NEWSPAGE
07 December
2011

(Photo: Maori Party)

(Photos: Savali News)

SAMOA: The last sandalwood 
Source: Savali News

It looks like any ordinary piece of driftwood.

It sits at the corner of the truck bed as I unpack from my trip to Savaii this afternoon.

I do not want to take it into the house as there are Samoan taboos about bringing home objects from other villages, forests.

By most accounts we gathered though - this is what remains of the last Samoan asi manogi, native Samoan sandalwood tree, chopped down back in 1989.

A tree - and its fragrance - that lured fleets of European and Asian merchant ships to our shores at a most colourful time in Samoan history.

“A forestry inventory after the cyclones in 1992 - which included aerial surveys - revealed that the asi manogi (Samoan sandalwood) was no more, finished, gone” says chief forestry officer Fiu Nimarota.

Sitting at his modest office at the Asau Forestry Station - occasionally ruffling through some files - Fiu and I engage in a light chat on sandalwood.

In 2005, he said, Forestry introduced an Australian species that is now reviving the sandalwood industry.

“It is very similar to the Samoan asi manogi. It is also quite invasive. As you can see the asi is now growing wild on our compound here.”

He points at seedling growth - mingling with peanut weed - as we stroll along the expansive Forestry compound on the western tip of Savaii.

“The sandalwood is semi-parasitic,” he said.

“It needs a host tree to grow with. So we usually grow it with an orange tree.”

He also points out that there are three species of sandalwood in Samoa.

“The asi vai and asi toa are timber trees. They are quite common. We also have a lot of those two species growing in our forests here. It’s the sought-after asi manogi that is now extinct.

“Many people mistake the other two asi species for the asi manogi. So, no doubt, you will have many people claiming they have a asi manogi growing in their backyard.

SANDALWOOD

Sandalwood - asi manogi - was traditionally used in Samoa for medicinal purposes and, especially, as an essential oil.

It has a distinct wood note and its leaves were used as a funeral bedchamber. Hence the word falelauasi. During chiefly funerals, sandalwood logs were burned and its smoky fragrance filling the air.

The sandalwood trade - along of the trade of beche-de-mer and whaling - was at its height in the Pacific in the 1860s to the 1900s.

Forests of sandalwood were logged and shipped off to Europe. They were used for furniture-making or traded in India and China for spice.

The Asians - in turn - used sandalwood as incense in their rituals.

On the Australian market today, a metric tonne of Australian sandalwood is selling at AUS$12,000 (WST$26,000). Moreover, the same quantity of Indian sandalwood is said to be selling on Mumbai and Delhi auctions for up to AUS$105,000 (WST$240,000).

FORESTRY

But back to Asau, our conversation drifts to the various reafforestation programmes the Forestry department is implementing.

“Just up from here is the famous Cornwall Estate and our Masamasa forest rehabilitation programme,” said Fiu.

“About 600 to 800 acres of native and introduced timber trees - mahogany, ifilele, tava, tamanu and other trees - are ready for logging. But government has decided to ban logging altogether. The emphasis is now on planting and replanting trees, not cutting them down.

“Government wants to extend the green cover in this area.”

Despite a spate of forest fires in recent years, he said, the timber trees were not affected.

“The fires only affected low-lying areas. Mostly dry shrubberies and savannah outcroppings.”

We pass by workers planting and packaging tree seedlings under two big greenhouse facilities. Some 43 people - most from around the Asau area - are employed at this Forestry outpost.

Two trucks and a double-cab Four-Wheel-Drive - all appeared badly in need of repair work - are parked in a makeshift garage. There are also two paint-peeled washboard residential houses on the compound. Both appear vacant.

We reach the back skirts of the compound and Fiu points out the (Australian) sandalwood bloc.

“We have about 900 trees on a three-acre plot. The trees are about seven years-old. We’ve just come through a very dry, dry season. While every other vegetation turned brown, the sandalwood remained very lush. It’s the ideal tree for dry conditions. ”

Already, the trees are about three meters high.

“Sandalwood is harvested between 15 to 20 years. So these trees still need at least a decade’s growth. We also badly want to extend this plot. ”

But a festering land dispute with Asau village is hampering the project, he said.

“The village has claimed all the land behind this compound and beyond the sandalwood bloc. We do not want to extend this plot because the village will simply turn up one day and claim it as theirs.”

It is important, he said, that government resolves this issue immediately before more Forestry development is undertaken.

Our conversation returns to the asi manogi and I push him for his knowledge of the last known tree.

Fiu said, that though it has not been confirmed, he was told that the last tree grew somewhere at Papa Sataua.

He gave us the name Vaetoefaga Meti.

PAPA-SATAUA

At Papa, we stop by a church construction site to ask for directions. A nephew of Vaetoefaga Meti working there offered to take us to his uncle’s home.

However, when we got to his house only his wife was there. Vaetoefaga had gone to Asau. We prodded her, but said she knew very little about any sandalwood. However, as we made our way out, Vaetoefaga’s brother Taua’i Fereti turned up. We were in luck again.

In his early fifties, Taua’i knew where the tree used to stand. He said it belonged to his uncle, Vaetoefaga Malo who passed away in 1996.

“Actually, there were three trees at three different properties. The other two disappeared through the years leaving one.”

In 1982, he said, a group of Japanese men turned up offering to buy the tree.

“They offered to buy it for $2,800. Which was a lot of money back then. But Vaetoefaga Malo refused saying the tree was worth more. So they (Japanese) took some cuttings and left. However, some years later, the tree appeared stunted and was drying up. We tried planting seedlings and cuttings but they never survived.”

So one day, he said, the old man took a chainsaw and cut it down.

We arrived at the location where the tree used to stand, but to our dismay, it was right in the middle of a coconut plantation and overgrown with weeds. We could not find anywhere a 50-year old sandal-wood used to stand.

As we were packing up to return to Apia, we asked Taua’i if there is any chance the old man would’ve taken the logs to his home.

He said it wouldn’t hurt to find out.

So we drove to the late Vaetoefaga Malo’s home, about 600 meters from the coconut plantation.

Taua’i and his nephew quickly disappeared underneath a hurricane shelter and - five minutes later - appeared with the booty.

A two-foot asi manogi log, hidden away for some 22 years.

We go down the shelter and there are six more logs - of varying size - there.

“After 22 years of cooking and doing the umu, none of the logs were used,” remarked my colleague.

“The old man must have really known what his sandalwood was worth.”

Because my colleague is a relative of Vaetoe, the log was presented to our care. There are plans to exhibit the log at the National Museum of Samoa at Malifa

HOPE

But all hope may not be lost.

We made a stop at Sapapalii and had a chat with one Papali’i Panama. After briefing him of our sandalwood search, he told us of a group of rich Americans, who through his uncle - the late American Samoa Speaker of the House Tuana’itau Faatamala - gave money to the village of Pu’apu’a to find them an asi manogi tree.

“This was back in 1980 I think. The Pu’apu’a aumaga (untitled men) searched the forests there for two weeks and found an asi manogi tree on top of the mountain range. Because it’s not a tall tree, it was shrouded by other big trees up there. They cut it down and brought it back to the Americans. That (asi manogi) tree may have sprouted again or there may be more such trees on that mountain range. Who knows? When they found what they were looking for the aumaga came back down.”

As we were paying for our tickets at the wharf, we again had chat with the woman working there. And she was adamant that she has an asi manogi growing in her backyard at Fogapoa village. She said her husband - who used to work for the Ah Liki logging company at Gataivai - came across the tree seedling while cutting down trees in the forest there.

He brought it home and planted it in his yard.

So perhaps there is another twist in the tale of the Samoan fragrant sandalwood yet. These leads and others that have been received by our office since will be followed up on our another visit to Savai’i.

Photo 1 - Old log from the last endemic Samoan sandalwood, cut down at Papa Sataua in 1989.

Photo 2 - Hundreds of packaged Australian sandalwood seedlings ready for farmers.

Photo 3 - Forestry officer Fiu Nimarota and his staff at Forestry’s Asau station.

(Photo: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: First graduation in Niue for APTC

It was an exciting night in Niue when the first graduates from APTC received their Australian standard qualifications at a recent ceremony. Nine Niue citizens who have studied in either Fiji or Samoa were very proud to celebrate this wonderful event in front of their Premier, members of the Cabinet and Parliament, public service dignitaries and, most importantly, their families. They graduated in 6 different qualifications.

The Samoa Campus Manager Ms Francis Howes who attended the graduation said "this graduation is very special. This tiny country of around 1500 people needs qualified people as it continues to advance its industry and public sector. The qualifications presented by APTC are all at the Australian standard. This means that work done by these people is internationally competitive, whether it is in tourism, hospitality or in the trades. I am thrilled to have been here to not only be part of this celebration but also to talk to employers and applicants about future APTC courses for Niue people."

The Premier of Niue, the Honourable Toke Tufukia Talagi was also pleased to attend the graduation and told how much he respected the graduates for their achievements. He also stated that he was pleased that APTC training for Pacific Island Forum members was delivered in Pacific countries. He said that in his experience "students who study in the Pacific stay in the Pacific" and go on to benefit their countries.

APTC is currently receiving many applications for courses for 2012 from Niue citizens in courses such as Community Services, Carpentry , Commercial Cooking, Hospitality and Electrical. The staff at the National Training & Development Council are helping applicants and have been trained to ensure that the applications are completed correctly and are processed by APTC. Ms Howes said she was very grateful to the whole team in the Training and Development office who are committed to supporting applicants form the Public and Private Sector in Niue.

APTC is an initiative of the Australian government and trains students from across the Pacific in Australian standard vocational qualifications. APTC is currently taking applications for all courses including new courses in Aged Care, Youth Work and Disability Work. Other courses include Trades and Technology, Tourism and Hospitality and Community Work. Contact Tanya Tagelag or Heileen Togiamana on (683) 4214 , Ext: 110 or check the APTC website at www.aptc.edu.au for more information about how to apply.
 

Photo 1 - The nine Niue graduates from APTC received their Australian standard qualifications.

Photo 2 - The Premier of Niue, the Honourable Toke Tufukia Talagi in attendence at the graduation ceremony.

(Photo: SPREP)

AROUND THE WORLD: PACC impresses agencies with adaptation efforts
Source: SPREP Press Release

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project presented to donors and implementing agencies during its side event at the 17th Conference of Parties held in Durban, South Africa showcasing progress and lessons learnt on their adaptation efforts on the ground.

It was an opportunity to hear first hand from the National Coordinators from Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu as they shared their achievements from their national projects that are to help local communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The presentation was a heartwarming one for Dr. Pradeep Kurukulusuriya, he was pleased to see the actual implementation of adaptation work on the ground.

Dr Kurukulusuriya is the United Nations Development Program Bangkok Technical Adviser in support of UNDP-Global Environment Facility Climate Change Adaption.

“I have been associated with the PACC Project since 2005 when it was simply a five page concept and now to see these activities and impacts in place it is really encouraging to keep doing and supporting the Pacific region with accessing finance.”

A point raised by the PACC member countries was the need to upscale the project however the issue of accessing further funds would be a major challenge.

"We at GEF have started to scale up funding especially on the Special Climate Change Fund which most of the Pacific Island Countries are recipient of,” said the Global Environment Facility Small Island Developing States Focal Point Mr. Rawleston Moore.

“We have managed to scale up funding and we should be up to about $500 million which is still short of the target. We know the kind of difficulty is there in raising funds in the Special Climate Change Fund however with a presentation on the actual on-the-ground adaptation efforts showcasing to donors the fruit of their investments assists them in a better position to raise that fund.”

Dr Kurukulusuriya highlighted the UNDP will continue to support the Pacific in accessing additional resources for adaptation, an area that they are continuing to strengthen in the region.

“The success we’ve had with mobilising funds from the Australian Agency for International Development for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme partnership is an example of that, and we are also looking to expand other types of partnership with other Pacific Regional agencies to ensure that there is more resources and more support for countries in the Pacific as they embark on this long journey.”

H.E Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, the Ambassador from Samoa to the UN shared his support of the adaptation efforts by the member countries under the PACC Project and highlighted the importance of partnership for sustainable outputs.

“For partnership to be sustainable there has got to be an element of trust and I think that has been shown by the presentation this afternoon.

“The presentation shared with us is what is actually happening on the ground and too often donors don’t get to hear our message but I also think of having this as an opportunity for the accountability process.

He added, “We need to ensure as a minimum that the Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries will take the floor in terms of the resources, whether it’s a million dollar fund or a billion dollar fund, by the time Pacific SIDS proposals are considered most of the funds is exhausted because we are competing with other countries; we have to be here in the international arena and we have to put our needs across.”

The PACC Project has 14 member countries and territories with the focus to enhance their adaptive capacity in three development sectors - Coastal Zone Management, Food Production and Food Security, and Water Resource Management.

The project is implemented by the UNDP in partnership with SPREP and funded by GEF and AusAID with support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Photo 1 - Mr. Taito Nakalevu, Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Regional Project Manager.

Photo 2 - Mr. Paula Taufa, National Coordinator from Tonga.
 

(Photo: Matangi Tonga Online )

TONGA: Aid misuse allegations arose from poor-record keeping
Source: Matangi Tonga Online
 
An independent audit has found that poor record keeping was behind the alleged misuse by the Tongan government of a New Zealand grant, and there was no evidence of fraud, according to a statement from New Zealand Foreign Affairs.

New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully. in a statement on December 2, said the independent audit was undertaken following the alleged misuse by the Tongan government of a NZ$330,000 grant from New Zealand to finance Tonga's transition to a more democratic system of government last year.

When the New Zealand government was notified of an alleged misuse of the New Zealand's grant, Hon. McCully stated that, "the New Zealand Government was not prepared to leave that matter unresolved, so we immediately launched an independent audit.

"I am pleased to confirm that the independent audit has found no evidence of fraud. The issues have arisen due to poor record-keeping rather than anything more suspicious," he stated.

Photo: New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully.
 

(Photo: www.hawaiimagazine.com)

HAWAII: Hawaii ukulele virtuoso Bill "Duke of Uke" Tapia dies at age 103
Source: hawaiimagazine.com
 
Hawaii ukulele legend Bill Tapia, whose music career spanned more than nine decades, died today at his home in Westminister, Calif. He was 103.

Tapia enjoyed success in the Islands' music scene as both a youngster and after marking his 90th birthday, when he was known as the "Duke of Uke."

Born New Year’s Day 1908 in Honolulu, Tapia reportedly received his first ukulele at the age of 7 from Manuel Nunes, one of the first and most respected ukulele makers in the Islands. Tapia’s career started to take shape at age 10 when he entertained World War I troops at USO shows with his own version of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” according to Tapia’s website.

During the early years of his career, Tapia also took up banjo and guitar, and performed on steamships sailing from Hawaii to the West Coast. He performed as a backup musician with Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong as well as with Hawaiian musicians ranging from King Bennie Nawahi to Andy Iona.

In 1927, Tapia played with Johnny Noble’s band at the opening of the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki in 1927. A few years ago, he returned to perform at the hotel's reopening. At that 2009 event, the 101-year-old ukulele virtuoso (pictured, above) sang "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii" for guests in the Coconut Grove.

According to Tapia’s website, he spent World War II in Honolulu, leading a 14-piece band in “blackout ballrooms,” with all the lights out to avoid possible detection by Japanese bombers. After war, Tapia moved to California’s Bay Area and spent many years performing and teaching, focusing on guitar.

Less than a decade ago, Tapia returned to his ukulele roots and in 2004 released his first-ever CD, Tropical Swing, featuring jazz and Hawaiian standards. He followed up with Duke of Uke (2005) and Livin’ It Live (2009), showcasing his live show.

Tapia continued to tour until late last year. In 2004, he was inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame, and earlier this year he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

Photo: Hawaii ukulele virtuoso Bill "Duke of Uke" Tapia performing.