Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Newsletter

Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music)
Vol. 5, Edition No.3, March 2006
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/

I N T H I S I S S U E ____________________________

Objectives
News and Views
Notice Board
Pacific Islands Radio
Feature Artists
Coming Events
Island Music Suppliers
About Books
Links
Letters
It's Time To Chat!

T H E V I E W _____________________________________
Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) News and Views

Welcome everybody to our Newsletter
for March 2006! It is certainly great
to be back in touch with you all again
and, as always, I would very much like
to take this opportunity to sincerely
wish everybody good health, peace
and harmony, prosperity and happiness.

I would very much like to convey my
heartfelt thanks to you, our valued
members, who have taken the time to
write, and for sharing with us all.
In this respect, your most welcome and
wonderful messages and contributions
are greatly appreciated.

Please join with me in extending a very
warm and sincere Pacific Island welcome
to, once again, the fantastic record number
of new members who have joined us since
our last Newsletter. Thank you so very
much!

Welcome on board, please make
yourselves feel at home, relax and
enjoy the music! May you also find your
stay with us to be enjoyable, mutually
beneficial and most rewarding!

OBJECTIVES

This Newsletter is a listening guide
to the many listeners of our four
Internet Pacific Islands Radio Stations.
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm

This Newsletter will focus on issues
relating to Pacific Island music. It will
also embrace some of the exciting changes
taking place in the Internet Radio Revolution,
as well as updated information on our Pacific
Island Artists, Programming and Playlists.

NEWS AND VIEWS

In this edition of our newsletter, it is my
great pleasure to be able to discuss briefly,
with all of you, our most valued members,
the wonderful music of Oceania, in terms of
its origins, its similarities and those many
things that make Pacific Island music most
unique and beautiful.

The people of Oceania, in common with
all of mankind, have a common origin in
Africa. The migrations to the Pacific
region, however, came about through
different routes and over a long period
of many tens of thousands of years. The
first to arrive were the Melanesians who
are by far the oldest ethnic group in the
Pacific region, and who are the proud
owners of a very rich and diverse
cultural heritage.

The Melanesians were followed much
later by the Polynesians whose migratory
path took them through Taiwan, and along
the back of the Melanesian archipelago
of Papua and New Guinea, the Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji,
until they finally settled in Tahiti, Samoa,
Tonga, the Cook Islands, New Zealand,
Tuvalu, as well as the remote Easter Island.

The last to arrive were the Micronesians
whose journey took them much later through
the scattered islands of Micronesia, located
mainly to the north of the Melanesian Islands.
They settled on the main Micronesian islands
of Guam, Palau, Saipan, the Federated States
of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and
Yap), the Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

The traditional music of Melanesia, Polynesia
and Micronesia thus had very little in common
in terms of musical styles. What the music did
have in common was that, in the absence of
any written language, much of the music had
a religious significance and was originally
chanted to appease or call on the gods.
Some of the chants are also part of the oral
traditions of the people and these special
chants documented our history in a manner
that could be handed down from one
generation to the next.

In Melanesia, Christian missionaries disapproved
of Papuan traditional music throughout the colonial
period of the country's history. Even after
independence, the outside world knew little of the
diverse peoples' traditional music genres. The first
commercial release to see an international audience
didn't occur until 1991. After 1872, Christian hymns
were also introduced with the Gold Rush bringing an
influx of Australian miners who introduced the mouth
organ..

The best known traditional celebrations, which
include song, dance, feasting and gift-giving, is the
singsing. Vibrant and colourful costumes adorn the
dancers, while a leader and a chorus sing a staggered
approach to the same song. Since 1953, singsings
have become extremely competitive in nature, with
contests occurring in Port Moresby, Mt Hagan and
Goroko.

Television was introduced to the country in 1993,
and American popular music continued to affect
Papuan music following on from the diffusion of
radio since World War II. By the end of the 1970s,
a local recording industry had appeared, and artists
like George Telek, began to successfully integrate
native and Western styles like rock and jazz.
Indeed, the music of George Telek is proudly
featured on Pacific Music Radio, Pacific Islands
Radio and Radio Melanesia.

The traditional Melanesian music of the Solomon
Islands includes both solo and group vocals, as
well as slit drums and panpipe ensembles. Panpipe
orchestras, which are well-known in Malaita and
Guadalcanal use up to ten performers with
different instruments, each with unique tunings.

In the 1920s, Bamboo music gained a following in
several Melanesian countries. Bamboo music was
made by hitting open-ended bamboo tubes of
varying sizes, originally with coconut husks.
After American soldiers brought their sandals to
the Solomon Islands, these replaced coconut husks
by the early 1960s, just as the music began
spreading to Papua New Guinea.

Modern Solomon Islander popular music includes
various kinds of rock and reggae, as well as a
distinctive original form of music known as island
music which features a guitar and ukulele ensemble
format influenced by Polynesian and Christian music.

The traditional music of Vanuatu featured instruments
such as the tamtam drum, which is intricately carved
from a log, as well as panpipes, conch shells and
gongs.The music industry of Vanuatu has grown
rapidly since the 1990s.The early part of that
decade saw bands forging a distinctly Vanuatuan
modern musical identity, with artists such as the
young talented and gifted artist, Vanessa Quai,
following in their footsteps.

In New Caledonia, music is a fundamental
element of every traditional ceremony, and
the range of instruments includes conch shells,
rhythm instruments and bamboo flutes. The
Caldoches, or white New Caledonians, are
mostly descended from French convicts and
have forged their own culture, more akin to
that of rural Australians or rural Americans
than the metropolitan French. Among the
Kanaks, dance has developed into a high
art form. The traditional pilou dance tells
the stories of births, marriages, cyclones
or preparations for battle, although colonial
authorities banned pilous in 1951 for the
high-energy and trance-like state they
induced in the dancers.

Throughout Polynesia, song and dance are
integral parts of the same cultural elements.
The dance is used to illustrate the lyrics by
moving the hands or arms with some dances
being performed while the dancers are seated.
Traditionally, dance moves do not illustrate the
song's narrative, but rather draw attention to
specific words and themes; in modern times,
however, dances are more often explicitly
narrative in their focus. There are also
traditional dances performed without lyrics,
to the accompaniment of percussive music.

Within songs, the lyrics are by far more
important than the melodic accompaniment,
with elements such as rhythm, melody and
harmony being traditionally viewed as
accompaniment to the primary focus, the
lyrics, serving to embellish, illustrate
and decorate the words.

The most important instrument is the voice,
though multiple varieties of slit drums and conch
shells are also popular; the human body is used
as an instrument, with clapping and knee-slapping
used to accompany songs and dances. Other
instruments include the pandanus, a sitting mat that
is also used as a percussion instrument, nose flutes
and derivatives of Portuguese guitars like the
ukulele and slack-key guitar.

Throughout Oceania, the missionaries did all
they could to wipe out traditional Polynesian
culture by levelling temples, destroying carvings,
and banning tattoos, and that heady, erotic
dancing that Bougainville told Europe about.
The missionaries sought to make the Polynesians
follow the teachings of the Good Book and their
own autocratic commandments, but fortunately
some of the traditional ways, including our
traditional music, survived. Recently there's been
a strong push to revive old ways and rediscover
traditional arts.

Traditional musical instruments include pahu and
toere drums and the nose flute called a vivo.
Guitars and ukuleles made their way into Polynesia
and the locals developed a unique song style that
owes much to country and western music in form
but has a distinctive South Pacific island flavour.
Traditional dance, based on the traditional music,
has also slowly made its way back into Polynesian
life.

In common with the music of Melanesia and
Polynesia, Micronesian music is influential to those
living in the Micronesian Islands. The traditional
music is highly spiritual and is based around the
ancient Micronesian mythology. The music can
call upon one of the gods or spirits for a blessing
or help in a task to be undertaken. The music of
Micronesia covers a range of styles from
traditional songs, handed down through generations,
to contemporary music, much of which comprises
contemporary interpretations of the traditional
spiritual music.

Micronesian traditional music, like much Polynesian
music, is primarily vocal-based. In many cases, this
results from the lack of suitable material on the many
low-lying coral atolls of Micronesia to construct the
kind of drums and other percussion instruments
available to the Melanesians and many of the
Polynesians.

Music is an integral part of life on the islands of
the Pacific. Indeed, the songs and dances are woven
into the very fabric of everyday life. Life, love,
work, play, the ocean, the gods, the earth itself;
they all flow through the music of the Pacific Islands,
as surely as the sand erodes into the sea. Pacific
Island music is truly the music of the world and is
proudly featured on our four Pacific Islands Radio
stations!

Thank you so much everybody for your continual
support, and I do hope that you enjoy our News
and Views in this special edition of our Newsletter.
* * * * * * * * * *
NOTICE BOARD

MELANESIAN MUSIC -
"RADIO MELANESIA"

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased
to be able to advise that Pacific
Islands Radio 28K has now been converted
to "RADIO MELANESIA" - to progressively
highlight the vibrant and exciting music
of Melanesia, along with a selection of
music from Polynesia and Micronesia.
RADIO MELANESIA
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeres

OCEANIA MESSAGE FORUMS

I am very pleased to be able to say that,
in addition to our main Oceania Guest Book,
additional Forums have been introduced to
all Web sites of the main islands and islets
of the Pacific, as well as personalities,
along with our Pacific Islands Radio Web sites:
http://pub47.bravenet.com/forum/4004922603

As you are no doubt aware, these Forums
have been most beneficial in bringing together
many people with an interest in and a love of
the beautiful and enchanting music of the
Pacific Islands. You are cordially invited to
share your valuable and important thoughts
and opinions with us all.

Recent additions also include the Web
sites for Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Republic
of Nauru, Republic of the Marshall Islands,
Tonga, Tokelau, Easter Island, New
Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New
Guinea, Cook Islands and Pitcairn Island,
Niue, as well as our Oceania Postcards
and Picture Galleries - and many more!
Thank you.

PACIFIC ISLANDS RADIO

I would like to mention, in response
to some of the e-mails and messages that I
have received, from those wonderful people
who would like to listen to our beautiful
Pacific Island music, but unfortunately,
are unable to actually listen to the music.

Basically, it is quite easy to access and
enjoy Pacific Islands Radio (our four
Pacific Islands Radio Stations). Once
you have accessed the page, it is most
necessary to firstly log on, in order to
be able to listen to the music. The process
of being able to log on can be achieved
by providing your username and password
before clicking on the yellow 'Play'
button provided on the center of the page.
Good Luck and Enjoy!

In addition, the many listeners who would
like to purchase the music played on our
four Pacific Islands Radio Stations, in CD
format, can obtain details of recommended
suppliers by clicking on Artists' Profiles
on Pacific Islands Radio Home Page:
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Pacific Islands Radio continues to offer a
range of broadcasting formats in order to
allow a wide range of listeners to enjoy
our beautiful island music.

STATIONS

Our four Pacific Islands Radio Stations
play the enchanting music of the Pacific
Islands 24 hours daily.
www.pacificislandsradio.com
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm
http://www.janeresture.com/radio/index.htm

Pacific Music Radio (mp3PRO)
http://www.live365.com/stations/drjaneresture

Pacific Islands Radio
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeresture

Radio Melanesia
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeres

Micronesia Music Radio
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

FEATURE ARTISTS

EDOU
New Caledonia

Originally from Drueulu village, on the island of
Lifou in the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia,
Edou is now quite rightly recognized as one of
the major artists from the Pacific region. His
musical style is an interesting fusion of kanak,
reggae and groove music and this, coupled with
his unique voice, make Edou one of the Pacific's
most important, enduring and influential artists.

Over the past 12 years, Edou has recorded a
total of 9 CDs. His second album, "Fetra Mace"
(1996), is an interesting fusion between kanak,
the music from New Caledonia, and reggae music.
It was recorded in Noumea with musicians from
the Lucky Dube Band.

Always looking for new sounds and
experiences, Edou recorded "Waanegej"
(1999) with international musicians such
as Ben Hakalitz (aboriginal Yothu Yindi's
drummer and percussionist), and Jean-Philippe
Dary (keyboard player), who is well-known in
the Parisian reggae landscape.

His latest album, "Macetro" was recorded with
musicians from the French reggae band "Mister
Gang", and has guest artists from the Pacific,
including members of the Fijian band "Black Rose",
and Vanuatu's first lady of song, Vanessa Quai.

Edou has also toured extensively throughout the
Pacific: Samoa (1996), Vanuatu (1996, 1999,
2002, 2004), Australia (1997, 2004), New Zealand
(1997), Tahiti (2000) and Fiji (1999, 2004). In 2003,
he also performed at the 20th anniversary of RFO in
Paris (French overseas radio and TV broadcast
network), alongside people like Youssou N'dour.

Edou performed in Adelaide in November 2004 for
a Francophone Festival. He also took part at the
South Pacific World Music Festival in Fiji organised
by US based Link TV. These performances were
broadcast worldwide on major television and radio
networks, including the BBC during the year 2005.
During this same year, Edou's major project was to
record a "Live" album as well as a DVD in Cairns,
Queensland, Australia.

As an artist of international repute, the music
of Edou has been one of the prominent musical
influences in the Pacific Region for over a decade.
As well as providing guidance and inspiration for
so many of his musical peers, Edou has managed
to provide an outstanding marker that highlights
one particular aspect of the developing musical
genres of the Pacific region.

I am very pleased to be able to say that the
music of Edou is proudly featured on Pacific
Music Radio, Pacific Islands Radio and Radio
Melanesia!

COMING EVENTS

"Coming Events" outlines some of the
many events on our musical and dancing
calendar throughout the year hence the
inclusion in our monthly Pacific Islands
Radio Newsletter (Island Music).

As much valued members of our
Newsletter, you are invited to share
any of your thoughts and ideas about
Pacific Island music that you feel
should be shared with all our members.
I am sure that our members would
greatly appreciate your kind gesture
in sharing this information with us.
Thank you so much!

TE VAKA IN AUSTRALIA
Welcome to Australia!

This is a wonderful and great opportunity
for all the many fans of Te Vaka, as well
as Australians and the many visitors to
Australia, to welcome Te Vaka once more
to our beautiful Australian shores.
Many of us will be able to have this
great opportunity to experience and enjoy
the wonderful unique talent and sound of
this most versatile, outstanding, gifted,
vibrant and exciting group of world
renowned artists, performers, singers and
entertainers hailing from beautiful Polynesia,
Pacific Islands!
.
During their early days, Te Vaka sang
about global warming and the threat of
rising sea level to the Pacific Islands.
They took their protest to the world,
performing in Tokelauan, a language
spoken fluently by less than 5000 people
on the entire planet. They found, however,
that the spirit of the message crossed all
boundaries.

Six world tours had taken the group to
30 countries and they had performed in
the company of such international stars
as ex-Beatle Ringo Starr and British
world music ambassador, Peter Gabriel.

Te Vaka is made up of islanders from
Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, the Cook
Islands and New Zealand. They are now
performing in Australia for the first
time in six years as part of Brisbane's
Afrika/Pasifika Festival. After that, they
will be travelling to Melbourne, Australia,
to perform in conjunction with the
Commonwealth Games. Te Vaka's tour
dates in Australia for 2006, are as follows:
.
18th March - Afrika/Pasifika Festival -
Brisbane Powerhouse, Australia:
Performances at 1.00pm and 7.30pm

19th March - Brisbane Powerhouse,
Australia:
Workshop 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Evening performance 6.00pm
info@brisbanepowerhouse.org

22nd March - Alexandra Gardens,
Soundshell, Commonwealth Games,
Melbourne, Australia at 10.15pm
23rd March - Sidney Myer Music
Bowl, Commonwealth Games,
Melbourne, Australia

24th March - Bendigo,
Commonwealth Games, Melbourne,
Australia

25th March - Moe, Commonwealth
Games, Melbourne, Australia

All performances at the Commonwealth
Games are free. Check the following
Web site for more details:
http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Festival+Melbourne2006

SOUTH PACIFIC NIGHT IN BERLIN

Pacific Islanders, friends of Oceania and
everybody, are invited to an occasion to
share cultures through dance, music and
mutual learning.

The occasion will be held in conjunction
with the SPTO (South Pacific Tourism
Organization), as a "South Pacific Night
in Berlin", Kürfürstendamm, located in
the centre of Berlin.

ADDRESS:
TRAUMTÄNZER
Kurfürstendamm
Wesfälische Straße 49
10711 Berlin

For more information about this forthcoming
function on the 11th of March 2006, please
contact the following:

Sonia Vea
Engelmannweg 17
13403 Berlin
Germany
Email: info@polycult.org
Telephone: + 49(0) 304 1474 525
Call Sonia For Tongan and French speaking
Call Leni for Tongan and German speaking
Telephone + 49(0)152 0350 5305
Call Maeva for Tahitian, French and Dutch
(Holland) speaking
Telephone + 31 (0)6226 300322 - Dutch
Call Leutu for Samoan and German speaking
Telephone + 49 (0) 160 9339 4722- German,
Samoan speaking; and
Call Nemesio for Fijian, German, English
speaking
Telephone + 49 (0) 1 744 71 85 76

MICRONESIA MUSIC ANTHOLOGY

An anthology of traditional Micronesian Music
is available on Micronesia Music Radio:
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

The anthology can be accessed by clicking on the
Broadcast Schedule after logging in to Micronesia
Music Radio. This should allow you (and our other
listeners worldwide) to determine when the
anthology is available in your beautiful part of
the world.

The Broadcast Schedule can also be accessed at
the following URL:
http://www.live365.com/broadcast/scheduler/?stationname=jane_resture

The supporting Web site to the anthology is:
http://www.janesoceania.com/micronesia_music_anthology/index.htm

GOSPEL MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to be able
to advise that a collection of some of the most
exciting and absorbing gospel music from the
Pacific Islands is now being featured on Pacific
Music Radio (FM mp3PRO Stereo), Pacific
Islands Radio as well as Radio Melanesia.

With an extended running time of three hours,
the gospel collection has proved to be extremely
popular and features the music of a number of
talented artists and groups from Melanesia,
Micronesia and Polynesia.

Please monitor the Broadcast Schedule of the
above three Pacific Islands Radio stations for
the availability and time for the Gospel Music
collection. At present this exciting collection
is available every Sunday from 12 midday to
3 pm Australian eastern standard time.

Our four Pacific Islands Radio Stations play the
enchanting music of the Pacific Islands 24 hours
daily.
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm

PACIFIC ISLAND MUSIC SUPPLIERS

The following are some of the main specialist
suppliers of our music from the Pacific
Islands, which are now being used and are
highly recommended by Pacific Islands Radio.

KING MUSIC -
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Kingmusic offers a wide selection of Pacific
Island music which is available on the Internet.
http://www.kingmusic.co.nz/

ISLANDMELODY.COM

Pacific Islands Radio would like to recommend
Islandmelody.com for a selection of traditional
and contemporary music with an emphasis on
Micronesian music.
http://www.islandmelody.com

BWANARAOI MUSIC SHOP -
TARAWA, REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

For Kiribati music, along with music from
other Pacific Islands and elsewhere, you
are invited to contact the following
exclusive distributor:

Bwanaraoi Music Shop
Republic of Kiribati
Phone/Fax (686) 28236
E-mail: angirota@tskl.net.ki

ABOUT BOOKS
(Including Music and Dance)

ONE AND A HALF PACIFIC ISLANDS
Edited by Jennifer Shennan and
Makin Corrie Tekenimatang
Published by Victoria University Press
NEW ZEALAND

A series of first-hand accounts told by
the people of Banaba (Ocean Island)
and some 'outsiders' about the decades
of mining of their land for phosphate, and
their subsequent mass removal - under
orders of the British, from their ancestral
island situated just south of the Equator
to an island in the Fiji group (Rabi in
Melanesia), relocating them a great
distance from Micronesia.

This happened in 1945 immediately after
the three years of the atrocity packed
occupation by the Japanese army, and
forty years after the British, through
the British Phosphate Commission (BPC),
had begun the stripping of the land to
fertilise New Zealand and Australian
farms, then providing meat, butter and
wool for the Empire.

The book marks the sixtieth year since the
arrival on Rabi and, despite the historic
sadness for the exploitation-to-extinction
of their ancient homeland's natural resource,
the book is far from a melancholy account
concentrating upon this aspect. In fact,
much of the history of that particular time
is culled from diaries and interviews with
the Commission's own officials.

Also kept to the minimum are the references
to the bestiality of the Japanese occupiers
for example decapitations in front of families
for not "Kowtowing" or ... the bayoneting
of 120 bound men over a cliff edge to
silence witnesses. Incidentally, one brave
man survived this bayoneting event. He
was able to expose the officers concerned,
attend their trial and be an official Allied
observer of their hanging.

The bulk of the book rings with life and
the triumphs of a resilient people over
difficulties most of us would never
experience. A big section of the volume
comes from the children and youth
expressing their aims for the future.

What emerges here is a truly powerful
drive for education Those Waihekeans
who helped the campaign last year to
send two buses to the island of Rabi
will realise how precious these vehicles
will be to youngsters' education.

Culture and language are essential to
any group seeking survival. Apart from
preserving language skills, dance plays
a huge part in the keeping the Banabans
intact as a people. Dance for them is
not a diversion nor mere entertainment,
nor a commercial enterprise nor middle
class therapy. One can highly recommend
the section on the subject written by
Jennifer Shennan .Well known as a New
Zealand dance authority, writer and who,
alongside Makin Corrie Tekenimatang,
was an editor of the book. Her study
of the Banaban dance and dancers makes
readers want to experience it. There is a
move to bring a team of them to be part
of a big dance festival in Auckland later
this year.

Another local link with the Banabans is
in the person of popular and well known
Waiheke ceramist, Hilary Kerrod. Her
father was a District Commissioner on
Banaba and later a well liked advisor to
the local leaders on Rabi. Hilary offers
a lively account as a youngster on the
islands before she was dispatched to
school on Waiheke.

This book will do a great deal to
strengthen knowledge and awareness
of life and history about our part of the
world. Eurocentric (and US) obsession
still prevails in the main media but change
is in the air. It will be a blow for the
future if this volume finds its way into the
hands of young Pacific Islanders, including
New Zealanders, not to mention their
book-loving elders. Its value as a
publication will last a very long time.

Indeed, who can resist a book full of
true-life stories, particularly when it
has tales of love, adventure, war and
peace, suffering, joy, and much more
from the last days of the Empire up to
our present era? There certainly is a
need for a book such as this that
provides an accurate representation
of the trials and tribulations of the
people of Banaba.

LINKS

WELCOME TO THE MUSIC
ARCHIVE OF THE PACIFIC

The Music Archive for the Pacific has
been established by the Southern Cross
University, Lismore, Australia. for the
main purpose of providing a collection
of recordings of indigenous music, related
books, journals, musical instruments and
art works to interested persons for
research purposes.

The archive covers the music of the
indigenous people of Australia (incl. Torres
Strait), Papua New Guinea (incl. Bougainville),
New Zealand as well as the nations of the
Pacific Islands - Cook Islands, Easter Island,
Fiji, Hawaii, Nauru, New Caledonia,
Rarotonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti,
Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/ArchiveHome.html

MUSIC ARCHIVE FOR THE PACIFIC
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/ArchiveArchive.html

************************
LETTERS

The following are extracts from a few
interesting and most welcome letters that I
have recently received about our four Pacific
Islands Radio Stations, our artists and music.
In this respect, it is my great pleasure to be
able to share these letters with you all as I
find them to be most uplifting, supportive,
motivating and encouraging. They also provide
much needed feedback in order to continuously
monitor and enhance the quality of the service
provided by Pacific Islands Radio.

Please join with me in thanking these wonderful
people for sharing their kind thoughts with us all.
************
Hi Jane ! Long time ago, while in Fiji, I
fell in love with a song I heard everywhere
I went. My Fijian friends told me the name
and the artist but I have long forgotten. I
should have bought it there and then, but
I really was on a shoestring - I'm from
Spain, and wasn't a parent-subsidised
backpacker - and I suppose I missed my
chance. Hearing that song again would
put a sound to all those faces in the
photographs as we used to sing it together...
Well, I did my best ! So... could you help
me? It was a song about a prison island
in Fiji and I heard it before Christmas
1994. Any Ideas? I would love any info
you may have !
Thanks for this and for allowing me to
go back there by listening to your radio
station! Roser
www.pacificislandsradio.com
http://www.janeresture.com/fijihome/fiji.htm

Hi Jane, I just want to say that your web site
is the BEST .. I like all those Micronesian
music you are playing. By the way, I'm from
the Republic of Palau Island and now reside
in the States. That's all for now and wish
you ALL THE BEST thanks.....

Hi Jane, listening to your station via net..
sounds great I love my 'fobby' music. My
name is Eleni, my parents are from Fakaofo,
Tokelau, and I'm currently residing in
Melbourne, Australia. Anyway, just wanted
to email you and say g'day!! Cheers, Eleni

We appreciate your station and the Pacific
Island music. We just returned from a visit to
Kiribati Island and found the natives and music
to be very relaxing. They seem to have a
relaxed and happy life and listening to the
island music is certainly one of the reasons.

Thanks again for access to your site and radio
station.
Wichita Falls, TX, USA
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Hello Jane,
Where would I be able do download some
typical traditional drum patterns from the
Cook Islands. We went over in December
2000 for two weeks and bought some slit
drums. I now want some patterns to practice.

Dear Jane,
I am doing research on historical information
about tides in the Phoenix Islands, and while
searching for information about Hull Island I
came upon your Pacific islands radio website
and was pleasantly surprised to learn that you
were born in Hull Island.

My specific interest in Hull Island is the source
of tidal data that was collected in approximately
1957. The UK Hydrographic Office has that
data, but they don't have the precise location
of the tide gauge that was used to collect the
data. I think the gauge was located either
somewhere inside the lagoon, or at one of the
lagoon entrances, but I have been unable to
find any data on the gauge location.

I am hoping that you or your parents have
first-hand knowledge of the tide gauge location,
or that you may be able to direct me to someone
who does have knowledge.

Since I live in California, I don't receive Pacific
Islands Radio broadcasts, but I wish you every
success. Thanks in advance for any assistance
you can provide on the tide gauge location at
Hull Island. Sincerely, Bob Brandenburg
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Reply: Please note that, as long as you have
a good and reliable Internet connection, you
can access all our four Pacific Islands Radio
stations - worldwide, and wherever you may
be! Thank you all.
************
IT'S TIME TO CHAT

Our Chat Rooms are always available for
online chatting between parties and can be
accessed via Jane's Oceania Home Page:
http://www.janeresture.com or the URLs:
http://pub18.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/1489671900
http://pub32.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/2702076781

COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Your valuable contributions and comments
are always most welcome and they can be
sent to me at:
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

Thank you so much everybody for your
very kind support and for being such
important and valuable members of
our Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music)
Community.

Let us all hope for continuing greater
peace and harmony, good health,
prosperity and happiness, for everybody!
I wish you all the very best and please
take care!

May our God bless us all and, as usual,
I look forward to the pleasure of your
company next time!

Jane Resture