(QUICK NOTE) My travels have brought me to Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, & Marshall Islands. (I currently live in Hawai’i if that counts too)
Voyaging across the Pacific Islands has always been a dream of mine, even if I only knew about Hawai’i and Fiji. The Pacific is a vast area of ocean with endless tiny dots scattered across full of life. Tiny dots big with heart, beautiful people, and very rich in culture. Full of endless adventure on a whole new level. I spent three and a half amazing months voyaging across Polynesia, Melanesia, & Micronesia, flying, sailing, hitchhiking, living with families and like a local to best my ability. All that I have done, all the people I have met, and all that I have experienced in only a few months, has changed my life in so many ways that have honestly, made me a better person.
8 – I Never Felt Unsafe Anywhere
I am not saying that bad things don’t happen across the Pacific, but from my experiences, I have never actually felt unsafe anywhere. There was not one person or group of people that I felt had any agenda or intention to harm me or steal from me. Walking Suva at night for an ATM withdrawal was the only time I felt uneasy. However, I was still greeted by walking people and people sitting around with a “Bula”. Safe concerns weren’t actually with people, they were with hostile and violent dogs, namely Nauru and ESPECIALLY Kiribati.
7 – Living Off the Land & Sea
It is of no surprise that many Pacific Islands are very isolated. Even main islands with frequent flight and boat services rely heavily on the land and sea. But it’s those outer islands that bring things into perspective on how life has been lived up until now. Solar brings power & rain brings water for the shower and drinking. And while corned beef and noodles are a common delicacy, the land and sea always provides. Everything from breadfruit, papaya, pandanus, and most importantly, coconut. And regardless of tide, lagoon or deep sea, sea life is some of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had.
6 – A Sailors Dream
The Pacific Ocean and it’s endless islands is a sailors dream From Panama, the Marquesas all the way to Tonga and Fiji. At least this was the itinerary of my first captain! It was a dream of mine to find a means to hitch a ride on a sailboat. How I would do it, I had no clue! However I did figure out that clue in Vava’u, Tonga. I sailed for 19 days across from Tonga to Fiji and around some of the Fijian islands. By far one of the most freeing and liberating experiences I’ve ever had. To move across the ocean with the wind with no running motor. Watching endless sunsets and the stars at night during night watch. There are many ways to travel the world. But I feel the true way to travel, the ancient way, is going with the wind.
5 – Family is Everything
I asked my friend in Fiji, how does he live off of a few dollars an hour, working many hours a week. He said, “My working job is extra funds. I have everything right here in this village.” It was this quick conversation that allowed me to realize how drastically different my culture is. How we crave more, more more of money and materials. But life in the islands is very simple and family is everything. Everyone plays their part in a village. While one stays home to clean and cook, others gather coconut, taro, fish. Some to provide for the dinner and others for family income.
4 – No Such Thing as Privacy
As an honorable guest of the many village/home stays in the Pacific, I did most times get provided my own sleeping quarters. But otherwise, I had to understand, learn, and get used to the fact that privacy is nothing like at home. What every island seemed to have in common, is that it isn’t uncommon for family to live and sleep together in the same room. Even sleeping scattered across the floor of the living room. But even for me as an honorable guest, I found heads peaking in to invite me to eat even if I wasn’t fully awake. Or two young boys giggling at me running around my bed. Whatever my sleeping arrangements were, I fully embraced and enjoyed being around people so much more. I’ve couch surfed and Airbnb’d a lot in my travels giving me the experience of connecting with others. But when you do this in the Pacific islands, you becoming a big part of family.
3 – Less Technology, More Connection With Culture
I admit it, I spend a lot of time on my phone. Maybe not like most stereotypes, but social media sometimes takes me prisoner. If not, I do a lot of reading about things from movies to new places to travel. But it should come to no surprise that wifi is horrible to non existent across the Pacific Islands. You’ll find that in most corners of the Pacific, people play around on technology playing games to watching movies. But as far as connectivity, the last means to do so if with an unlocked phone to access local cell towers. But even this experience was hit or miss half of the time. This distance from connecting with the world via laptop and cell phone really did allow me to connect with the world in person. So much that when I did have good wifi and cell service, I found myself getting tired of being on my phone, and would rather go for a walk and talk to someone. It honestly, felt amazing to branch a bit back in time like how things used to be, more moments to embrace…less technology.
2 – Different Cultures, Same Warm Hearted People
Traveling across the Pacific and giving myself the time in each place has allowed me to fully observe all of the differences between the countries. From language, how people drink kava, to how much auto tune is used in music (some places want me to kill myself). But the one quality that islanders have in common (at least from the 6 countries I have traveled) is that they all share kindness. Marshallese people are seemingly rough and unapproachable, but even here I found myself connected with people willing to buy me food or give me rides. Aloha is the word for love in Hawai’i. Give aloha and receive aloha. That concept applies to just about everywhere I’ve been. I showed love and kindness and received anything from a ride, food, to offers to stay with family.
1 – Trust & Honesty is Everything
The most important quality I got out of this entire voyage is that I feel much happier as a person. And that is the result of enjoying honesty and a kind heart to it’s fullest potential. The people in the Pacific are some of the kindest spirited people I have ever met. And because of the amount of time spent with people, of course this kind hearted ness rubbed off on me. Actually, it is who I am now. I’ve been told more and more as time went on with this trip that I was a good man with a good heart. I realized that in order to have a good heart, one must be an honest person. From money to any mistakes I may have made. Honesty leads to a cleansed spirit and soul and just like showing a good heart, you with me treated with love and kindness. I know this sound insanely spiritual but it’s a simple way of life that is easily achieved by just being a good person. Pacific Islanders live this way and is common from Hawai’i all the way across to Tuvalu, Tonga, and even to the Maori in New Zealand.
I have strived to live a simple life invincible to obstacles of life stresses, taking it moment by moment anticipating the best yet preparing to handle the worst in a positive fashion. For the first time in my life I feel comfortable, with life. Who would have known these tiny islands would have such big hearts, powerful enough to has such a long term effect on this young traveler. I’ve learned many things on this voyage and I’m happy to know that these qualities will forever travel with me, to pass on to the rest of the world.