Projects

Our Work to Preserve Culture

Work in Fiji

The communities of the Pacific Islands share a strength and beauty that are bound by tradition.

Pacific Blue Foundation collaborates with the villages to understand the culture and preserve what pieces of tradition may eventually be lost. Pacific Blue Foundation then provides the communities with ideas that will serve to celebrate and maintain Fijian customs, assisting with the grant seeking to fund such ideas.

Pacific Blue Foundation considers ways in which traditional practices can promote awareness while also supporting the island’s ecotourism economy.


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Efforts to Preserve Culture

 

PBF sponsors cultural studies

  • Dr. Calamia, an anthropologist, conducted studies and interviews to learn about  Yanuca’s traditional stories and long-standing culture, with the intent of helping the community move forward while retaining customs and practices from their traditional way of life.
  • Pacific Blue Foundation began promoting the Fijian Canoe Sailing Culture in 2010 with a Fijian Canoe Racing event, Veitau Waqa, The Boat Lives. The event continues to gain momentum, and the cultural significance of the canoe has recently been recognized by The New York Times.
  • Currently, we are researching pre-colonial musical instruments to gain a better understanding of the culture’s historic ties to music.

Below, a clip of Kaveni Tamani, one of the last Fijian Nose Flute players.

Visit the George Kingsley Roth Fiji Collection to learn more about traditional Fijian music and culture.

PBF promotes awareness of traditional customs

  • Pacific Blue Foundation sponsored travel expenses of family and press so they could witness and impart to other villagers what they experienced at the inauguration of the high chief, Roko Sau.
  • Keleni Babau video recorded traditional village stories as told by Yanuca’s elder, Big Bola, so that they could be appreciated, shared, and preserved.

PBF provides funding to preserve ancient ways of life

 

  • Pacific Blue Foundation sponsored and hosted traditional sailing boat races in order to recognize the ocean-voyaging canoe’s significance in linking together ancient Fijian culture.
  • Pacific Blue Foundation also selected six boat captains to learn how to sail and properly care for the traditional sailing boats, or camakau. The training was aimed to increase the use of camakau around Fiji, in hopes that the boats would also create a new niche in the ecotourism market.