Community
Village & family life
How households, churches, schools and gatherings shape everyday life around the lagoon.
The heart of VonaVona
More than scenery
A lagoon is beautiful from the air. But what makes VonaVona is the people who live with it — their families, their faith, their work and the knowledge passed from one generation to the next.
These pages will be written with people from VonaVona, in their own words wherever possible.
What we'll share
Six threads of lagoon life
Language
Names & words
Local names for islands, reefs and passages, alternate spellings, and the words that carry meaning beyond translation.
Food
Gardens & the sea
Fishing, gardening, gathering and the meals that bring people together.
Craft
Canoes & making
Dugout and tomoko canoes, carving, weaving and the skills handed down to build them.
Knowledge
Reading the water
Weather, tides, seasons and navigation — knowledge held by people who live with the lagoon every day.
Identity
Belonging
What it means to be from VonaVona, wherever in the world you live now.
Our promise
Shared with respect
Permission
People choose
Identifiable people, personal stories and culturally sensitive material are published only with permission.
Credit
Names travel with work
Photographers, storytellers and contributors keep clear credit, in the form they prefer.
Care
Some things stay private
Not everything belongs online. Communities decide what is shared and what is kept.
“The sea connects our islands, our people and our future.”Share Your Story →