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- Jane's Oceania Home Page Newsletter
Vol. 8, Edition Nos. 4 & 5, April/May 2007
http://www.janeresture.com/
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http://www.janesoceania.com
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http://www.pacificislandsradio.com
I N T H I S I S S U E
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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 everybody to our Newsletter
for April/May 2007! It is certainly great
to be back in touch with you all again and,
as always, I would very much like to take
this wonderful opportunity to sincerely
wish everybody good health, prosperity,
happiness, peace and harmony.
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 Oceania/Pacific
Island welcome to all our new members
who have joined us since our last
Newsletter. Welcome on board, please
make yourselves feel at home, sit back,
relax, 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 Oceania/Island people
who wish to gain a greater appreciation of
their beautiful island heritage.
http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_resources/postcards.htm
In addition, the Newsletter introduces some
of the many lesser known beautiful, important
and very interesting islands and places of the
Pacific/Oceania region.
http://www.janeresture.com/home/index.htm
NEWS AND VIEWS
The passing of the revered King Malietoa
Tanumafili II of Samoa who ruled the tiny
Pacific country for 45 years leaves behind
a giant legacy of extraordinary achievement.
King Malietoa was the world's oldest
monarch before his recent passing at the
age of 94. Malietoa was Samoa's king
since the nation, of about 180,000
people gained independence from New
Zealand in 1962, and was greatly loved
by his people, who have been in mourning
since his death. He was a leader who
reflected humanity, humbleness and a
great deal of love for his people and one
who will be sorely missed
His funeral was a solemn, traditional and
dignified occasion as befits such a great
King with thousands of Samoans, including
chiefs in traditional skirts, ringing the
country's parliament for the funeral. King
Malietoa Tanumafili II was farewelled by
a 300-strong choir and a police honour
guard as Pacific leaders and royalty
watched in silent tribute.
King Malietoa's body lay in state overnight
in the Apia Parliament before being placed
on a decorated dais, draped in the Samoan
flag, on the building's lawns for a service
attended by the Maori and Tongan kings.
The coffin was shielded from the sun by
an open-sided shelter, built in traditional
Samoan style and topped with flax. At the
end of the service, Malietoa's coffin was
carried away by Samoan ceremonial
police to his family's white-walled crypt
at Tiafau and interred with a cannon
salute.
Malietoa inherited his royal title in
1940, and was made a special adviser
to the New Zealand governor in
Samoa, following the death of his father,
Malietoa Tanumafili I. He was a key
figure in Samoa's drive towards
independence and was made joint head
of state for life, alongside Tupua
Tamasese Meaole when Samoa became
the first Pacific Islands country to achieve
independence in 1962.
Malietoa became sole head of state when
Tupua Tamasese Meaole died in 1963.
He was the third longest reigning living
monarch, after Thailand's King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, ruler since 1946, and Queen
Elizabeth II, who ascended Britain's
throne in 1952.
Under Samoa's constitution, Malietoa's
successor will be appointed for five-year
terms and will be chosen by the country's
Legislative Assembly, which is elected
from mainly customary chiefs every five
years. In 1940, Malietoa married Lili
Tunu, who died in 1986, a year after
their eldest son died. Another child died
in infancy. The king is survived by two
sons and two daughters.
From Papua New Guinea comes news
that a woman, suspected of cannibalism,
was set alight at a village near Mount
Hagen City. The woman, a single mother
of one is now recovering at the Mt Hagen
General Hospital after villagers had hit
her with coffee sticks, stones and set her
alight after pouring petrol over her body.
At this time, no official complaint has
been lodged by the woman's family so
police are not looking into the matter.
Apparently, the woman was seen early
in the morning near the grave of a man,
who had recently been buried. The
villagers, mostly young men from the
Jika Melakamb tribe, suspected her
of "foul play". It should be mentioned,
perhaps, that the practice of guarding
new graves is common in the Highlands,
a region widely known for adoring and
believing in black magic, witchcraft
and cannibalism.
According to an eyewitness report, the
young woman was chased in a car and
knocked down about 300 meters from
the grave. She was then continuously
beaten with sticks, had petrol poured
on her and set alight. At the emergency
ward of the Mt Hagen General Hospital,
the woman was seen screaming in great
agony with severe burns to over 60 per
cent of her body.
Certainly, this terrible incident only goes
to highlight the extent to which traditional
superstition, black magic and witchcraft
still hold sway throughout much of Papua
New Guinea and, in articular the Papua
New Guinea Highlands. The task of
finding a common bridge between the
traditional values and modern western
law enforcement is certainly a very
daunting one.
It is certainly pleasing to see from the
Marshall islands a revival of the dormant
art of mat-weaving not seen since World
War II when a shortage of fabric created
the need for mats as clothing. This revival
saw the reintroduction of the weaving of
finely woven pandanus clothing mats
incorporating many of the old designs and
patterns. These patterns included crabs,
abstracted images of frigate and long tail
birds, as well as the under belly of turtles
An exhibition of traditional Marshallese
mats, Jaki-ed, was held in Majuro,
Marshall Islands, on 26th April 2007. The
exhibition featuring mats from throughout
the Marshalls - (with a particularly strong
showing from Kabinmeto, Ailinglaplap
and Mejit atolls) - filled the walls of the
Melele Room at the Marshall Islands Resort.
Although not for sale, a special collection
of striking black-fringed Chiefly mats from
Iroij Michael Kabua were also on exhibition.
Guests showed their appreciation by
purchasing all twenty-five mats after intense
silent auction bidding.
Thanks to the strong community support,
this money, along with prize money for
the top eight mats totalling about
US$5,000, went directly to the individual
weavers who created these works of art.
It is certainly pleasing to see that the
continuation of mat weaving presents a
viable economic asset compatible with
the environment and the culture. Future
plans include workshops to enable master
weavers to pass on their skills, introduce
new weavers to the art; obtain additional
photographs and information on
Marshallese mats in museums worldwide
and, of course, hold an annual exhibition
and auction.
Of interest is the news that Taiwan has
provided funding of just over US$1 million
for eight Pacific regional organisations.
These organisations include the Forum
Fisheries Agency, the Fiji School of
Medicine, the Pacific Islands Forum,
the Pacific Community, the South Pacific
Board for Education Assessment, the
Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission,
and the University of the South Pacific.
The Forum Secretariat has also received
US$177,000 from Taiwan for scholarships.
Also, The People's Republic of China has
agreed to assist in financing the reconstruction
of Nuku'alofa after the recent unrest in Tonga.
The 16th November 2007 riot, destroyed 80
per cent of the Nuku'alofa Central Business
District, and it has been estimated that Tonga
needs US$200 million to rebuild the capital.
A Tonga government statement has indicated
that Tonga is applying for a soft loan from
China of the equivalent of TOP$112 million
(RMB 20 million) [US$55 million].
At the conclusion of his first official visit
to China, the Tongan Prime Minister,
Dr Feleti Sevele, said the details of China's
financial assistance, are now being sorted
out at the Ministerial levels. An agreement
was also signed between the two governments
for a grant of pa'anga $5 million (RMB 20
million) [US$2.45 million] for the improvement
of health facilities in Vava'u and Tongatapu.
An additional untied grant of pa'anga $5
million (RMB 20 million) [US$2.45 million]
was also announced by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed the
Tongan Government's commitment to the
One China Policy and the recognition that
Taiwan is an integral and inalienable part
of the People's Republic of China.
With the growing and significant presence
of China, Taiwan and Japan, in the Pacific
region, it is perhaps not surprising that the
United States will be out to raise its profile
in the Pacific region by strengthening their
relationships with Pacific countries, and
by naming this year, 2007, as 'The Year
of the Pacific'. Certainly, the perception
of America's invisibility in the Pacific has
been further accentuated by the high
profile wrangling for one-upmanship in
the region between China and Taiwan
over the last few years, not to speak of
the ubiquitous influence of Australia and
New Zealand for decades.
Clearly, the United States of America
is determined to change the world's
perception that it is a marginal player in
the region. In an address, delivered in
Washington last month, to tell the world
about its firm intent to make a big splash
in the world's largest ocean, a senior
official said that the country wanted to
reverse any perception that the United
States had withdrawn from the Pacific
region. The Pacific region's vastness,
its resource richness, its proclivity for
political instability, its weakness that
can be exploited by transnational
terrorist and crime organisations - all
compounded by the United States of
America's long neglect in the region -
have all added to the acute sense of
urgency in taking proactive steps in
the Pacific.
Certainly, it is to be hoped that increased
awareness of the Pacific islands within
the United States, the world's largest
single consumer market, will have a
positive impact on tourist numbers from
the North American continent. As its
engagement in the region increases, it is
quite likely that island countries will see
more aid programmes, as well as an
increase in private American investments,
particularly in the tourism infrastructure
sector. How this will impact on Pacific
interests by China and Taiwan, is yet to
be seen.
In the meantime, a recent think-tank's
report, released in Washington by a
task force of the Council on Foreign
Relations, has indicated that the United
States government "should give serious
consideration" to shifting the balance of
its naval forces from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and beef up its military muscle
on Guam as part of the shift. The report
indicated that this should be done as a
consequence of China's potential to
become the United States military's
next military rival.
The report suggested further military
build-up on Guam beyond the island's
future role as host to thousands of
members of the U.S. Marines who
will be relocated from Okinawa,
Japan. The Marines' relocation to
Guam is expected to cost US$10
billion that both the United States
and Japanese governments are
expected to co-pay.
"The United States should sustain and
selectively enhance its force posture
in Asia, ensuring it has capabilities
commensurate with the region's growing
importance to the U.S. economy and
other vital national interests," according
to the task force's report. The report
suggested strongly that the U.S. naval
forces' focus should shift from the
Atlantic, particularly in the event that
China becomes militarily aggressive.
Indeed, one task force member has
suggested that China has already
increased its ability to challenge
American military preponderance in
the Western Pacific.
The situation between Washington and
Beijing is being made even more complex
as a consequence of the snowballing
United States trade deficit with the Asian
giant that hit 232.5 billion US dollars
last year. Indeed, Washington is reported
to be "watching closely" whether Beijing
would allow the appreciation of the
Chinese currency to help address the
burgeoning US trade deficit. In this
respect, the Bush administration is under
pressure from US lawmakers threatening
to push ahead with legislation imposing
punitive tariffs on Beijing should the
Chinese refuse to allow an appreciation
of the Yuan.
Certainly, the US lawmakers have
serious concerns about China's massive
and constant interventions in the currency
markets. These interventions have the
effect of keeping the value of the Chinese
currency artificially low thus making
exports from China relatively cheap and
imports into China relatively expensive.
In addition, some senators from beef-
producing states said that they were
deeply concerned about China's
continuing ban on US beef.
Now that the United States has signalled
its intention of becoming a more significant
player in the Pacific region, the on-going
power play between the United States and
China may well impact on their relations
with the Pacific region, particularly in the
light of China's already significant presence.
A recent report has painted a very grim
scenario as to the extent that rising sea
levels threaten small Pacific island nations.
The report confirmed that the crises has
arrived in Tuvalu, which will be the first
country to be wiped off the map by
global warming. Sometime in the next
50 years, if rising sea-level predictions
prove accurate, the entire 11,800-
strong population will have to be
evacuated.
Tuvalu consists of nine low-lying atolls
totalling just 26 square kilometers, or
10 square miles, and in the past few
years the "king tides" that peaked in
February 2007, have been rising higher
than ever. Waves have washed over
the island's main roads; coconut trees
stand partly submerged; and small
patches of cropland have been rendered
unusable because of encroaching saltwater.
Fortunately, the New Zealand government
already takes in a quota of Tuvaluans
every year, many of whom have found
jobs around Auckland, and it has
assured Tuvalu that it will absorb the
entire population if the worst comes to
pass.
This is a lifeline that many similarly
threatened island nations - including
Kiribati, Vanuatu, the Marshall Islands,
the Cook Islands, Fiji and the Solomon
Islands - do not yet have.
While their stories may not be as
compelling as Tuvalu's, such nations
include atolls that may also vanish.
And they depend on vulnerable,
low-lying coastal areas for living space,
cropland and tourism. For them, even
conservative estimates of rising waters
look set to make life on once-idyllic
islands increasingly nasty, crowded
and very, very wet.
If there is a mass exodus, countries
like Tuvalu - which have contingency
plans and close relations with a
developed country partner like New
Zealand - will have an advantage. The
Marshall Islands and the Federated
States of Micronesia, for example,
could benefit from closer historical ties
with the United States (both are former
U.S.-administered trust territories). The
biggest losers may well be unskilled,
poor islanders who cannot easily emigrate
- especially in politically turbulent states
like the Solomon Islands. At this time,
apart from New Zealand, there are few
signs that developed nations are taking
an active approach to dealing with rising
emigration from the region.
The Pacific Regional Environment
Program has joined other groups in the
region to start a $34 million adaptation
effort that includes preparing roads for
flooding in the Federated States of
Micronesia; improving sea walls and
drainage systems in the Cook Islands;
and relocating gardens, planting salt-
resistant crops and reviving the fishing
industry in Solomon Islands atolls.
While these activities can improve the
situation in the short term, they are
much like rearranging the deck chairs
on the Titanic, unless strong measures
are taken by developing countries to
curb emissions. In the longer term, the
world's developed nations may well
face the prospect of having up to five
million angry Pacific Islanders
knocking on their door.
In the Solomon Islands, the Julian
Moti affair will still not go away with
the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
saying that he expects Australian
lawyer, Julian Moti, to shortly take up
the position of attorney-general despite
him being wanted by Australia to face
child sex charges. Prime Minister
Sogavare said that Moti was the best
man for the job and could help clear
up injustices against more than 200
Solomon Islanders 'unjustly detained'
in jail, thanks to the Australian-led
Regional Assistance Mission to
Solomon Islands (RAMSI). In the
mean time, the Solomon Islands
Opposition leader, Fred Fono, has
repeated his call for Moti to be
returned to Australia to face charges
that he raped a 13-year-old girl in
Vanuatu in 1997.
Julian Moti was able to evade extradition
to Australia from Papua New Guinea last
October 2006, by skipping bail, hiding
out in the Solomon Islands High
Commission in Port Moresby for a week,
then taking a clandestine PNG military
flight to the Solomon Islands. The
Australian-trained lawyer of Fijian-Indian
background is now staying at the Iron
Bottom Sound Hotel in the Solomon
Islands capital, Honiara, his expenses
and a car paid for by the Solomon
Islands government.
Last October 2006, Moti was on his
way from India to take up his new post
as attorney-general, but the Solomons
Public Service Commission suspended
his appointment because of the
seriousness of the Australian charges
against him.
It is difficult to understand Prime
Minister Sogavare's insistence that
Julian Moti should be allowed to
take up the position of attorney-general
and his statement that the controversy
surrounding Moti stemmed from
Australia pursuing its own political
agenda in the South Pacific. It is also
difficult to see how Moti could assist
in a 'clean-up process' in the Solomons
relating to injustices against more than
200 Solomon Islanders being 'unjustly
detained' in jail by the Regional
Assistance Mission to Solomon
Islands (RAMSI).
A recent study which included DNA
analysis of almost 700 samples from
Aboriginal Australians and Melanesians,
has confirmed the view that Aboriginal
Australians are descended from the
same small group of people who left
Africa about 70,000 years ago and
colonised the rest of the world. After
arriving in Australia and New Guinea
about 50,000 years ago, the settlers
evolved in relative isolation,
developing unique genetic characteristics
and technology. The study discounted
the theory that modern humans, Homo
sapiens, interbred with archaic humans,
such as Homo erectus, as they spread
around the globe.
The research, published in Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences,
provided strong evidence for the out-of-
Africa theory, that all modern humans
alive today share a common ancestry.
Indeed, the research gave a genetic link
showing that the Australian Aboriginal
and New Guinean populations are
descended directly from the same
specific group of people who emerged
from the African migration. At the time
of this migration, Australia and New
Guinea were joined by a land bridge.
In addition, the research helped to
explain why the skeletal remains and
tools found in Australia were different
to those found on the route through
Asia, that the early settlers took to get
here. Indeed, the DNA analysis
suggested that the settlers lived in relative
isolation after their arrival, to the extent
that any significant developments in
skeletal form and tool use.
Finally, in our News and Views for April/
May 2007, I would like to include an extract
from the March/April/May 2007 edition of our
Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Newsletter
which discusses a number of significant changes
impacting upon the provision of services and
the listening enjoyment of our many valued
listeners and subscribers worldwide.
I am including the extract in this edition of
our April/May 2007 Newsletter for the benefit
of all our many wonderful listeners as well
as those of you who have kindly subscribed to
our Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter. Thank
you!
"In this edition of our Pacific Islands Radio
Newsletter, please allow me to share
with you some recent actions in the United
States by the Copyright Royalty Board
which have caused considerable concern
in the Internet Radio Industry. This
particularly relates to the decision of the
Copyright Royalty Board to drastically
increase royalty rates for webcasters.
These royalty rates included a retroactive
$500 per channel minimum that would
certainly impact heavily on many small
webcasters, many of whom could simply
not afford this increase, and would most
likely close down their stations.
These royalty increases were due to go
into effect on May 15 (retroactive to
Jan 1, 2006!), however, according to
the Copyright Royalty Board's statutory
interpretation, the first payments for
Internet radio webcasters are now
due on July 15, 2007 instead of May 15,
2007. This is certainly welcome news for
webcasters, the artists they support, and
the millions of listeners who enjoy the
incredible diversity of programming
Internet radio offers.
In response to representations by
webcasters and their audience, The
Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060
was introduced into the United States
Senate on the 19th May 2007, by
Representatives Jay Inslee and Donald
Manzullo with the intent of saving the
Internet radio industry. This act is
basically intended to create a level
playing field by bringing the Internet
radio per performance rates into parity
with traditional and satellite radio. Unlike
Internet radio, traditional radio does not
pay royalties to record labels or artists
for songs performed on air.
A national coalition of webcasters,
recording artists, listeners and record
labels applauded the Bill's introduction,
expressing their gratitude to Senators
Wyden and Brownback for their
leadership at this critical time for the
Internet radio industry, and the millions
of people worldwide who listen online
every day.
It is certainly most gratifying to see that,
since the Copyright Royalty Board's
ruling, Internet radio listeners, webcasters
and the artists they promote have joined
together to urge Congress to prevent this
vibrant industry from going silent on 15th
July 2007.
On behalf of Internet radio's 70 million
monthly listeners, thousands of webcasters,
and the incredible diversity of talented
artists it supports, Pacific Islands Radio
commends Senators Wyden and Brownback
for their understanding of Internet radio's
importance, and for their leadership in
taking the steps needed to ensure that it
has a viable and promising future.
In addition, Pacific Islands Radio would
like to thank its many loyal and valued
listeners in the United States, who have
played an active role in urging their
congressperson to co-sponsor The
Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060.
Perhaps it should also be mentioned
that, although an appeal has been
lodged against the new rates, the
outcome of an appeal will take some
time. In the meantime, as the new rates
go into effect immediately, Live365
may have to pay higher rates, starting
from earlier this year, 5th March 2007.
This has resulted in a change to business
policy regarding listening from the
Live365 Web site.
These changes basically include, for
VIP listeners, the "Are you still there?"
campaign. This means that all VIP
listeners will receive an "Are you still
there?" prompt after 8 hours. They
will then need to click on the prompt,
in order to avoid the broadcast from
stopping. For Non-VIP listeners,
there will also be a "Are you still
there?" campaign. This will involve
setting different maximum listening
session lengths and placing various
reminders and prompts on some
non-VIP listeners. These messages
will read something like "Your player
has been running for quite some time.
Your audio stream has stopped
playing. To resume, press continue."
This has been done in an effort to
minimize royalties and help keep
down the cost of broadcasting.
Finally, I would also like to share
with you all, our treasured members,
as well as everybody, the good news
that, over the last month, our flagship
station:
Pacific Islands Radio
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeresture
which now has an extended Playlist
in excess of 56 hours, enjoyed a
listening audience in over 78 countries
worldwide. Particularly gratifying was
the increase in listening hours in
beautiful Hong Kong, which now rates
second only to the one and only incredibly
incomparable United States of America,
in terms of total listening hours for the
month - thank you so very much indeed!"
FEATURE ARTIST
Pacific Islands Radio is very proud
to be able to feature on its Playlist
the music of the Somai Serenaders
from beautiful Savu-Savu, Fiji. This
group play a traditional string band
style, unique to the islands, with their
music being played in a very ritualized
fashion, while sitting on the floor or
the ground around a large bowl filled
with kava juice. The group's instrumentation
is three guitars and a ukulele with four
male voices, sung in a soprano range.
The music of the Somai Serenaders is
inspired by the sounds of nature, such
as the rhythm of the wind blowing
through the palm trees. Indeed, it is
almost as if the entire easy-going Fijian
lifestyle is being expressed through the
music. Listeners are invited to imagine
a couple of coconuts floating on the
water and, from that, a song is
composed!
The Somai Serenaders refer to their
style of music as 'Sigi Drigi' - singing
and drinking. It is a harmonious and
melodious style of music that one only
seems to find in the beautiful and
enchanting islands of Fiji.
* * * * * * * *
NOTICE BOARD
SAVUSAVU SOUTH PACIFIC
MUSIC FESTIVAL 2007
The third Savusavu South Pacific Music
Festival will be held on the 22-25
November 2007. It will feature musical
and cultural events showcasing some of
the region's best musical and dance
performers.
The culturally-rich music festival was
created for three reasons:
1) to celebrate and showcase the South
Pacific Islands music and other performing
arts, featuring Fiji as a central gathering
place for the vent;
2) to increase business to area resorts,
local towns and indigenous operators; and
3) to bring additional interest and awareness
to the Northern Islands and, in particular,
to promote Savusavu as a destination.
KIRIBATI - QUALIFIED SECONDARY
SCHOOL TEACHERS REQUIRED
In 2007 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).
MICRONESIA MUSIC ANTHOLOGY
For more information about the Micronesia
Music Anthology, you are invited to visit the
following Web site:
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 Islands Radio.
With an extended running time of one hour,
the gospel collection is available each Sunday
from 12 noon to 1 pm Australian eastern
standard time, and features the music of a
number of talented artists.
Please consult the Broadcast Schedule
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
PEARL HARBOR
The Day of Infamy - An Illustrated History
By Dan Van Der Vat
Published by Basic Books
New York, 2001
A detailed and glossy publication
about the infamous raid on Pearl
Harbour. The book includes
numerous pictures, recollections
by those present, and paintings by
Tom Freeman.
Highly recommended for anybody
interested in the attack on Pearl
Harbour during World War II.
A SIMPLIFIED DICTIONARY
OF MODERN SAMOAN
By R. W. Allardice
Published by Polynesian Press
New Zealand, 1994
A detailed book giving both the
English to Samoan translations as
well as the Samoan to English
translations of hundreds of common
words. This book is of great value
if you are interested in the Samoan
language, or are contemplating a
visit to beautiful Samoa.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
With regard to the above books, my
review copies are kindly made available
by Gray Direct Booksellers who have a
very large collection of contemporary, as
well as very rare books on Oceania. Gray
Direct Booksellers can be contacted on
wrgray@bigpond.net.au
In addition, please contact me should you
require 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
HAWAI'I PACIFIC ISLANDS
KAVA FESTIVAL
~ I Maluhia ka Honua ~
(So that the world may be at peace)
Saturday, October 6, 2007
University of Hawaii, Manoa main
campus, on McCarthy Mall Honolulu,
Hawai`i, 9:00am-5:30pm
Free Admission
Parking on street or on campus ($3)
Aloha!
The Kava Festival, also known in Hawai'i
as the 'Awa Festival, features many aspects
of 'awa as central to culture for Hawai'i
and the Pacific Islands.
Live local music from Hawai'i's hottest music
groups, educational and cultural booths, 'awa
sampling, 'awa plants, food booths, kava
serving implements from Bishop Museum's
Pan-Pacific collection, and Hawai'i's 'awa
serving bars and cafes will be serving the
public with educational presentations also
available.
At the conclusion of the festival we will
also host a scientific conference the next
day.
~ I Maluhia ka Honua ~
(So that the world may be at peace).
Mahalo
MARQUESAS ARTS FESTIVAL
The seventh Marquesas Arts Festival will
take place on the island of Ua Pou (north
of the Archipelago) from 17th December
2007 to the 20th December 2007. The
festival will feature delegations from other
Pacific Islands such as Hawaii, New
Zealand, Easter Island, New Caledonia
and Wallis and Futuna who will join an
estimated 2,000 Marquesans coming
from all the islands of the Archipelago
for the celebrations.
The Marquesas Arts Festival was born
twenty years ago on the island of Ua
Pou with the main goal of the festival
being to keep alive the traditional arts
of the Marquesan people.
Indeed, the Arts Festival, which takes
place every four years, has its traditional
roots in Marquesan history. Before the
arrival of European discoverers, similar
gatherings were organized to celebrate
events such as a good harvest, a marriage,
a birth or in memory of an important tribal
priest. Around 5,000 visitors from Tahiti
and from abroad are expected to attend
the event.
You are all invited to come along and
join in the celebrations - Enjoy!!
MICRONESIA COMING EVENTS
1 Jun* Tree Planting Day (Yap)
6 Jun* Malem Memorial Day (Kosrae)
20 Jul* Utwe Memorial Day (Kosrae)
8 Sep* Kosrae Liberation Day
11 Sep* Pohnpei Liberation Day
23 Sep* Chuuk Liberation Day
1 Oct* Chuuk Constitution Day
24 Oct United Nations Day
3 Nov Independence
(Federated States of Micronesia) Day
8 Nov* Pohnpei Constitution Day
11 Nov Veterans of Foreign War Day
(Pohnpei)
15 Nov* Kosrae State Fair
29 Nov Thanksgiving
(Kosrae and Chuuk)
24 Dec* Yap Constitution Day
* * * * * * * *
"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 so much!
* * * * * * * *
RECOLLECTIONS AND MEMOIRS
MEMOIRS OF GEORGE ALBERT DeLONG
(26th June 1922 - 22nd March 2002)
Many of the memories of the Battle of
Guadalcanal are still as clear in my mind
as are those of Pearl Harbor. As a matter
of fact, I have more detailed visual images
of November 13, 1942 than I do of
December 7, 1941. This is true primarily
because I was topside on the Helena and
could see as well as feel what was going on.
http://www.janesoceania.com/delong_memoirs/index.htm
THE LOGBOOK OF THE 'CARL'
The second recruiting voyage of the Carl
was documented by James Patrick Murray,
the owner of the Carl. Sailing from Fiji
about 20th December, 1871, they proceeded
in search of labour calling first at the island of
St. Bartholomew where they were able to lure
a considerable number of natives on board by
purchasing a number of pigs from them. The
natives were seized and thrust in the hold. The
Carl then proceeded to Espiritu Santo where
friendly communications were opened with
the natives and yams purchased. The
opportunity did not arrive to seize natives
from this island and no men were taken.
They then left the New Hebrides (Vanuatu)
and sailed across to the Kingsmill Group
where they were met by a number of canoes.
When the natives came on board from the
canoes, they were thrust down the hold and
on some occasions received slight injuries
through resisting strongly.
http://www.janesoceania.com/carl_logbook/index.htm
FEATURE WEB SITES
ABOUT NEW CALEDONIA
New Caledonia (Kanaky) was populated
by Melanesians 2,000 years ago. The islands
were named by Captain Cook in 1774, as
the tree-covered hills reminded him of the
Scottish - Caledonian - landscape. In 1853,
the main island was occupied by the French
Navy which organized a local guard to
suppress frequent indigenous uprisings.
Nickel and chrome mining attracted
thousands of French settlers. The colonizers
pushed out the original inhabitants, and
traditional religions, crafts and social
organizations were obliterated, and many
landless natives were confined to 'reservations',
and the system of terraced fields were trodden
over by cattle. The last armed rebellion, stifled
in 1917, only accelerated European land
appropriation.
http://www.janesoceania.com/newcaledonia/index3.htm
ABOUT TIMOR
Facts About Timor
History - Early History
The discovery of some artefacts and
evidence of pre-agricultural societies
may mean that Timor was home to
Homo erectus, early hominoids related
to Java Man that settled the Indonesian
archipelago up to one million years ago.
Evidence of modern human settlement
on Timor dates back at least 13,000
years, when the Austronesian peoples
of Asia migrated throughout the
eastern islands. These hunter-gatherers
were joined by later migrants from Asia,
who introduced agriculture around 2000
BC. Little is known of Timor before
1500 AD, though Chinese and Javanese
traders visited the island from at least
the 13th century, and possibly as early as
the 7th century. Traders visited coastal
settlements in search of the plentiful
sandalwood (prized for its aroma and for
the medicinal santalol made from the oil)
and beeswax.
http://www.janesoceania.com/timor/index.htm
OCEANIA WEB SITES
PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)
Papua (previously known as Irian Jaya)
is the western half of New Guinea, the
world's second-largest island, and three
times larger than Java and Bali combined.
This region is mainly impenetrable jungle
where traditional tribes survive harsh
conditions and modern intrusions, though
most inhabitants live in and around a few
towns along the coast. Almost all visitors
head to the Baliem Valley, home of some
of the most remarkable traditional cultures
on earth, while some include a side-trip to
explore the dive sites of WWII relics
around Palau Biak (Biak Island). Papua
has a lot more to offer, but it suffers -
and will for some time - from limited
transport due to geographic inaccessibility
and frustrating government travel regulations.
http://www.janesoceania.com/papua_history/index.htm
ABOUT TORRES STRAIT
Another significant factor is that the
Torres Strait Islanders were a maritime
people and avid traders. The labyrinthine
reef systems that surround their home
islands were rich in pearl and conus shell,
and these, along with other commodities,
entered a vibrant inter-island trading
network that extended to the coasts of
Australia and New Guinea, and beyond.
When British shipping began to make
regular use of the Strait early in the
nineteenth century, the Islanders took
the opportunity to incorporate European
manufactures into the network. With
increased shipping, that trade expanded
and the overall volume and velocity of
trade in the indigenous network
increased. The Islanders became
steadily more interested in a wider
range of European manufactures, and
more sophisticated in their dealings
with the passengers and crews of
passing ships. In effect, this 'passing
trade' phase of contact did much to
prepare them for what was to come -
the colonial occupation of their islands.
http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_torresstrait/index1.htm
MELANESIA ORIGINS
Modern evidence, including DNA analysis
confirms the opinion that modern man, in
the form of Homo sapiens, first came out
of Africa as early as 160,000 years ago.
Of the pioneers who moved across Asia,
one group moved south-east down
through the Indo-Malaysian archipelago,
crossing over into Australia during a brief
window of opportunity 65,000 years ago
when water levels dropped. They also
reached Papua possibly as early as
65,000 years ago eventually moving
from there across the Pacific.
http://www.janesoceania.com/melanesia_origins/index.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/melanesia_origins/index1.htm
TAHITI POSTCARDS 35
Beautiful and rare postcards from
fantastic Tahiti!
http://www.janesoceania.com/tahiti_postcards24/index2.htm
FIJI HISTORICAL POSTCARDS 30, 31 & 32
Rare and fascinating historical postcards
from beautiful Fiji.
http://www.janesoceania.com/fiji_postcards21/index1.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/fiji_postcards22/index1.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/fiji_postcards22/index2.htm
AUSTRALIA POSTCARDS 21 & 22
Historical postcards from beautiful Australia!
http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_postcards21/index1.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_postcards22/index1.htm
NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS 18,19 & 20
A collection of historical Maori and
general historical postcards from
beautiful and fascinating New Zealand!
http://www.janesoceania.com/newzealand_postcards14/index2.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/newzealand_postcards15/index2.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/newzealand_postcards16/index2.htm
SOLOMON ISLANDS POSTCARDS 6
Historical postcards from the Solomon
Islands.
http://www.janesoceania.com/solomon_postcards2/index1.htm
NEW CALEDONIA - NOUMEA HISTORICAL
POSTCARDS 12
Historical postcards from beautiful Noumea.
http://www.janesoceania.com/newcal_postcards9/index3.htm
INTERESTING PLACES
NIHOA ISLAND
Nihoa, also called Bird Island and Moku Manu,
is located about 120 miles to the northwest of
Niihau and 250 miles from Honolulu, the first
of the chain of leeward Hawaiian Islands. It is
the summit of a huge volcanic peak, only about
900 feet of which remains exposed above the
sea. This exposed summit in shape resembles
half of a cowboy's saddle, Miller's Peak
(895 feet) being the pommel, and Tanager
Peak (852 feet) its upcurved back.
http://www.janeresture.com/nihoa/
TROBRIAND ISLANDS
The Trobriand Islands, with a culture
of self-reliance and magic, has changed
little over generations. Not even the
missionaries have been able to alter
the view of the Trobriand Islanders that
their islands are a paradise full of magic
and sensuality.
http://www.janesoceania.com/trobriands_online/index.htm
INTERESTING LINKS
OVALAU - HOME OF THE
OLD CAPITOL
Ovalau (pronounced O-vah-lau) is the
principal island of the Lomaiviti group.
Only 13 kilometers long and 11 kilometers
wide, it is located off the eastern coast of
Viti Levu.Of volcanic origin, the island is
high, rugged and covered with dense
vegetation. Its primary attraction is the old
colonial capital of Levuka, a community of
1500 or so inhabitants. Nestled at the base
of steep bluffs, Levuka has the ambience
of a 19th century whaling town, which is
exactly what it was. With weather-worn
clapboard buildings, narrow streets, and
ever-friendly residents, Levuka's harbour
and bars at one time welcomed vessels
from every seafaring nation. The feeling
of the past is palpable in Levuka--so thick
you can cut it with a knife, so dense it can
be smothering. There are several good
low-end accommodations on the island
and offshore. If you are even remotely
interested in the colonial history of the
South Pacific, Levuka is an attraction you
should not miss. One can travel there via
plane (a ten minute flight from Nausori
Airport) or via ferry from Suva.
http://www.fijiguide.com/Guide/Islands/ovalau.html
ISLAND LAW
Islands Of The Pacific
macmeekin.com
Jane's Oceania Home Page - Islander
Jane Resture's pages are quite different
from most of the pages I provide links to.
Her incredible collection of pages covers
most of the countries of Oceania and
includes not only history and maps, but
photo galleries, poetry, religion, mythology
and, on her Pacific Islands Radio, music,
to list but a few of the topics covered.
http://www.macmeekin.com/Links/Research/pacific_islands.htm
THE VAKA TAUMAKO PROJECT
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 received since
our last Newsletter and, indeed, many of
these wonderful letters were written just
before Christmas 2006 and much earlier
this year. I would very much like to share
some of them with you as I find these
letters to be most gratifying and motivating.
Please join me in thanking these wonderful
people for sharing their kind 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.
* * * * * * * * * *
Beautiful Music! Hi Jane,
This is beautiful music. Please send me the name
of the music that is playing on Pacific Islands
Radio. I enjoy it very much and I desire a copy
of it, please. Thank you.
Your heritage music is so beautiful! It's inspiring.
Hello Jane, I have come across your website
and must commend you for a wonderful job
you have done for the Pacific Island people
through the website. Thank you for the initiative.
I am sure the many people around the globe
would have visited your website and grasp the
large volume of information you have in store
regarding cultures, art, lifestyle etc for their
consumption The photos are superb. Job
well done. Thank you. Daniel.
Good Day Jane!
I really like your web site, I even put it in my
favourites. I live in Montreal, CANADA and I
really love football (soccer)
I would like to get in touch with Tuvalu Soccer
Association. Is soccer the International football
of the country? Please give me the name, email
of the person responsible for merchandise. I
want to purchase the national jersey. I hope is
possible. Thanks
Dear Jane
Appreciate
Thank you for playing such beautiful/exotic music.
By listening to Pacific Islands Radio, my soul will
travel where the sun meets the sea. Keep up the
excellent work. God bless your station and its
staff.
Hi everybody!
Check out
www.janeresture.com for the
motherlode of information and pics regarding
the South Pacific islands. I have been scouring
this site for a few years to get carving ideas,
and it is packed with postcards and other
images.
There is also a link to Pacific Islands Radio,
which is pretty cool with an occasional
"clunker" tune...like the island version of
"Imagine" they played this morning. Check
out for the Pacific islands. I have been
scouring this site for a few years to get
carving ideas, and it is packed with
postcards and other images.
Hi Jane,
I just finished reading "An Island to Oneself" by
Tom Neale at your website, and can't thank you
enough for sharing. Tom Neale has very nearly
lived out my dream, and I had never heard of
this story, so I truly can't thank you enough.
Sincerely is pretty cool with an occasional "clunker"
..like the island version of "Imagine" they played this
morning.
Hi Jane,
Your site is so amazing. I can feel the love and
dedication you have for all of these cultures. I
really admire your work to expose the world to
this and help solve global warming. I will direct
all my friends to your site.
Anyway, I loved so many of the items on your
site and I don't know if you are selling any, or
a few.
I'm a collector and dealer and would love some
very special pieces. I love the shields, asmat
shields, dance shields, as well as so many of the
figures.The twin figure, the house lentil, the
drums, the mende mourning doll - wow, the
prows, savi masks, ceremonial shields. I loved
the large sepik house board, and the fertility
boards, the panel, tapas.
Well, please let me know if you would consider
selling some of these items, especially ones that
are really special to the people, with good
spirits, karma. I would care for it well.
Please send information to
denisemlk@yahoo.com
My phone number is 719 351-7777, in US, CO
80906 Take care, Denise Malek
Dear Jane, I was thinking of moving to Solomon
Islands and was wondering if you could help me
start to look at things like employment,
government, currency and so forth. I am from
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin USA. Thanks for
any advice. Nice web page by the way.
Thanks!
Hi Jane,
Your site is so amazing. I can feel the love
and dedication you have for all of these
cultures. I really admire your work to expose
the world to this and help solve global warming.
I will direct all my friends to your site.
Anyway, I loved so many of the items on your
site and I don't know if you are selling any,
or a few...
Hi Jane,
I just wanted to drop in and say hello. I just
looked over your web site. I found things to
be very interesting. Hope you are in good
health and spirits. I live in St. Louis, Mo. USA.
You take care and write back when you have
time. Yours Truly...
Dear Jane Resture,
How are you doing? Allow me to introduce
myself. My name is --- and I'm from
Philadelphia, in the United States. I'm
currently going to school for graphic and
commercial design. I just wanted to tell you
how much I enjoy your programs and how
much I admire your work and yourself as a
person.
I started listening to Pacific Islands Radio
about a year and a half ago, I enjoy listening
on occasion when I'm online; it's very
beautiful. The music of the South Pacific
islands and their people.
I love Polynesia and I would love to travel
all over the South Pacific one day! From
Tokelau to Pitcairn and everywhere in
between! Simply the most beautiful and
interesting places on earth!
I've seen your work; you're a very talented
artist. I love learning about different places
and cultures, especially the South Pacific. I
like Polynesian art and designs. I also open
to listening to all different types of music,
that's how I came across this. I listen to
Polynesian music and some reggae to relax.
It's so peaceful.
I've sent some of my own work for you to
see! I really admire you and I hope that,
maybe we could talk sometime, back and
forth through email, and stay in touch. I think
you would be a really cool person to get to
know and I love to just share my work with
other great artists.
I love chatting with people from around the
world and it would be an honour to talk to
you! If you'd like to write me sometime,
my email is...
Here's some graphite drawings I've done
(recently). I really think the Polynesian-
themed design I just started... I added
colour to that through paint and photo-
editing on my computer. Thanks for your
time! Your Friend ---
Hello Jane,
I lived in the Solomon Islands for 7 years,
1998-2004. This is a beautiful website you
have set up, we (husband and 2 boys) miss
it so much every day. Regards
Dear Dr. Resture.
Thank you so very much for "Colorwind"
and for all of the information you have
gathered and written about the Oceanic
region. One day my wife and I will travel
to that most beautiful part of the world - it
truly is a Paradise. Many thanks.
By the way, which radio station(s) would
play songs such as "Colorwind?
Hello Jane,
My name is Joe Hartwig. My Mother is
I-Kiribati and she came out to Australia with
me just after I was born in 1985.
Recently I have taken a lot of interest in where
I came from and stumbled across your website.
I put up a post in the Forum saying I am looking
for other Melbourne I-Kiribati people to meet
and today somebody came across it and got in
touch with me.
I just wanted to pen you a personal email to
say thanks for your website which has helped
me with this. Janeresture.com contains some
amazing information on it which I am still
trying to take in.
You must be very proud of where you come
from and that is reflected in from your website
which you have put a lot of work into.
Thanks for your help again
Regards....
Hello Dr Resture
My name is Allan Schaefer. I live in the
western USA - on the coast of Oregon State.
I am 62 years old this month, and have been
fascinated with the South Sea Islands for all
of my life. Thanks to the magic of the internet,
I found your wonderful WEB site with all
of its marvellous descriptions and information.
I will be spending many days exploring this
Outstanding contribution that you have made
to the world.
As a child, I knew several WW ll veterans of
the Pacific Theater. Their stories of the war,
the islands, and the people of the South
Pacific, left me with a lifelong wish to visit
there.
Now that I'll be retiring, my wife and I may
be able to travel there. We have been to
the Hawaiian Islands ten times over twenty-
five years. That is quite easy and inexpensive
to do from Oregon. A journey to The
Solomons seems to be a lot more involved.
We wonder if we are up to it at our age?
Thank you so much for your great work
with this Web Site.
With the best regards - Allan Schaefer
Aloha ..I just finished reading the piece on
Niihau..I feel like I am a person with a rare
disease and just located someone else with
the same symptoms..I don't know why..but
for years..Niihau held a certain lure for me..
I think about it from time to time and lay
awake imagining all kinds of life and people
there.....I have flown over it..sailed around it
and photographed it from afar...but now..I
have booked my helicopter flight...I too
went on a treasure hunt to find a way to get
my feet on that sand...and mind you I live
on Maui...and the land/sand here offers many
pleasures and gratification of nature abounds..
but still the pull to Niiahu has remained..I was
a bit sad at your account of the island..I feel
like I just found out that a dear friend has a
terminal illness and I have found out too late
to do anything about it...but I intend to write
about my venture... to pull Niihau out of the
shadows of mystery and perhaps off the
edge of extinction.... I would like to hear
more about your trip..and tell you of my
experience if you like... Aloha for now...
Hello Everybody!
(About Jane's Oceania Website)
Regarding the name OCEANIA.
Have a look at this web site:
http://www.janeresture.com/index.htm
Scrolling all the way down you find
references to a thousand sites with stories
all about OCEANIA. You need several
rainy Sundays to get through this bombardment
of information all gathered what looks like by a
very active lady who spent a lifetime putting this
wealth of information together.Wonderful stuff
for future generations.
Definition of OCEANIA is described by her
as follows:
"The term Oceania is normally used to designate
all the islands of the Central and the South Pacific
including Australia (continent), New Zealand and
sometimes the Malay Archipelago. On this Web
site, the focus is primarily directed towards the
Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and
Polynesia (including the Polynesian nation of
Hawai'i)".
OUR CANTON ISLAND FORUM
I just now discovered this website. I was born
on Canton Island on a boat over the coral
lagoon in March of 1954. I want to go back and
take my 3 kids. I would love to hear from anyone
who was born and or lived there also. My dad
worked for Pan Am and was the station manager
from December 1952 to June 1955. His name
was Richard (Dick) Slater and my mom is Helen.
I now live in Washington State outside of Seattle.
My mom is now 82 and talks a lot about living
on Canton. She has great memory and does
remember the Amerlings and Dr. Kitteridge (or
something like that on spelling)! My oldest sister
went to school. My mom talks about Annie and
Hungry Potter who started the school. I had
another sister who almost drowned in the lagoon
when I was only 6 weeks old. My mom used to
dive for coral and to watch the beautiful fish in
the lagoon. I, of course, was tiny and don't
remember anything. Hey, all, it is great fun to
discover this website. Thanks to whoever is
running it! Linda Coral Slater
OUR CANTON ISLAND FORUM
Canton, Phoenix Group, Republic of Kiribati
Canton, Canton, this is the island of rest, of
rest. Canton, Canton, this is the island that's
best!
Living on Canton in the early 60's were the
best days of my youth! My dad was working
for FAA, and there were a lot of local people
living there!
My Uncle Fuji and Aunt Sarah lived there,
along with the Takeuchi's, who just so
happen to be my neighbours till this day on
Oahu! We lived in several locations during
our years there, from a Quonset house near
town to the "barn" way out on the way to
the pier! Our last house was close to the
school. My sister Brenda and Brother-in-
Law, Gerald Bell met and fell in love in
Canton. They later got married and ended
up living in Kwajalein for a while! I was
their chaperone when they went to the
open air movies! The club on weekends
was so much fun... bingo, pool and
shuffleboard!
Fishing at the jetty by the J boat using
hermit crabs for bait! The camping house
area that Grandpa Hangai and friends built...
complete with bunkbeds, dumbwaiter
and outhouse... those were the days. We
were in heaven! We ate dried Aku and
Ahi like candy! We ate fried fish, kupee,
and aama crab! We swam at the swimming
hole and walked barefoot. I am now in
my 50's and long to go back to visit this
wonderful place - to take my children
to see how life can be so simple, but so
great!!
Dear Jane, My dad was stationed at
Atafu in 1945. He became friends
with a local family and he paid for
their daughter to go to nursing school
in Samoa.
I would love to contact her and/or her
family. I have some names. Do you have
any suggestions on whom I can contact
to see if I can locate them? Any help
would be great. I have a stack of letters
that my dad sent to his mom when he
was stationed there. There are also
letters from the girl and her family. Her
name is Legalo, her mom Lopa, Puluna
and siblings Fulu,Taofi and Temo. At
least that's what I think it is.
Thanks for any direction that you can
give me. Thank you,
Kimberley Laos, daughter of
Joseph G Balsamo USCG
from Brooklyn, NY
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 |
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