The Taitung County Government, the Hunter School Education Foundation, and the Taiwan Society for Pacific Studies conducted cultural exchanges in Palau from September 1 to 2 during the “55th Pacific Islands Forum.” They shared experiences in the revitalization of pottery, traditional navigation, indigenous education, and the promotion of Taitung’s Austronesian culture. Through workshops and maritime cultural activities, they continued to deepen cultural connections between Taitung, Palau, and other Pacific partners.
On September 1, the Taiwan Society for Pacific Studies shared Taiwan and Palau’s experiences in reviving pottery traditions, from searching for local clay and interviewing elders to relearning the pottery-making process. Hua Heng-ming noted that cultural revival is not about reproducing the past exactly as it was. A break in technical knowledge does not mean that the culture itself has disappeared. What matters is rebuilding relationships with the land, memory, and knowledge.
The Hunter School Education Foundation began by discussing its exchanges with Palau’s traditional seafaring canoe fleet, the Alingano Maisu. Traditional navigation involves more than identifying constellations and ocean currents. It also encompasses understanding the environment and people, caring for the team, and building a relationship with the ocean. The foundation also introduced its philosophy of “being kind to others, appreciating the beauty of life, and being attuned to the environment and the land.” Through tribal communities, education, and international exchange, the foundation supports younger generations in learning about their own culture.
On September 2, the three teams jointly held the “Re-connecting Austronesian Ocean Ways” workshop at the Palau Civic Hall, with students from Meyuns Elementary School taking part. Through hands-on pottery activities and documentary footage of Maisu’s voyage to Taiwan, students learned about Austronesian culture through stories of land, navigation, and people.
The teams also participated in an official PIF side event organized by Rubekul Belau (Palau Council of Chiefs), an organization of traditional Palauan leaders, in collaboration with the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS). “One People. One Ocean. One Blue Pacific Continent,” an official side event of the PIF organized by the Palau Council of Chiefs (Rubekul Belau) and the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS). Under the theme “Traditional Navigation as Cultural Heritage”, participants once again boarded the Alingano Maisu. Building on previous exchanges between Taitung and Palau, the Maisu has gradually become an important cultural bridge connecting the two sides.
During the exchange, the Taitung County Government shared its experience in promoting Austronesian culture. From 1999 to 2016, Taitung held 14 editions of Austronesian cultural events. In 2023, the “Austronesian Cultural Connection” initiative was launched, building on past exchanges with a focus on “identity, platform, context, participation, and creating Austronesian experiences for more people.”
The Taiwan delegation also participated in the official side workshop “From Protection to Practice” during the forum, sharing experiences in navigation traditions, material culture, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Taiwan Society for Pacific Studies presented the process of pottery revival in Palau, while the Taitung County Government used concrete examples—such as international artist residencies, film festivals, and publications—to illustrate how different media can create more opportunities for people to engage with Austronesian culture.
The Taitung County Government stated that the joint trip to Palau by these three teams allowed their long-standing cultural practices to converge once again in the Pacific. In the future, they will continue to deepen exchanges with Pacific partners and sustain the connections of Austronesian culture.
