Let’s talk about ‘awa’, ‘wai’.. yes, WATER.. life giving, replenishing, it’s abundance, how important it is to all life that lives in it, on it, beside it.. #WaterIsLife, #HeOraTeWai, #Marcus Matawhero Lloyd.. #StrongHeartHikoi.. Marcus is on a 10,000 steps hikoi (walk) around East Coast/ Central of North Isl New Zealand to bring attention for saving ‘WATER’, the pollution in our creeks-rivers- streams- oceans of New Zealand are being polluted, and around the world.. what was once pristine is being threatened.. if you wish to add your own favourite original story & photo, of your ‘water scene/ place’, just follow #WaterIsLife Reply

#WaterIsLife, #HeOraTeWai, Marcus Matawhero Lloyd.. #StrongHeartHikoi

  
This is dedicated to an important subject, #Water, ‘awa’, ‘wai’, our lives depend on it..!
one that Marcus is creating alot of noise & attention for, and rightly-so.. he is on a 10,000 steps hikoi (walk) around East Coast, North Island New Zealand’s to bring attention to an important ‘resource’ for our planet and every single living thing on it.. ?

“Life giving WATER”.. with out this resource, we all are in alot of trouble..

The ‘WATER we drink is being polluted, help protect ‘WATER’ .. follow Marcus by clicking on the highlighted name is the start of this post, see what else is happening & how you can help..  this affects you too, it affects all of us..

   
Most of my immediate family/ grandparents/ cousins/ uncles & aunties – that can relate to my ‘korero’ (story).. since I was a lil girl, (a 2 year old- dad & mum tell me) I have ’embrased the waters around Mahia like a ‘fish’, I could swim at 2 years of age (2yo) confident & keen ‘young protege scuba diver’ from 7yo, and I still dive today, now a keen GoPro underwater photographer & editor for a Tropical Pacific nations Website..The Pineapple Post, Solomon Islands I have been fortunate to snorkel & dive off some of the most stunning Solomon Island tropical iconic dives sites, best in the world, and photograph/ video these.. but, what I did notice, was pollution, plastic bags & other domestic waste floating in these waters.. sad to say these are now destroying the once pristine oceans around these tropical islands that make up the 900+ islands..

    
Aotearoa: ..when I was old enough to remember’ 4yo-13 year old, We’d drive back here with my family, dad Arthur and my mum Joy, my 4 siblings back in mid-1960’s-1980’s life there is relaxed, slow & abundant.. with plenty of kai moana gathered by my dad (local diver), plenty of hungi’s, gathering for events at the marae, lamb’s tails cooking & that distinct smell of ‘burning wool, up the air’, I remember eating ‘paua, kina, crayfish, snapper..
It was always a very long productive day on the boat scuba diving/ spear fishing..

  I love the ocean, connect to it, respected it’s constant change & dangers, and, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for ‘Water’, loved this journey.. 

My childhood journey as a protege scuba diver with my dad, AAotearoa:.. my dad & my uncle/s would always do a “karakia” to bless our activities for this day.. -we always returned tired, but with a blessed abundant catch.. ready to share our catch with the Opoutama whanau..

I have been raised by the water’s here, protected by the ‘wairua’, guided by the ‘tipuna’.. 

Today, I am proud to say, Water Is My Life, and let’s protect what resources we have left..
I endeavour, to return home to Aotearoa from Oz, where I have lived for many years..returning to learn the ‘traditional Māori ways of wairua, te reo Māori, Rongomaiwahine te iwi, Waipiata te awa’ and return to help keep our traditional lands sacred & protected.. 

Arohanui e Para Siempre

Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal Weaving Festival.. if you’re keen to check out a fascinating cultural festival, the Guadalcanal Weaving Festival will be held at Lela Beach 1-7 August. The festival is the first of its kind and is the result of a massive effort including representation of all21 Wards of the Guadalcanal Province. Weaving demonstrations, workshops, pan pipers, traditional dancers, gifting ceremonies.. more information attached Reply

Guadalcanal Weaving FestivalIf you’re keen to check out a fascinating cultural festival, the Guadalcanal Weaving Festival will be held at Lela Beach 1-7 August. The festival is the first of its kind and is the result of a massive effort including representation of all

21 Wards of the Guadalcanal Province. 

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Exciting Times Ahead for Gorman’s Art Gallery and Artists of the Valley Reply

Source: Exciting Times Ahead for Gorman’s Art Gallery and Artists of the Valley

My long time Art Colleague and friend Beth Dwyer has an art exhibition in Casterton Victoria..

Careers Market.. @ Woodford International School, Wednesday 31 May 2017, 10am-3pm Woodford Sports Ground, Honiara. Solomon Islands.. (contact details on flyer).. Reply

Open-air Arts & Crafts in the park, outside the Art Gallery, Honiara Reply

Open Air Arts & Crafts in the park..’ Honiara, Solomon IslandsOpen 10am-4pm (best times)

Part of the Solomon Islands National Art Gallery (SINAG), Honiara..

Outside, under the colourful market stalls, you’ll find an array of hand made products by local Solomon Islanders, some of the traditional skills have been handed down thru their family generations, and show a strong Melanesian cultural influence.. they also use this space as their ‘studio’ and you can see them sitting under a tree, carving, using the specific timber or stone that they have been taught to use.. one of the carvers, Billy Vinajama is 82 years of age, from Gatokae Island at the gateway of Marovo Island, Billy is very passionate about his carving career & achievement and informs me he has been carving in stone for 44 years..

The ‘Avaiki Women’s Group (Women’s Arts & Crafts Group) are hapi, vibrant & actively involved in their craft: the weavers make mats, bags/ baskets/ kete (bag), fans/ jewellery & many more.. there are makers of print/ tie-dye on t-shirts/ dresses/ lavalava & cloth, some make jewellery produced out shell beads/ paper beads into intricate pieces of wearable jewellery.. the women’s leader is ‘Janet Ramoteo’

Avaiki Women’s Group: (women’s group photo)

L-R; 1:Janet Ramoteo, 2:Ela Maesulia, 3:Lucy Bangoika, 4:Nancy Tangangiki, 5:Ruth Sina, 6:Tala Maitaki, 7:Nancy Teabaika, 8:Melina Teahe, 9:Joyce Augia, 10:Nancy Tango, 11:Tusiato Graley, 12:Nesary Taiake, 13:Rose Maenaha..

L-R; 1:Lisah Tony, 2:Marion Tembe, 3:Grace Delson, 4:Rose Sasali, 5:Tahira Joe, 6:Jewter Orelly, 7:Rosa Giaka, 8:Rosana Farodo

Contact: If you have any enquiries, please contact Janet Ramoteo, Avaiki Women’s Group.

You can also ring Janet +677 773 0174 (Women’s Group Leader)

Location: Main Street of Honiara, on the corner, next to the round-about that leads to the Heritage Park Hotel, in the surrounding grounds next to the Solomon Islands National Art Gallery, (or, if staying at the Heritage Park Hotel Honiara, it is on the right side as you enter), there is a entertainment stage, large building that hosts & exhibits up to 60 local artist’s work, from paintings, sculptures, woven craft, jewellery out of paper & shell & carvings in timber & stone.. and more, these are for sale.

Opening times: 10am-4pm/ Monday-Saturday  ((Note: Some Stall Holders open on Sundays, but not all))

So, come down and have a chat, or you can watch traditional local & national Solomon Islander carvers, weavers, knitters & jewellery makers create their magic..

Looking For New (Improved) Editor 4

Well the time has come, as the walrus said. There is only a few weeks before we ‘go finis’. 
I didn’t get to do all that I had wanted to do with Pineapple Post. Not by a long shot. But it is still a great searchable archive of how, why, when and where of life in Honiara created by Jackie Eager before me and an active Facebook page that reaches a few thousand Solomon Islanders. And as I look up the first thing I wrote about how to register your car, so I can do it before we leave, I know that at least that one article has been very useful.

Instead of following up Jackie’s fine work I’ve spent far too much of my time sick or injured and wallowing in existential angst. But what a remarkable spot to be laid low and uninspired by dis-ease, dysfunction and hopelessness. My Gauguin moment in the tropics, but without either the productivity or the underage sex.

Anyway it is time to move up and on for me. And for someone else to take over the editorship of Pineapple Post blog and Facebook page, I hope. And for Pineapple Post it will hopefully be the dawning of a new and more productive period.

If someone is looking for a project on the side or a focus to their time here this could suit you or a small group of friends. It is a great opportunity to meet interesting people and explore the Solomon Islands and make a significant contribution to life in Honiara for, not only the expats, but also the thousands of locals linked through the Facebook page.

Thank you to all those who have helped and contributed over the last twelve months or so. And to everyone, live long and prosper.

So if you think you might be interested in taking on the editorship of Pineapple Post, or volunteer a friend, or just want to know more about all this, contact me asap.

Gerald 8966071 or pineapplepost@hotmail.com

Bye, bye!! – Linocut 120mm x 120mm Gerald Soworka

Fashion week launch Reply

Association of Solomon Islanders in Creative Fashion (ASIICF) is having their Annual Fashion Show on the 3rd of December at the Coral Sea Resort. And their Fashion Week will commence there after until the 9th of December. 

If you would like to to purchase a ticket for the Fashion Show then please refer to the attached flyer (below).

 

If you would like to view locally made garments, accessories and Artworks, then they will be displayed at the National Art Gallery until the 9th of December.

Clean up day HoniaraTomorrow 19th November Reply

Do you want your environment to be clean?

Please come help us stop water pollution

Saturday 19th November

8am till 10 am at the Art Gallery

(Between Heritage Hotel and Breakwater Cafe)

Point Cruz

Organised Vaiclehi, Casssandro, Nahala, Loise, Jolyn and Hendrix
Then afterwards you can visit the great exhibition of some of the best of the Solomon Islands Arts Association in the Gallery. There are paintings, based on or inspired by local culture, history or myth, and prints, carvings, weaving and fabrics. All work is for sale. 10am- 4pm everyday.
Whether it s the waitress casually emptying the ash trays over the balcony straight into the water, or the “Eco-lodge” bailing up its garbage into plastic bags and boating them out into the current off shore, or the casual dropping of everything and anything into the street, or local business emptying its rubbish down the banks of the Mataniko River, Honiara is a cesspool of garbage. 

Who would ever guess, before coming here, that a tropical paradise could be so filthy?

The dramatic increase in population alongside the introduction of plastics and other non-biodegradable rubbish have not integrated well with traditional approaches to garbage disposal. 

If you are sick of seeing rubbish everywhere come along for a couple of hours tomorrow morning and do you bit; set a good example and not only help clean up a little but spur the sort of cultural change so sadly needed in this city. Nothing changes behaviour better than seeing people you know practicing and exemplifying another way of doing things.
The general clean up day at the Art Gallery follows on from the GoGreen – Annual School Clean Up, sponsored by BSP, today Friday 18th November.
I recommend you bring your own gloves and bucket and garbage bags and any other clean up gear you have.
You can easily make yourself and kids a handy rubbish “picker-upperer” and save your back.

Requirements:

(Piece of dowel,old broom handle, or roughly straight stick about 120 cms long,

String, raffia, plastic tape or anything to tie with. About 1 metre,

Glue, any sort,

Strong wire coat hanger, or other firm wire

Pliers or wire cutters, or you can break the wire by bending it back and forth around the same point, but it takes a little longer.)
* Simply cut two or three pieces of strong wire coat hanger about 20 cms long. 

Firmly tie the lengths of wire to a piece of dowel, broom handle, stick with string with about 12cms overlap, as in the diagram below.

Coat the string with glue and allow to dry. 
You now have a handy rubbish picker-upperer to help make Honiara a little more beautifuller and rubbish conscious.
See you at the Art Gallery 8 – 10am Saturday 19th November 

My Wogasia, my Santa Catalina Reply

By An anona atawa woman

With Wogasia 2016 only a couple of weeks away I thought it was time to share a former participants experience. It is long and detailed but I think you will find it very interesting.

The anonymous participant attended wogasia in 2011 and what follows is an excerpt from her diary and gives a great account of the woman’s experience. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have lots to share about the men’s side of things.

– Ed.
2/6/11, Thursday evening at home, and following days

Cathy and I are still using each other for reality checks: yes, the Wogasia really did happen. It’s still pretty incomprehensible though – surreal, alien, hooley-dooley – just … incomprehensible. I know I have to write it out soon or I’ll wake and it’ll vanish, and I so desperately don’t want that to happen. At least I took a few notes. Pity they don’t make much sense any more.

Try for a chronology.

Opportunities for creative youth 17 – 29 Reply

By Sam Ryan

Youth of Solomon Islands magazine encourages young people to submit their creative content

Writing:

Youth of Solomon Islands (YOSI) Magazine, produced by Youth@Work to profile young people and their achievements, is now seeking creative content from young people 17-29 for Issue 5. The theme of issue 5 will be “Narawei: young leaders driving change”, and young people are encouraged to send in features, columns, poetry, creative writing, photography and visual art that is about young people doing and thinking about things differently. Content is due on June 3, but young people are encouraged to contact the team to discuss their ideas for articles, stories and content before the due date.

Free workshops:

The Youth@Work team will be holding free classes in creative writing, feature writing, drawing and photography this weekend, to help young people gain skills and ideas to contribute to the upcoming issues. Creative and feature writing will be taught on Saturday 7 May from 1-3pm. Photography and drawing will be taught on Sunday 8 May from 1-5pm. All workshops will be held at the Youth@Work office in Tandai, opposite Freswota bus stop and after Good View shop. To book a space for the free classes, call the Youth@Work office on 29257 or email yosi@youth-at-work.org.