ATTENTION PACIFIC ISLANDERS

You can consider this to be a meme or challenge for Pacific Islanders only. But I personally think this an opportunity to get one’s thoughts down in writing, and to serve as a snapshot of where one is in their life right now. You could do all of them or only one. 

Honestly there’s not much rules to this but to share YOUR story, culture, and history. 

By looking at the list you can see that some are meant to be pretty easy and fun, while others are more personal and thought provoking. 

1. How do you self-identify as a pasifika? What does being pasifika mean to you?
2. Were you born and raised in your home country? Born outside your home country? Became part of the diaspora at a young age? Speak on your connection to your culture and all the ups and downs along your journey.
3. Are you biracial? Multiracial? Do you identify with both sides? Or all? Why or why not?
4. A beautiful/powerful word in your native language
5. Historical figure
6. Legend or a moment in history
7. Music/Dance
8. Art/Film
9. Views on religion and how it has, or hasn’t, played a role in your life
10. Thoughts on the “Nesian” terms (Mela/Micro/Poly)
11. Current pasifika issue that should be brought to our attention (Even if a majority of our community knows about it, you can always stress concern)

Everything on the list must be related to your own culture, of course, except for the last one. 

I doubt this will get attention or participation, but I’m honestly exhausted of Pacific Islanders never having their voices heard. I thought it would be a cool idea to write down a list of little challenges to spark some inspiration and see where it goes from there. We all have so many different cultures and experiences to tell. So if you feel compelled to do this challenge/meme then I encourage you to share it! 

You can use the hashtags #MyPasifikaStory and/or #OpenOcean (which was created by @fuatino) NO SPACES FOR THE HASHTAGS PLEASE!

wa’a / waka / vaqa / va’a / proa / wa

“There is not one Pacific
There are many
From the solid slops of Mount Hagen
 and  Porgera’s wealth in the west
To the Pearl locked islets
 of Tuamotu’s east
From the chilly tips of Maoridom south
To the borders of the Northern territories
 and her mysteries that span from equator
 to Cancer.

There is not one troubled region
There are many
Trade links and nuclear free zones
cohabit with foreign assistance
and internal discord
my sister does not speak with me anymore
and old ways of doing things are re-looked at
Children go to faraway places
and babai pits lie idle and still.

There is not one Pacific
Only one common theme
That development is certain
Though foreign
And coconuts will continue
to fall,
The Pacific ocean will camouflage
superficial dreams
and the faint sound of drums
will still be heard
if we pause a while to listen.”

♥

Our Pacific by Vaine Rasmussen

♥

Locations: 1. Ha’amonga ‘a Maui in Tongatapu, Tonga
2. Raiatea, Society Islands (French Polynesia)
3. Rull, Yap
4. Freswota, a neighborhood in Port Vila, Vanuatu (Humans of Vanuatu)
5. Solomon Islands

“Oceania is vast, Oceania is expanding, Oceania is hospitable and generous, Oceania is humanity rising from the depths of brine and regions of fire deeper still, Oceania is us. We are the sea, we are the ocean, we must wake up to this ancient truth and together use it to overturn all hegemonic views that aim ultimately to confine us again, physically and psychologically, in the tiny spaces that we have resisted accepting as our sole appointed places, and from which we have recently liberated ourselves. We must not allow anyone to belittle us again, and take away our freedom.” 

♥
Our Sea of Islands by Epeli Hau’ofa

♥

Locations: 1. Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand
2. Majuro, Marshall Islands
3. Papua New Guinea
4. Mauna Loa, Hawaiʻi
5. Tobi Island/Hatohobei, Palau

PACIFIC GAMES 2015: Shots of the Games – July 9

INFORMATIVE VIDEO ON MICRONESIA! 

Good thing to note as well, while Micronesia does refer to a number of islands in a certain region in the Pacific, Micronesians is usually the term given to those who are from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap make up the FSM. 

The speakers (specifically Jojo and Dr. Palafox) do an excellent job at explaining the colonial history all starting with Magellan landing in Guam up until the end of WW2 with the United States essentially closing off all of Micronesia for their own purposes (prime example being the nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.)

I’m currently beginning to really dive into the political aspect of Micronesian issues but, relating to this video, the two important things you need to be aware of is the Compact of Free Association and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Dr. Palafox explains the goals the U.S. had in mind with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. These independent countries have a diplomatic relationship with the U.S. and this video is referring to these countries and people in particular when it comes to the issues Micronesians face in Hawaii. (However these independent countries didn’t turn out to be so independent after all and there lies the big issue)

Guam and the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) is a different story. The student (Leonard) asked well why aren’t they referred to the Mariana Islands? Why was it split to begin with? This is a topic that is deserving of its own post but skimming through the Partition of the Marianas will give you an idea. (Goes back to Spanish-American War and Germany wanting a piece of the Marianas and willing to pay for it)

I’m definitely getting ahead of myself! At this point I’ll let the video speak for itself lol. If I honestly had to sum up the issues that Micronesians face it boils down to colonialism and the U.S. completely screwing up everything. They succeeded to divide us and to turn us against each other.Knowing the history and devastating and infuriating past these islands have all been through at the hands of colonizers gives a better understanding of the different experiences we Micronesians go through. Palauans, Chuukese, Yapese, Pohnpeians, Kosraeans, Chamorros, Kiribatians, and Marshallese. We all have unique experiences and our people have gone through different struggles but there’s a sense of unity that is needed between us and I for one am all for it. 

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

My issue with Pacific Pride

I feel like it’s a piggyback off of Blackout. It didn’t feel right for me to reblog the info on it to this blog because I didn’t fully support it. It was co-opting Blackout which is a powerful movement that deserves to stand on its own without other POC groups trying to create a spinoff of it.

Maybe we should all come together and address the problems that Pacific Islanders share and creating our own original movement that is no way co-opting. 

The thought of a pasifika movement sounds absolutely amazing. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia: My Thoughts

These three terms are subregions used for the islands that make up Oceania. This is the picture you might have seen before:

I am always conflicted with using these terms. On one hand these words are never used by PIs in everyday conversation. When asked, “Where are you from?” Pacific Islanders don’t say, “Oh I’m Melanesian!” If anything we say the island we are from and take the subregion as another fact. 

For instance I’m Chamorro, specifically Guamanian, but I have never told someone I’m also Micronesian. 9.2/10 times the person won’t even know your home island’s existence so adding on another term will only turn into a long explanation that you’re not willing to give to someone who you just met five minutes ago.

These terms create a division between Pacific Islanders that we do not need. So much so that I see a sense of erasure happening when ~Pacific Islanders~ and ~Polynesians~ are being used synonymously. This is by no means intentional and I’m not trying to be rude, but these subregional terms have resulted in Polynesians becoming the default for what Pacific Islanders are. 

Let’s be real this was first and foremost encouraged by the media. By Hollywood not only perpetuating stereotypes of what a Pacific Islander is supposed to look and act, but by perpetuating them on Polynesians which is gross in and of itself. By artists who traveled to the South Pacific because they wanted more “substance,” the need to “escape the evils of society,” or some other crap which resulted in objectifying and sensationalizing PIs. (SIDEBAR: I just finished reading a little bit about Post-Impressionism so it’s pretty obvious as to who I’m talking about here haha. I rolled my eyes so hard after reading that tiny paragraph)

These divisions breaks my heart, but on the other hand I do see some positives with these terms. They’re starting to be used more and more, especially with us PIs living in America, and I can see how it can be empowering. These terms have colonial ties to them, a way to group and simplify, but seeing those who decide to strip it from said ties and to proclaim and wear it proudly is powerful and beautiful.

These subregional terms can be problematic, but if we all want to use them let us use them properly, respectfully, and to band together. Melanesian, Micronesian, or Polynesian, we are ALL Pacific Islanders. 

#AsianInvasion & API

If you don’t know what it is you can read the details here.

I’m very impressed with how they tackled the issue of piggybacking off the black community and the #blackout. They decided to make revisions to their plan and more power to them. What I am NOT impressed with is how they continue to ignore Pacific Islanders. 

Let’s face it the umbrella term API (Asian Pacific Islander) is BULLSHIT. It’s a term the U.S. government made to make a vast amount of countries and islands digestible. Both aspects of this term is harmed by this label, and I believe both need to be separated from the other. Now listen I do not want to come off as being bitter towards the various ethnic groups that fall under Asia not. at. all. Unfortunately what ends up happening is that Pacific Islanders are completely ignored when it comes to ~~API~~ events.

#AsianInvasion is no different. Here we have the original poster specifically pointing out that May celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We read all these great revisions/amendments to show that this movement isn’t riding off of #blackout. It’s all so great and I’m actually excited to see all this play out! What’s not great is Pacific Islanders getting ignored. I’m sick of being ignored, sick of feeling like a loner in my own little corner shouting for attention, sick of the label API. 

I’ve had my doubts about #AsianInvasion, but nonetheless I am rooting for those who will find a personal fulfillment with this movement. BUT I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE. I won’t take part in a movement that would tell the masses it’s Asian Pacific Heritage Month and still not include us PIs in their revisions/amendments. The hashtag doesn’t even have the decency of adding Pacific Islander to its name (I mean it wouldn’t rhyme right?!).

Thanks, but no thanks.