Culture Compass

Think shells. Think stone. Think pandanus leaves woven into mats so delicate you could mistake them for silk. These are the items that hold value for us. It's a different kind of currency. It takes time, skill and cultural knowledge to make these treasures, and unlike money, you can't just print more when they run out. So how can we preserve the skills necessary to make these priceless items, whil...

If you grew up in the Pacific Islands, you probably have some understanding of which plants are useful and which ones to avoid. Before we had western medicines we knew that plants save lives, and all across the Pacific we know exactly which ones were for burns, cuts and infections. Of course there are benefits to modern medicine, but should we totally disregard the traditional ways of treating ail...

It’s clear that kava is expanding far beyond our Islands.  Kava bars are popping up around the world, as far away as New York City and the Rocky Mountains in the USA.  That’s creating jobs in the Pacific and economic opportunity for Pasifika people living abroad.   Like ‘Anau Mesui Henry, who started a kava lounge in Aotearoa inspired by her parents who used the plant to find their community after...

For thousands of years, we voyaged the ocean between islands, using the stars to find the way as the birds warned us of storms ahead. This is how we travelled across the Pacific before planes, before satellites, before people arrived on their own ships with compasses and maps. As modern technologies arrived some of the old ways are drifting away, but expert navigators continue to share their knowl...

"Our practice was quiet for a moment. It was quiet for a generation, it wasn't eradicated. And now it's back. And it's loud. And it's here, it's in your face — literally, on your face! And now we're just living that practice every day." Moale James' tattoos are a powerful link to her Papua New Guinean ancestors. The meaning of tattoo changes Island to Island, village to village, right across the P...

As soon as that first drop of fat hits the frying pan, the smell of nostalgia fills the kitchen. If you grew up in a Pacific Island household, you can probably conjure it up wherever you are. It's the smell of corned beef, spam, bully beef — whatever you call it, those tins of salty, pink jellied meat have become a staple across the islands. But exactly how did corned beef gain such cultural clout...

Storytelling has always been the backbone of our culture — a way to teach, to remember, to entertain. And now a new generation of filmmakers is projecting that legacy on screen, using modern tools to tell our truths. From grassroots DIY shoots to Hollywood blockbusters, these storytellers are redefining what it means to see ourselves on screen. You'll hear from Papua New Guinean producer Michellin...

"To my knowledge, it was the first time we saw a riot influenced by democracy," says Alice Lolohea, ABC's Tongan presenter for The Pacific. "People asked, if leaders overseas can be held accountable, why can't we hold ours to account?" What does monarchy mean in the Pacific today? How do these systems balance leadership, accountability, and culture, and how do they compare to Western royal ideals?...

When ancient customs meet modern politics, who holds the power? In certain parts of the Pacific, it's always been the women. They're called matrilineal chiefly societies — where women inherit the land, titles and responsibilities. But those systems were disrupted by the patriarchal structures that followed colonisation and Christianity. Now, women chiefs are navigating their way back to a rightful...

How well do you really know your family tree? Modern life makes it harder to keep tabs on who we're connected to. Not long ago, genealogy wasn't something you had to study — it was simply passed down in conversation. But as we move to cities and drift further from our family base, that tree is becoming harder to map From family reunions to social media groups and even custom-built apps, genealogy...

"They're our ancestors living with us, watching over our lives." Figurines, idols, and carved wooden objects have protected homes and villages for generations. Edgar Hinge from Vanuatu's Cultural Centre says the sacred slit drum, or Tamtam, is more than a carved instrument — it's a bridge to ancestors and a tool for communication. From Vanuatu's Tamtams to Trobriand Island masks and Cook Island's...

Tatau is one of Samoa’s most sacred cultural practices, a responsibility carried on the body through ink.  The word tatau itself speaks to duty and connection. For men, the tattoo is called the pe’a; for women, it is the malu. Receiving one is shaped by culture, identity, and service, and all traditions are guided by an ancient Samoan legend. For generations, this knowledge was held by only two fa...

Be proud of our name and never allow the outside world to impact our relationship with it — it existed long before anything else came to our shores." How much do you really know about your name? Wendy Mocke is from Madang and Simbu provinces in Papua New Guinea. She knows that her name ties her to her village, her elders, and her heritage. Like many communities across the Pacific, Wendy's naming t...

What if the world told you your cultural practice was wrong? In the Solomon Island's province of Malaita, dolphin hunting has been part of life for generations — it's a tradition closely tied to trade between tribes. But when videos of the harvest surfaced earlier this year, it sparked international outrage and a heated debate. Conservationists call it cruel and unsustainable, while locals defend...

"Their fingers were jumping here, there, and everywhere… it reminded them of grandmothers picking fleas from children's hair. And from that vision came the word ukulele — meaning, jumping fleas." Almost 150 years ago, Madeiran workers brought a small wooden instrument with a bright lively sound to the sugar cane fields of Hawai'i. Since then, it's travelled across the Pacific, taking on new forms,...

"It's not just history. It's an everyday safety risk for ordinary families trying to live a normal life." Eighty years after World War II, the Pacific is still living with its scars. Rusting shipwrecks leak oil. Unexploded bombs lurk beneath schools and backyards. And the families of children of wartime unions are still searching for fathers they never knew. You'll hear from Maeverlyn Pitanoe, a b...

For centuries, chiefly systems have been the backbone of governance and community leadership. While there can be similarities across the region, each country has their own uniquely designed system. They're ancient, sophisticated and complex. Influenced and reshaped by Western colonial powers, they now face the complex realities of the modern world, including the expanding Pacific diaspora communit...

Pacific fashion is breaking through on the global stage. But with that spotlight comes a new set of challenges: mass-produced knock-offs, cultural theft, and legal roadblocks that leave creators vulnerable. So how can creators protect their designs and grow their brands at the same time? Ellen Whippy Knight, the force behind Fiji Fashion Week, says it starts with awareness, education and upskillin...

From local beaches to world championships, a rising movement of Pacific board riders are charting a new course for surfing. "Just being a brown person in the water is a claim to space." In the Australian waters where Kuntamari Croft surfs, Pasifika board riders are rare. She's part of a rising movement demanding greater Pacific presence in lineups of beaches worldwide. Meanwhile, in Papua New Guin...

Long before it became a billion-dollar industry or a lifestyle trend, surfing was a sacred practice across the Pacific.  But that history has long been overshadowed. Commercialised, colonised, and repackaged for the masses, surfing's true origins have often been left out of the story. Now, a movement is growing to reclaim the waves. Hawai'ian historian and academic vice-president of Brigham Young...

Fiji is restoring its traditional chiefly leadership systems, so how does it fit with modern governance? In Fiji, you’re born into the role of chief. But for over two decades, the Lau Group, the largest of Fiji’s 14 provinces, has been without a paramount chief. Until now.  ABC's Lice Movono takes us to Lakeba Island, where the installation of Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara marked the return of one o...

"This is what I'm known for. It's my identity" In the Fijian village of Nayawa, Akesa Vaka Kunabuli is keeping the ancient art of Lapita pottery making alive. It's one of the only remaining places continuing this particular technique. It's a style that once travelled across the Pacific, carried by the Lapita people who migrated from modern-day Taiwan over 3,000 years ago. But the story doesn't end...

What began when WWII soldiers brought guitars to our shores has grown into the defining strums of island string bands.   Now, that sound is under pressure. Electronic music is rising. AI technology is trying to replicate it. Is this how string music is naturally evolving, or do we need to get back to our roots?   You'll hear from Sir George Telek, the legendary voice who saw Papua New Guinea's str...

The silhouette of the Great Frigate Bird is hard to miss — glossy black feathers, deeply forked tail, and long, slender wings that slice through the sky. But it's more than just a sea bird, its significance runs deep in our culture. For many island nations, the frigate bird stands as a powerful symbol of strength, freedom, and endurance. We capture it in coming-of-age ceremonies, weave its form in...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, shaping our lives faster than we can keep up. It's generating stories, images and videos that blur the boundaries between truth and fiction. But for Pacific communities, the stakes are even higher. AI is harvesting Indigenous knowledge, detaching it from its cultural roots, and reframing it through a Western lens. Is this the newest wave of colonial propagand...