News

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. 

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.

by Lauren Swaddell – As we continue our efforts to call on the Biden Administration to fully protect the Pacific Remote Islands before he leaves office, we are proud to count on supporters from across Oceania. Lauren Swaddell, an Indigenous…

Some of the ocean’s last wild, healthy ecosystems are in the Pacific Remote Islands. From vibrant coral reefs to deep-sea species found nowhere else on Earth – the area has long held significance for Native Pacific Islanders’ cross-oceanic migration, voyaging…

  We are elders, fishers, cultural practitioners, navigators, scientists, nonprofit leaders, and storytellers from across Oceania working to protect the Pacific Remote Islands and the ocean that connects us. We are committed to the heavy, complex work of navigating how…