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Coalition Statement: Our Journey together continues

As the tides change with a new U.S. administration, we–the Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition–want to express our deep gratitude to the many members, partners, supporters, communities, scientists, elected officials, and others who have been on this journey with us for the last ten years. Our journey together continues. Caring for the places that sustain us is lifelong work. 

Over the past four years, we worked closely with the Biden administration to safeguard the unprotected areas of Howland and Baker Islands, and Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll. Through this collaborative relationship, the Biden administration set a goal to complete the sanctuary designation process before the change in administration, but they did not meet that timeline. From an Indigenous lens, our vision is to safeguard this unique seascape in perpetuity to ensure that industrial extraction and the threats of climate change do not destroy ecosystems vital to future generations. Considering that no further protections were extended for an area of such ancestral significance, our Coalition is deeply disappointed. 

Palmyra Atoll Lagoon

PRI Coalition Statement in Response to the 2024 Election

Shifting tides are a natural part of life. Time and again, nature’s wisdom guides us through challenge and change while reminding us of our responsibility to care for what sustains us. As we approach an upcoming shift in the White House, the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition remains committed to advocating for our ocean and communities across the Pacific.

Indigenous Pacific voices call for full protection of the Pacific Remote Islands

Indigenous Pacific voices call for full protection of the Pacific Remote Islands

Three Indigenous leaders from Oceania share why we must fully protect the Pacific Remote Islands, a place of cultural significance that contains some of the world’s last wild and healthy ecosystems. Their stories reflect why this special area holds deep value, not only for the livelihoods and culture of Pacific Islanders but also for identity and survival. 

John Kerry

John Kerry, Indigenous Leaders Mark Climate Week by Urging Protection of the Pacific Remote Islands

Patagonia, the outdoor apparel company, hosted the event, “A Night with Intergenerational Storytellers,” on ocean protection and the Pacific Remote Islands at its retail store in SoHo during Climate Week NYC. 

Mayor of Tinian Edwin P. Aldan, PRI Coalition members, NOAA ONMS staff, and community members after PRI public hearing (credit: PRI Coalition 2023)

Pacific Islanders steering ocean conservation

by Lauren Swaddell – As we continue our efforts to call on the Biden Administration to fully protect the Pacific…

President Biden: Honor Indigenous leaders. Safeguard our future. Fully protect PRI.

President Biden: Honor Indigenous leaders. Safeguard our future. Fully protect PRI.

Some of the ocean’s last wild, healthy ecosystems are in the Pacific Remote Islands. From vibrant coral reefs to deep-sea…

Photo of reef in PRI Marine National Monument

Lessons for ocean advocates from the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition

The journey of the Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) Coalition is an approach worth exploring for those working on ocean conservation and management across the world. In what might seem like an endless journey of protection measures the group is currently supporting a nomination process to establish a National Marine Sanctuary that would overlay the boundary of the PRI Marine National Monument (and in a few locations, expand it), which already encompasses approximately 1,282,533 square kilometers (495,189 square miles) of some of the most pristine tropical marine environments in the world.

Navigating together, toward a thriving Pacific

Navigating together, toward a thriving Pacific

  We are elders, fishers, cultural practitioners, navigators, scientists, nonprofit leaders, and storytellers from across Oceania working to protect the…

NATIVE HAWAIIAN LEADERS HONORED FOR THEIR WORK WITH NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES AND MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENTS

Pacific Remote Islands Coalition members Solomon Pili Kahoʻohalahala and William Ailā, Jr. receive Sanctuary Wavemaker Award WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two…

Study: Pacific Tuna Fleets Rarely Fish In Waters Proposed For New Sanctuary

By Marcel Honore | Honolulu Civil Beat The analysis comes amid calls to halt marine protections that would further limit…

Seabird Attraction Succeeds at Palmyra Atoll

The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i and Palmyra announces that a tiny grey-backed tern chick has been observed at Palmyra Atoll, validating…

OP-ED: PROPOSED NAT’L MARINE SANCTUARY WOULD HELP, NOT HINDER

William Aila, Jr. and Rick Gaffney A diverse coalition of Pacific Islanders has proposed creating a cultural, scientific, and historically…

Column: Protect environment, culture, Pacific Remote Islands

This article is published in the Star Advertiser. By Jonee Peters and Mike Nakachi, Conservation Council for Hawai’i “The fish…

President Joe Biden at Conservation in Action Summitt 2023 2

Breaking News! President Biden supports a national marine sanctuary process for the Pacific Remote Islands

On Tuesday, March 21st, President Biden announced that the Administration will increase protections to the Pacific Remote Islands by advancing…

Biden To Create New Marine Sanctuary In Pacific

This article was originally published in Civil Beat Hawaii congressman says “our world’s oceans are at mortal risk.” By Nathan…

Column: Atoll appears on school cafeteria wall

Originally published in The Garden Island By Dennis Fujimoto Mural aims to educate youth about importance of the oceans. PUHI—The…

Column: Monument protections mean more fish

Originally published in Hawaiʻi Star Advertiser By Rick Gaffney Rick Gaffney is a former WESPAC council member, President of the…

Column: Extending protections to ‘rest’ ocean

Originally published in Hawaiʻi Star Advertiser By Hanohano Naehu I am a born and raised Molokaʻi boy. I come from…

Column: Use origin names forPacific Remote Islands

By Hōkū Pihana Original Post at: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/08/21/editorial/island-voices/column-use-origin-names-for-remote-islands/ An ‘A’a (brown-footed booby) soared across the deep ocean surrounding the Pacific Remote…

Editorial: More protection for remote isles

Originally published in Hawaiʻi Star Advertiser Gov. David Ige has joined a growing call to extend boundaries around atolls and…

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