When Raphael Kogun’s uncle became gravely ill in 2006, his family’s immediate response was to recruit a witch doctor in the hope of finding out who was responsible for having brought such a curse upon him. The blame was eventually directed towards a middle-aged couple from Kogun’s village in Papua New Guinea, and the family “ran after them and . . . chopped their heads off,” according to Kogun. “I felt sorry for them but they were witches, they deserved to die. If they were still alive they could hurt people with their magic.”

Two of his brothers were subsequently arrested, but witnesses, having felt too terrified to testify, caused the eventual collapse of the case.

Could Moana engage younger generations of Islanders and non-Islanders to the art of Wayfinding? The 2016 film starring Pacific Islanders Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is about a young Islander girl, Moana, who hopes to save her dying island; by stealing a canoe, sailing across the ocean and returning the heart of Te Fiti. To do this, Moana learns how to wayfind; a skill that continues to be taught in the Pacific.

In late November-2016, the French Polynesian Présidence at Papeete played host to an important, and well-attended, exhibition titled Makatea: Past, Present, Future.

From its opening, the exhibition transformed from a site of historical memory into a site of heated debate. Landowners, office-holders, young job seekers and environmentalists came together to articulate their visions and concerns over Australian engineer Colin Randall’s proposals to re-open mining industry on Makatea for its phosphate reserves.

Dominic Huntley explores the discrepancy between words and action in US policy in Asia.

Mitiana Arbon reflects on the controversies of Disney’s upcoming film Moana and its French-language changes.

Mitiana Arbon reflects on the flourishing development partnership between the United Arab Emirates and Pacific Island States.

Mitiana Arbon reflects on the origin and adoption of the Hawai'ian word wiki into the English language.

These days it is impossible not to encounter the word wiki in one form or another online. From reading diplomatic cables on WikiLeaks to researching the average life span of Scottish deerhounds on Wikipedia, wiki has unassumingly crept into the global vernacular.

Phoebe Siers looks at how false representation is countered through contemporary arts in Hawai'i.

Mitiana Arbon reflects on the future of Samoan community resilience to cyclones through the traditional architectural style of the fale.

Mitiana Arbon reflects on the reclusive island of Maiao in French Polynesia, and its locals mistrust of foreigners.