(Photo: Andrew Burt)

NEW ZEALAND: Upping the ante for Pasifika educational achievement
Source: Office of Hon Chris Carter MP Press Release

Education Minister Chris Carter and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban launched the Pasifika Education Plan 2008-2012 today, stepping up the Labour-led government’s commitment to ensure more Pasifika students achieve their educational potential.

The Plan uses evidence from 2000 to 2007 to set out goals and targets across early childhood, school and tertiary education sectors that will significantly raise Pasifika achievement, retention and participation.

“Our government is committed to making sure that Pasifika students achieve and succeed at all levels of the education system. This Plan is our opportunity to be explicit and deliberate about what we need to zero in on at each stage of our Pasifika students education journey,” said Chris
Carter.

The Ministries of Education and Pacific Island Affairs have worked in partnership to produce the Pasifika Education Plan 2008-2012, with contributions from all education agencies.

Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said the goals and targets of this new Plan were deliberately designed to stretch the education system further.

"Monitoring data shows that Pasifika education is heading in the right direction, the challenge for the next five years is to ensure that we continue to move forward. The best way to do that is to have a more concentrated and collaborative approach, working together with our Pasifika families and communities.”

The 2007 Pasifika Education Plan Monitoring Report also released today shows positive trends. More Pasifika students are gaining strong learning foundations with participation in early childhood education continuing to grow, and more Pasifika students are leaving school with at least NCEA Level 2. In tertiary education Pasifika participation continues to be the fastest growing of all ethnic groups.

"While the report shows Pasifika education is heading in the right direction, we need to ensure these gains continue. This Plan is about everyone in education working for achievement for all Pasifika students. We all have a role to play in the future success of our young people,"
said Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.

Contact: Steven Boyd (for Carter), 04 471 9849 or 021 224 9849; Tiki Gray (for Laban), 04 471 9219 or 021 223 2848.

Photo Caption: Education Minister Chris Carter and the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Luamanuvao Winnie Laban at the launch of the Pasifika Education Plan at De Lalle Salle College.
 

(Photo: SASNOC)

SAMOA: Samoa makes history
Source: SASNOC Press Release
 
Last night (16th August) Ele OPELOGE, Samoa’s and Oceania’s Number One Weightlifter competed in the Women’s 75kg+ Weightlifting against 11 other competitors from 10 Olympic Nations.

Miran JANG of Korea was easily the best lifter of the night with a massive 140kg in the Snatch, and 186kg in the C & J breaking both Olympic and World Records in each of the two lifting categories and overall total.

With five clean lifts, Ele attempted 152kg in the C & J but at the last second she felt a twitch in her back which caused her knee to falter slightly and could not hold the lift, so it was Kazakhstan’s Mariya GRABOVETSKAYA by only one kilo in the snatch who went on to take the
bronze medal.

Ele was by far the most polished lifter of the night. She gave her best performance ever and put her heart and soul into each of her lifts. Even though she was inches from gaining Samoa’s first ever medal everyone is extremely proud of her incredible achievement. All the countries present
rallied around her and many of the coaches congratulated her on her superb performance.

Ele Opeloge has put Samoa on the map as the best performance of an athlete representing Samoan in Olympic history leaving Oceania’s Big Guns; New Zealand and Australia far behind.

Since 1984 Samoa has been sending teams to the Olympic Games and the 4th place gained by Ele Opeloge in the 75kg+ women’s weightlifting division is the best results achieved in Samoa’s Olympic History.

Rudolf Berking-Williams raced in Heat 3 of the K1 1000m Men's Flat Water Kayaking taking a place in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon, the 20th of August.

Rudolf expected that it would be a tough race, especially going up against top kayakers from Norway and Australia who took the first two places in his heat.

He is looking to improve his time in the semi-finals, and is working towards tomorrows race by resting well and and visiting the physio.

This evening Team Samoa rallied around him with their words of encouragement and support for his days of comeptition ahead.

Chef de Mission, Seb Kohlhase commented passed on his congratulations to Rudolf for advancing to next stage under difficult conditions. "It is great for Samoa to see someone move on to next stage of competition" said Mr Kohlhase earlier this evening.

Serafina Akeli will be the second women’s javelin thrower in Group B at 10:30am tomorrow at the National Stadium aka "The Bird's Nest", and then Rudolf Berking-Williams will compete in his second event, the K1 500m tomorrow in the first of three heats at Shunyi Olympic Park.


Until then...
Tofa soifua!

Photo Caption: Ele Opeloge, Samoa’s and Oceania’s Number One Weightlifter competed in the Women’s 75kg+ Weightlifting. Miran JANG of Korea. Rudolf Berking-Williams raced in Heat 3 of the K1 1000m Men's Flat Water Kayaking.
 

(Photo: Michael Drew)

AUSTRALIA: Samoan police officers join the Royal Australian Navy
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

On Sunday 10 August Sergeant Petone Mauga (Commanding Officer NAFANUA) and Corporal Sefo Hunt (Executive Officer NAFANUA) of the Samoan Police Maritime Wing joined Australian Warship HMAS MANOORA (Commander Paul Mandziy, RAN) to undertake extensive training in Maritime Operations.

The pair sailed with MANOORA on a nine day voyage which started in Sydney, Australia, up the Australian east coast to Townsville and then across the Pacific Ocean to Apia, Samoa. ‘Coming from a patrol boat with a crew of 20 it was a new experience to spend time on a large warship with a crew of 300’ said Corporal Hunt, ‘the sailors and officers were all very professional.’

Throughout the voyage Sergeant Mauga and Corporal Hunt participated in a wide range of activities including Boarding Party Training, Food Hygiene, Bridge Watch keeping and Damage Control Exercises. It is hoped that these skills will be useful in the running of the Samoan Police vessel NAFANUA. ‘They have been very receptive to any information and are always on deck
watching any evolution. All in all they are great blokes’ said MANOORA
Buffer CPOB Ben MacQueen.

As well as leaving MANOORA with a wealth of knowledge to share with the rest of the Samoan Police Maritime Wing, Sergeant Mauga and Corporal Hunt will also be taking ropes and shackles supplied by MANOORA to help update aging Samoan boats. In return, sailors from MANOORA have been invited to tour and participate in activities aboard NAFANUA.

MANOORA is visiting Apia from Tuesday 19 to Friday 22 August as part of a South West Pacific deployment. Members of the Samoa Government and officials are expected to inspect the ship’s facilities after surveying Samoa by air in MANOORA’s Seaking helicopter. Commander Mandziy said, “it is hoped that our visit to Samoa will help strengthen ties between our two nations and improve our ability to work together during joint exercises or times of dire need, such as natural disasters.’

Photo Captions: HMAS Manoora. Samoan Maritime Wing Police Officers onboard HMAS Manoora.
 

AROUND THE WORLD: Malaysia’s Largest Travel Trade Fair To Promote Guam USA
Source: SPC Press Release

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) will be holding the MATTA Fair - Kuala Lumpur 2008 from September 5 – 7 at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the event, which is touted as Malaysia’s number one travel fair, visitors can take
advantage of special packages to Guam that will be available through select travel agents participating in the event. Malaysia is one of the approved countries participating in the Guam Visa Waiver Program, allowing Malaysian visitors to travel to Guam and stay for fifteen days without a visa. Travelers are not allowed to travel to any other US destination during their visit to Guam USA.

The MATTA Fair – Kuala Lumpur 2008 attracts thousands of visitors who come to hear about the latest range of travel and holiday packages being offered to potential travelers. During this year’s MATTA Fair – Kuala Lumpur, special packages to Guam via Continental and Philippine Airlines
will be available through Parlo Tour, Resort World, Tour Land, Skyworld, Orange Holiday World, and First Travel.

The Guam Visitors Bureau is supporting the effort to garner increased visitors from Malaysia by providing posters, brochures, and other promotional items from Guam to all of the agents selling the special Guam packages.

MATTA is the largest travel trade organization in Malaysia with over 2,000 members and is also the national representative for the travel industry in the region. In addition to operating the MATTA School of Tourism, MATTA also organizes seminars, conventions, and workshops regularly throughout the year to improve public awareness in Malaysia of the tourism industry.
The MATTA Fair - Kuala Lumpur 2008 is the largest of the many events MATTA coordinates each year.

The GVB is very happy that these fine travel agents have selected to promote Guam as part of the packages they’ll be offering to the MATTA Fair – Kuala Lumpur participants. “GVB’s participation in the MATTA Fair, while limited, is an excellent example of how GVB is diversifying its target markets and increasing the interest in our beautiful island from emerging markets in a manner that is both effective and extremely economical,” said Marketing Manager Pilar Laguaña.'
 

HAWAII: Cruising Kauai islander style on sailing canoe
Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

A thousand years before Christopher Columbus set sail on his voyages of discovery, the Polynesians were navigating the vast Pacific using the stars, winds and ocean currents as their guides. This feat is all the more miraculous, considering the humble vessels that carried those intrepid seafarers thousands of miles across the open ocean, often many months at a time.

To them, sailing canoes were sacred entities. Offerings, prayers and festivities accompanied the building of each vessel, which began with the careful selection of a tree by a kahuna kalai waa, or canoe-building expert. He also supervised the canoe's construction, a painstaking process that involved men of an entire district, working for more than two years.

Each canoe was carefully named and treated with the care and respect of a living person. The Polynesians loved their canoes -- their lifelines at sea -- as much as they loved their families.

Trevor Cabell is a voyager of another age, but he maintains the same close connection with his 45-foot fiberglass canoe named Kupaaloa-ku.

"Literally, kupaaloa means 'to stand up strong in the big ocean,'" said Cabell, "but a Hawaiian lady told me that, figuratively speaking, it means 'to live up to your potential, what you're supposed to be.' I really like that definition."

Although Cabell owns Kupaaloa, he prefers referring to himself as its caretaker rather than its owner. In 1997 he and his close friend and partner, Travis Bonnell, launched Island Sails, which offers tours of Kauai's beautiful Hanalei Bay on the canoe. Both men were born and raised in Hawaii and have been avid mariners from the time they were toddlers.

"Growing up here, we spent more time at the beach and in the ocean than we did at home," said Cabell. "Over the years, the ocean became a major influence in our lives, and at some point it actually became our life; our day didn't seem complete unless we spent part of it swimming, surfing or sailing. Island Sails was designed with that kind of lifestyle in mind; all of our tours reflect our love for the ocean."

KUPAALOA WAS constructed as a six-person paddling canoe. When Marvin Otsuji, owner of Seasport Divers in Poipu, bought it, he transformed it into a sailing canoe by adding a wooden mast, a canvas sail, an iako (outrigger boom) and an ama (outrigger float). Women raced it in Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Racing Association competitions throughout the state.

Cabell bought Kupaaloa for $5,000 and invested six months and another $5,000 to complete modifications on it, including installing bulkheads, seats, false floors and a deck.

For Island Sails' tours, he said, "We're coming from a low-impact, eco-friendly standpoint. We leave the ocean exactly the way we found it."

The waters are calm for the Early Morning Sail/Snorkel, providing excellent conditions for snorkeling. It's also the best time to see dolphins and turtles. Wear your swimsuit and bring snorkeling gear.

The wind picks up for the Mid-Morning Sail. Cabell and Bonnell take Kupaaloa a short distance out of the bay to give participants a taste of open-ocean sailing. Wear a T-shirt and shorts, and expect to get wet.

Avid sailors should choose the Afternoon Sail, which promises a thrilling ride five miles offshore for a spectacular view of Kauai's North Shore. If you like fishing, bring your gear. It's at this time of day when kawakawa (bonito), baby ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahimahi (dolphin fish) and papio (young crevalle) are most likely to bite.

Couples often prefer to cruise the bay at twilight, when the waters are calm again and the sky is painted with broad strokes of orange, pink and violet. Bring a jacket and a bottle of champagne for this romantic Hanalei Sunset Sail.

Private 90-minute charters can be scheduled any day except Sunday, with advance notice. Swim, fish, snorkel or spend the entire time sailing -- the choice is yours. Bring whatever refreshments you'd like.

"Some of our guests have never been in the ocean before, and imagine, they're swimming five feet from dozens of turtles that are hanging out by the reef!" said Cabell, whose recent guests included a woman in her 40s, from New York.

"It was her first time sailing," Cabell said. "It was really windy that day, and we were going fast, maybe 16 knots (18 mph). It was wild but she loved it!"

No matter what a person's background is or where they're from, everyone comes together as ohana (family) on Kupaaloa.

"Out on the ocean, they're all smiling, laughing and talking to each other, just having a fun time," said Cabell. "It's such an uplifting, positive experience."

He has sailed Kupaaloa all around the islands, including making a two-week, 300-mile trip from the Big Island to Kauai. On those journeys the accomplishments of early Polynesian voyagers hit home, especially at night, when darkness engulfed the small canoe.

"It makes you think how remarkable they were to be able to sail all over the Pacific without any sophisticated navigational equipment," said Cabell. "Instead, nature was their compass and GPS system. That certainly ranks among the greatest achievements of man."

Unlike most of the tour boats operating in Hawaii today, Kupaaloa has no motor; it mirrors the simple, sturdy canoes of the ancients. "I think about that every time we go on a tour," said Cabell. "In that way we're preserving an amazing part of Hawaii's past."
 

TONGA: Tonga's fourth contingent leaves for Iraq
Source: Matangi Tonga

Tonga's fourth contingent of 55 soldiers for Iraq, left Tonga on Tuesday, August 12, going first to Kuwait.

A statement from the Tonga Defence Services said that Lieutenant Commander Solomone Savelio and Captain Mapakaitolo were already in Kuwait and were working with Lt Kiu Kaho from the Third Tongan Contingent currently in Baghdad to prepare for the administration and the escorts movements of both contingents in and out of the Area of operations in Baghdad, Iraq.

The Fourth Contingent for the Operation Iraq Freedom II is under the command of Commander Satisi Vunipola with Captain Carl Tu'ivai as the Platoon Commander.

The Fourth Tongan Contingent for Iraq will take over from the third Tongan Contingent, which will return to Tonga in September.