A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands

 

   

This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific.

The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR.

SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int).

 

 

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PAPGREN coordination and support

  • IPGRI
  • ACIAR
  • NZAID
  • CTA
  • SPC
  • PAPGREN
  • CEPaCT

     genebank locations
    Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings.

    PAPGREN partners


    Mr William Wigmore
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture
    Department of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 96
    Rarotonga
    Cook Islands
    Tel: (682) 28711-29720
    Fax: (682) 21881
    Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck

    Mr Adelino S. Lorens
    Chief
    Agriculture Pohnpei
    Office of Economic Affairs
    P.O. Box 1028
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Tel: (691) 3202400
    Fax: (691) 3202127
    Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm

    Dr Lois Englberger
    Island Food Community of Pohnpei
    Research Advisor
    P.O. Box 2299
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Email: nutrition@mail.fm

    Mr Apisai Ucuboi
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest
    Koronivia Research Station
    P.O. Box 77
    Nausori
    Fiji Islands
    Tel: (679) 3477044
    Fax: (679) 3477546-400262
    Email: apisainu@yahoo.com

    Dr Maurice Wong
    Service du Developpement Rural
    B.P. 100
    Papeete
    Tahiti 98713
    French Polynesia
    Tel: (689) 42 81 44
    Fax: (689) 42 08 31
    Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf

    Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane
    Head, Research Section
    Division of Agriculture
    Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development
    P.O. Box 267
    Tarawa
    Kiribati
    Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080
    Fax: (686) 28121
    Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com

    Mr Frederick Muller
    Secretary
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 1727
    Majuro 96960
    Marshall Islands
    Tel: (692) 6253206
    Fax: (692) 6257471
    Email: rndsec@ntamar.net

    Mr Herman Francisco
    Director
    Bureau of Agriculture
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 460
    Koror 96940
    Palau
    Tel: (680) 4881517
    Fax: (680) 4881725
    Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com

    Ms Rosa Kambuou
    Principal Scientist PGR
    NARI Dry Lowlands Programme
    Laloki Agricultural Research Station
    P.O. Box 1828
    Boroko
    National Capital District
    Papua New Guinea
    Tel: (675) 3235511
    Fax: (675) 3234733
    Email: kambuou@global.net.pg

    Ms Laisene Samuelu
    Principal Crop Development Officer
    Crops Division
    Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology
    P.O. Box 1874
    Apia
    Samoa
    Tel: (685) 23416-20605
    Fax: (685) 20607-23996
    Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net

    Mr Jimi Saelea
    Director of Research
    Department of Agriculture and Livestock
    P.O. Box G13
    Honiara
    Guadalcanal
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 27987

    Mr Tony Jansen
    Planting Materials Network
    Kastom Gaden Association
    Burns Creek, Honiara
    P.O. Box 742
    Honiara
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 39551
    Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb

    Mr Finao Pole
    Head of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture & Forests
    P.O. Box 14
    Nuku'alofa
    Tonga
    Tel: (676) 23038
    Fax: (676) 24271
    Email: thaangana@hotmail.com

    Mr Frazer Bule Lehi
    Head of Research
    Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
    Private Mail Bag 040
    Port Vila
    Vanuatu
    Tel: (678) 22525
    Fax: (678) 25265
    Email: flehi@hotmail.com

    Other links

    Other CROP agencies
    Forum Secretariat
    University of the South Pacific
    SPREP

    Pacific biodiversity
    Biodiversity hotspots
    Breadfruit Institute
    Hawaiian native plants
    Intellectual property rights
    Nature Conservancy
    PBIF
    PestNet
    SIDS
    WWF South Pacific Program

    Other Pacific organizations
    Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
    Micronesian Seminar
    Te Puna web directory

    Pacific news
    Cafe Pacific
    CocoNET Wireless
    Island Directory
    Pacific Islands News
    Pacific Islands Report
    Pacific Islands Travel
    Pacific Time
    South Pacific travel
    Time Pacific

    Interested in GIS?
    DIVA-GIS

     

  •  

    Sunday, July 30, 2006


    Pounding poi for Uncle Eddie

    By Gordon Y.K. Pang and Lesa Griffith, Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writers

    The pounding went from morning to dusk under the tarp next to the taro patch along Ioleka'a Stream in Ha'iku Valley.

    Some 300 pounds of kalo, or taro, from Maui, Kaua'i and O'ahu were pounded yesterday into pa'i 'ai, mashed taro, then mixed with water to become the poi that will be served today at the funeral service of 'Anakala Eddie Ka'anana.

    "We think that this is the most taro that's been pounded (in one place) in quite some time," said Vince Kana'i Dodge, 49, one of the organizers of the effort. "But this is not for show. This is for love, man. This is for Uncle."

    Ka'anana, for whom the word " 'anakala," Hawaiian for uncle, seemingly always preceded "Eddie," touched the lives of scores of Hawaiians who turned to him as a source of knowledge and inspiration.

    Dodge, who works with youths at the Ma'o Organic Farm in Wai'anae, was one of them. Dodge said Ka'anana was among the first people he saw pound kalo and was always at ease when he did it. These days, Dodge is known for the poi pounders and boards he creates.

    "Look at this — this is the life," he said. "You get together with your friends, new and old, and you make food together. There is definitely something wonderful about making food with your hands."

    Ka'anana died of cancer July 16. He was 80.

    He was raised in the Hawaiian fishing villages of Miloli'i and Ho'opuloa, where he learned to speak fluent Hawaiian, fish, grow kalo and live the life of generations of his ancestors. He left the Big Island at 17, and raised his family on O'ahu, Guam and Wake Island while working as a civilian heavy-equipment operator, first for the military and then the Federal Aviation Administration.

    It wasn't until he retired in the 1980s that young Hawaiians seeking kupuna, or elders, to help guide their fledgling Hawaiian movement turned to the soft-spoken 'Anakala Eddie.

    He taught generations of youths — sometimes for pay, but not always — at Ka'ala Farms in Wai'anae, 'Anuenue School, the Hawaiian language immersion school in Palolo Valley, and at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's Center for Hawaiian Studies. He also served as a cultural and spiritual adviser for many.

    Several dozen people from those byways of 'Anakala Eddie's life were on hand to help with yesterday's poi-making, as well as the imu cooking on Thursday night.

    Kaipo'i Kelling, 35, met Ka'anana a decade ago when he was studying the Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and in need of someone with whom to speak fluent Hawaiian. Eventually, the two spoke of kalo and the role it played in Hawaiian culture.

    Ka'anana later helped Kelling, a teacher at Kawaiha'o Church School, set up a series of kalo patches on his property. Two years ago, Kelling started clearing a lo'i on his property, and Ka'anana paid him a visit.

    "He talked to the water, talked to the trees, said it was going to be a good place," Kelling said, noting that he discovered the property is old taro land.

    It was in Kelling's yard, sitting along the stream next to the lo'i, that Ka'anana's friends gathered for both the cooking and the pounding.

    Peewee Almarza, 37, was among those pounding kalo yesterday as others peeled the tubers with the help of a net, a technique taught by Ka'anana.

    Almarza, who works in different capacities at 'Anuenue, said Ka'anana helped provide spiritual guidance to his family when their 3-year-old son, Maka, was diagnosed with cancer.

    "He gave us a lot of strength, a lot of hope," Almarza said, recalling that Ka'anana would take Maka aside and speak to him privately.

    Two years later, Maka is now about to start kindergarten at 'Anuenue.

    "He really opened up a lot of doors for me," Almarza said. "He made me realize what priorities were: Take care of your family, and everything else will fall into place."

    Ka'anana also had an impact on Almarza's other children, who also attend 'Anuenue.
    Wainani Almarza, 17, remembered visiting Miloli'i with her class, with Ka'anana accompanying them.

    "He explained to us how he grew up, and what he used to do. We know it's going to be different at school without him."

    Kalena Almarza, 16, said Ka'anana was well-respected at the school. "It was nice how, when he was talking, everybody would just go silent," she said.

    Peewee Almarza said the 'Anuenue Na Koa football team is dedicating its season to the memory of 'Anakala Eddie.

    Puaonona Stibbard, 22, and Kahiau Wallace, 23, are the site coordinators of Ka Papa Lo'i O Punalu'u, a 2.5-acre project sponsored jointly by Kamehameha Schools and the UH-Manoa's Center for Hawaiian Studies that is designed to teach youths about lo'i production and culture.

    Both said Ka'anana was the first person they ever spotted pounding kalo and that much of what they learned about taro came from Ka'anana — first as students and later when they sought an adviser.

    Stibbard said Ka'anana's pounding technique was smooth, adding, "It was as if the kalo didn't stick to his hands."

    Wallace said Ka'anana also taught them a Hawaiian motto: "He ali'i ka 'aina he kauwa ke kanaka," which means "The land is chief and the people are its stewards."

    Ka'anana's point was that "when you take care of the land and treat it like the chief, it will take care of you," Wallace said. "But when you forget about the 'aina and its worth, then you're lost."

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