CULTURE PROGRAM

The planned Culture Program will feature the three atoll cultures that are found in the Pacific, which are the Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian cultures.  And, the emphasis of the program will also be in that order as the Micronesians comprise the largest number of atoll inhabitants, followed next by the Polynesians, and finally the Melanesians.  Of all of the Micronesian nations, Kiribati is the most populous.  So it is appropriate that the Micronesian culture will assume a dominant role.  However, the atolls in each of these cultural areas will be affected by sea level rise, so there will be four elements of the planned Cultural Program concerning each culture: documentation, preservation, presentation, and enhancement.

Documentation of traditional atoll environments, and their cultures and lifestyles will involve writing about them, photographing them, and collecting and preserving artifacts.  Accordingly, several book and documentary film projects are planned.  Moreover, collection of artifacts will occur in the course of their implementation, as well as separate endeavors.

Preservation of traditional atoll cultures demands, first and foremost, preservation of atolls as distinct physical environments, as traditional atoll cultures are ways of life that are inseparable from the physical environments in which they arose.  However, this is less of an issue in Polynesia and Melanesia, primarily comprised of high volcanic or basalt islands to which the atoll inhabitants will be able to retreat, but for Micronesia where there are no high islands it will be imperative that a semblance of traditional atoll environments be preserved.  Therefore, preservation is essentially an extension of the documentation of all of these atoll cultures, and preservation of some of the atolls so that all these atoll cultures can continue.  In this context a synonym for "preservation" is "promotion;" promoting the attributes of the atoll lifestyles practiced by these three cultures in an effort to preserve their environments.  Expressed another way, one simply cannot preserve atoll cultures without preserving atolls.

Presentation of the atoll cultures is, in turn, a natural extension of the documentation, preservation and promotion of them.  Envisioned, in conjunction with each of the proposed Empyrean Village Inns, is an Atoll Cultural Center much like the Polynesian Cultural Center located in Hawaii, where visitors will be able to experience first-hand each of the cultures.  As illustrated in the left margin, traditional dancing, foods, practices, and ways of life would be featured in the form of live presentations and in traditional museum-like displays.

Enhancement will entail the adaptation or modernization of atoll "things" and "ways of life" for their enjoyment both in atoll environments and elsewhere throughout the world.  For example, traditional atoll art forms, such as carvings, could be adapted to the use of modern materials, while traditional atoll images could be captured with modern art methods.  Similarly, traditional Micronesian outrigger canoes that are labor intensive to construct and maintain could be enhanced through fabrication with fiberglass, aluminum, and Dacron sails.  Indeed, there are many aspects of idyllic atoll lifestyles that are pleasant and also can find application elsewhere throughout the world, just as there are many modern materials and processes which can enhance things and ways of life that are unique to the atoll cultures.  Accordingly, the Atoll Institute views enhancement as valid, justified, and beneficial for the preservation of atoll things and ways of life, as well as the atoll cultures that created them.

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