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"If kava is extracted and introduced into another beverage, is it still kava?" That's the question Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi, Chairman of Tonga’s National Kava Committee, has been posing to Pacific leaders. Today, kava is being rapidly commercialised - squeezed into pills, energy shots, and mocktails around the world, while finding eager new markets closer to home in places like Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. That global boom is bringing in big money to local growers, but it's also pushing crops to the brink. Dr Apo Aporosa, a Fijian health scholar at the University of Waikato, says that widespread commercialisation has fuelled a wave of misunderstandings around kava's health implications. At the same time, the land itself is under pressure. Kava can take up to five years to mature, and a shift toward monocropping has left crops vulnerable to diseases, while extreme droughts and cyclones ruin harvests. As kava crosses borders and becomes a multi-million-dollar global commodity, who gets to control its future? And how do we balance an export boom with protecting a plant so deeply bound to Pacific identity?  Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.

Across the Pacific, traditional medicine has always been a way of life. Through centuries of colonisation, suppression, and cultural disruption, our elders held tight to this ancestral knowledge, ensuring it survived against all odds.  But today, traditional healing faces a new fight, a rapidly changing environment. As extreme droughts and superstorms reshape ecosystems, invasive weeds are crowding out native healing plants. So how do you protect centuries of healing wisdom when the land itself is changing?

Culture Compass is an exploration of survival, revival and connection throughout the Pacific.

Throughout the Pacific, every single part of the coconut tree is used in our daily life. It's a source of nourishment, a medicine, a material to weave your market bag, and so much more! But our tree of life is being tested. Extreme weather, invasive pests, and viral infections are threatening. So what happens when a species that has sustained Pacific communities for centuries faces an uncertain future? You'll hear Samoa's legend of how the coconut tree came to be from Papali'i Momoe Von Reiche. Agricultural scientist Asuao Kirifi Pouono explains Samoans initiatives to regenerate and replenish the country’s coconut population. Plus, senior plant specialist Leisongi Manses discusses how Vanuatu is holding the frontline against the destructive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Listen to this episode of Culture Compass on ABC Radio Australia with host Afamasaga Seiuli Salamasina von Reiche.

“When you're out there, you feel the swells. And when you feel it, you depend on it.”  For centuries, Pacific wayfinders could read trade winds and predict sea conditions months ahead. Today, unpredictable storms, shifting swells and severe weather brought on by environmental shifts are putting traditional navigators to the ultimate test. How do you voyage when the natural elements you rely on are rapidly changing?   Marshallese navigator Alson Kelen shares how traditional stick charts and wave patterns guide wayfinders even as ocean swells shift. Cook Islands navigator Peia Patai explains how modern tools can work hand in hand with ancient wisdom to guide future journeys. Plus, prolific Hawaiian voyager Nainoa Thompson, reflects on Hōkūleʻa’s historic 1800-mile voyage made without touching a steering sweep, proving that true navigation is about trusting the canoe and letting go of control.  Listen to Culture Compass host Afamasaga Seiuli Salamasina von Reiche on ABC Radio Australia as she explores modern navigation.  Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.

A fishing rock underwater. A spiritual water hole inundated. An island slipping into the sea. Across our Pacific, rising seas are altering the landscape, taking the physical markers of our oral history with them.  When our elders’ stories are tied directly to physical places, what happens to the language and culture rooted there when those landmarks are swallowed up?  Papua New Guinean conservationist Yolarnie Amepou believes that “even with the loss of place, we are ancient people, who carry 50,000 years of memory”.  In Samoa, elder Oskar Stünzner shares how changing shorelines in Lotofaga have submerged the rocks once tied to local spirit lore. And Stewart Garae and Joseph Vanmelbu share how Vanuatu's national language policies are helping communities carry their heritage forward, even when they’re forced onto new ground.    Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.

We're known as movers and migrators but trekking away from the islands doesn't mean we lose our cultures in the diaspora. We move away from our villages for many different reasons — it could be to play sport, for a job or to give our children different opportunities. But we always seem to find a way back home, even if it is by just knowing the best spot in the city for island comfort food. From their tropical island homes to suburban streets, you'll hear how Meanalynn Peter connected with her Marshallese community in Arkansas, how rugby found Ryu Koliniasi Holani a new home in Japan and what Nimilote Rokotoro together with the Fijian diaspora in England. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.  This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 20th February 2024

You can't deny the power of sharks. Different countries across the Pacific have their own shark-related rituals. In the New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea, it's shark calling. The locals believe the shark holds the spirits of their ancestors — the men of the village sing to the sharks to catch them to provide food for the village. But as marine life faces threats from commercial fishing and environmental challenges, can this time-honoured tradition weather the storm and endure our ever-changing world? You'll hear from New Ireland's shark calling festival organiser, Godfrey Abage as well as one of the province's chief shark callers, Chris Malagan. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.  This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 6th February 2024

Like a lot of Pacific Island cultures, we breathe life into our stories through movement and dance. But there's something different about Hula — the poetic fluid movement and mesmerising music. It tells a story of survival.

Is hair ever really – "just hair"? Across the Pacific, each nation has its way of respecting and celebrating the hair on our heads. It plays a role in our culture and dress, and it becomes important at different stages of life and death.

The "organic" industry might seem new but it's as old as our farming traditions. In fact, half of the world's organic agricultural land is in Oceania, with nations like Samoa and Papua New Guinea leading the way. So if that's the case, then why are nations that have survived on the produce grown solely on their islands for thousands of years struggling with food security? Introduced crops, modern diets and environmental factors are making it harder to live off the land. So what old ways need to be preserved to create new ways for the future? You'll hear from Jennifer Baing, a passionate advocate for preserving culinary traditions of Papua New Guinea, and Karen Mapusua, president of IFOAM Organics International, who is educating people about organic farming practices and sustainable development. Warning – listening to this will make your mouth water!

"It's just like an early morning coffee. People wake up, take a shower, they brush their teeth, they're go and grab betelnut." Betel nut – or buai – is everywhere in Papua New Guinea. Buai is the seed of the Areca nut, wrapped in betel leaf… and chewed until you feel a surge of energy. It has plenty of ceremonial uses, but for everyday chewers this is a recreational activity. However, it's addictive — even deadly. So deadly the government has tried to ban it. That's not such a simple task given the informal economy flourishing around betel nut has given many families financial stability — especially in rural areas. So, how did this nut turn from a cultural keystone into an addictive pastime? You'll hear from Belinda Kora, a journalist living in Port Moresby who has seen the pros and cons of the buai boom and Sprigga Mek, a rapper from Papua New Guinea whose latest song discusses his family's connection to the buai trade. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.  ​​​​​​​This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 16th January 2024

Culture Compass is an exploration of survival, revival and connection throughout the Pacific.

Home is more than four walls and a roof, it's what happens inside that makes it special. All across the Pacific you see sophisticated designs that reflect cultural protocols and family structures. We've even got our own master builders and architects who hold the knowledge of these ancient construction industries. But slowly they're being replaced by cheaper materials and imported designs. It's a conundrum that requires the best of past practices and modern methods to make sure homes across the Pacific can survive the changing environment and family needs across the islands. You'll hear from Fijian archaeologist Dr Tarisi Vunidilo and Samoan architect Pesetā Fa'amatuainu To'oto'oolea'ava Lama Tone about the past, present and future of housing in the Pacific. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.  This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 10th October 2023

Think shells. Think stone. Think pandanus leaves woven into mats so delicate you could mistake them for silk. These are the items that hold value for us. It's a different kind of currency. It takes time, skill and cultural knowledge to make these treasures, and unlike money, you can't just print more when they run out. So how can we preserve the skills necessary to make these priceless items, while still earning money to put food on the table? You'll hear from Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Adimaimalaga Tafunai about the resurgence of women making the ie tōga, or Samoan fine mat, and Mary Sifoburi who owns the only shop where you can buy tafuliae – Solomon Islands shell money – in Honiara. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.  This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 3rd October 2023