The Uto ni Yalo has arrived in Tonga for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting after a tough week at sea. The crew delivered a message aligned with the 2024 Pacific Islands Forum theme, “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now,” focusing on the values of peace, prosperity, and resilience.
This journey highlighted traditional voyaging, sustainable maritime transport, and the importance of ocean health. Margaret Tabunakawai-Vakalalabure, Chair of Uto ni Yalo Trustees, compared the challenges faced during the voyage to the larger issues confronting Pacific Regionalism, calling for unified efforts to enhance the well-being of the region and its inhabitants.
The arrival of the Uto ni Yalo emphasized the necessity for sustainable ocean management and the protection of marine resources as leaders conversed about the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. While in Nuku’alofa, the Uto ni Yalo collaborated with Pacific leaders and communities to tackle pressing challenges.
The central message of the voyage was that the ocean, regarded as an Ocean of Peace, should unite islands rather than create divisions, and must be treated with the utmost respect. Ian Chute from Blue Prosperity Fiji underscored the critical need for sustainable ocean management and regional collaboration. The mission received support from several organizations, including the Waitt Institute, Blue Prosperity Coalition, Oceans 5, and Greenpeace Australia Pacific.