, USA

Hi Jane,
Hello and how are you, I'm a 30 years old
male from Papua New Guinea, heard your
presentation on the radio through internet and
I really love those songs & music you played.
Would you be able to please email me titles
of the sounds and CD titles so I can be able
find them here. Thanks a lot and love to hear
from you. Cheers
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Hi Jane, Just want to let you know that Live
365fm is just so awesome I stumbled across
at about two weeks ago at work and I listen
to it all day here at work.

It makes me homesick when I listen to the
music. I'm from Vanuatu/New Caledonia and
will be going back to Vanuatu end of July for
Independence and the music is already putting
in holiday mode. Thanks for what you are doing
it's a blessing. I've informed all my family of
this website and they are happy to be able to
listen to the music of the islands.
Take care and keep up the good work.
Vanuatu

Hello Jane,
I write from Guyana, the only English-speaking
country in South America, just east of Venezuela
& north of Brazil. Your e-mail address was
noted while surfing TUVALU. Your poems etc.
were most touching esp. parts about your islands
submerging due to global warming etc. Guyana's
northern coast, which is below sea-level, has been
suffering similar crises causing lots of floods after
excess rains, so we fully understand your difficulties.
But Guyana, which is just north of the equator, is
83,000 sq. miles of mostly unpopulated land in
areas 50 miles or so from the coast. Right now lots
of Brazilians are moving in from south to occupy
these lands & dig out the gold & diamonds in some
of the "virgin spaces". Is there any plan to relocate
Tuvaluans anywhere, as the Pacific rises? My
organization, the Guyanese Organization of
Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) would surely like to
assist if any Tuvaluans, esp. farmers, might be
interested in coming this way. Guyana's Aboriginal
peoples have similar Mongoloid features as the
Polynesians. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hi Jane,
My dad was stationed on Canton island during
WW2. I just happened to find your page of
Canton Memories. I'd love more info on
Canton Island if you have it. Thank You
http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_phoenix_group/canton.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/canton_book/index.htm

Hi Jane,
I have just been reading your website and found
it very informative. I work at the University of
Auckland, New Zealand, in the biology department.
The lab I work in focuses its research mainly on
population ecology and biology of marine mammals.
Recently we have been contracted by the New
Zealand Department of Conservation to run a
"desktop study" of marine mammals around the
Kiribati and Tuvalu Islands. The aim is basically to
assess the diversity of marine mammals around the
Kiribati Islands and to hopefully get an initial idea
of abundance.

We have so far gathered information from a number
of groups research trips to the Kiribati and Tuvalu
islands. I am contacting you to see if you would have
any more information of marine mammals around the
Kiribati Islands or would be able to point me in the
direction of any other resources. We are most
interested in recorded sightings of marine mammals,
hopefully with species ID's and numbers but any
anecdotal or historical information would be very
useful as well.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to
hearing from you.

Jane, Love your show .... dig your music.
Lots of lolomas from the Fiji Islands

Hi Jane,
This website is great !
VERY BEAUTIFUL !
GOD BLESS YOU !
THANK YOU !
--- JAPAN
www.janeresture.com

Hello Jane Resture,
I have visited your website and love it.
Are you Tahitian or live in Tahiti by the
way (sorry for my ignorance).
I live on the island of Guam,though am
originally form the mainland U.S.,and I have
also lived in the Philippines for 2 years;
Guam almost 28. I wish I had the chance to
visit Tahiti,and maybe will never get a chance
to; such a lovely place.
I know several Tahitians here on Guam.
I am interested in getting some Tahitian
music if possible, if you might be able to
help me.

My friend had visited Tahiti and brought
some Tahitian music back, of some which
was a modern mix of Tahitian and maybe
pop or Euro beats,and I never found out
how to order the music,and the Tahitian
people I know are too busy with working
for the Polynesian dinner shows to go
back to be able to help

Would you know how I could order some Tahitian
music and maybe some traditional island wear?
Thanks you for any help

Thank you for a very enjoyable time visiting your
site and for the insightful look at Nan Madol. I
am a past student of Lew Ayres at the University
of Oregon and Nan Madol was one of my favourite
subjects we studied...too bad its not listed as
a man made wonder of the world...of course too
many tourist and things start to fade...Thank you
again

Hello Jane,
POSTCARD PRESENTATION - VERY WELL
DONE! I am being considered for a position
in your area. So I'm exploring the area.
THANK YOU
http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_resources/postcards.htm

Hello,
I visited your web site about Polynesia. It´
It's very nice. I'm looking for somebody to
write about this  beautiful place in English
language.

I' from Czech Republic. If you are interested
about writing in English about Polynesia,
you can send some email to me. I will be
happy. Thanks for your answer...

HI JANE,
AFTER VISITING FANNING ISLAND A FEW
YEARS AGO, WE OFTEN LISTEN TO THE
ENCHANTING MUSIC OF YOUR
WONDERFUL WEBSITE. KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK..
Regards, Perth, Western Australia
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Aroha Jane,
I am very pleased to have found your
webpage about the ancient Polynesian
culture. I live Aloha and feel a deep love
for the spirit of Polynesia. I have learned
some hula dances, to give lomi massages
and I am starting with aloha sailing.The
greatest feeling is to live it, sing it,
dance and, at least to be a Polynesian in
one own`s heart. Many Greetings with Aloha
pumehana from Germany,

Hello all in Canton! I am currently writing
a book on the tour of Australia of Buddy
Holly and the crickets in 1958. On the
27th January 1958 they flew from Hawaii
to Australia but had to stop in Canton
due to engine problems the drummer Jerry
Allison advises me. Would anybody have
any knowledge of this or would anybody be
able to ascertain details or even still would
anybody have any photos? Did you know the
great singer stopped there? Great web site
folks many thanks
Roddy Jordan jordanr@optusnet.com.au

William D. Thomas here. . . Hello!
Of Bendix Field Engineering Manned
Spaceflight Tracking Station, Canton Island,
South Pacific Oct. 1966 till it's closing as
a NASA Tracking Station in Dec.1967. I go
there now via you and that music to relax
and chill out. Thank You so much. To those
of you who were there then, I'm that one
who was the last one left at the tracking
Station itself, who had that fish pond, and
Rand the movie theatre.

Hi Jane!
Thank you for your Tokelau project!
One year ago we discovered your site
and that Pacific Islands Radio and this
all made us feel the connection with the
distant mysterious piece of earth called
Tokelau. So good is that you did this
all!

How only these brave and joyful people
survive on such a thin island in the
middle of the dangerous ocean, far from
the mainland. Do they suffer from tsunami
or so?

We wish you all the best, thank you again
and hello from Moscow, Russia!

Congratulations for this paradise!
It is nice to know there is a place
like Palmyra. Maybe I will have the
honour to visit it some day
________________________

IT'S TIME TO CHAT

Our Chat Room is always available for online
chatting between parties and can be accessed
via Jane's Oceania Home Page:
http://www.janeresture.com or the URLs:
http://pub18.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/1489671900
http://pub32.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/2702076781

COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

These are always most welcome and can be
e-mailed to me at: jane@janeresture.com

Thank you so much everybody for being
very important and valuable members of
our Oceania Club.

Let us all hope for continuing greater
peace and harmony, good health,
prosperity and happiness, for everybody!
I wish you all the very best and please
take care!

May our God bless us all and, as usual,
I look forward to the pleasure of your
company next time!

Jane Resture