Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, also recognized as an Ocean Elder, was a speaker at the 20th anniversary of Whale Tales: Listening to the Ocean

Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, also recognized as an Ocean Elder, was a speaker at the 20th anniversary of Whale Tales: Listening to the Ocean – An Evening of Conversation with Ocean Elders on the margins of the The Pacific Agenda Summit in Hawaii. The panel was moderated by Mr. Sven Lindblad, and included globally respected ocean leaders Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mr. Nainoa Thompson, Mr. Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Ms. Lavinia Currier.

During the discussion, each panelist reflected on the question: “If all the world’s leaders were gathered in one room, what message would you deliver to them?” The conversation highlighted the importance of collective leadership, ocean stewardship, and intergenerational responsibility in protecting the Pacific and the global environment.

The ocean is central to the culture, livelihoods, and wellbeing of Tonga and the wider Pacific. The Honourable Prime Minister is committed to protecting and sustaining these vital waters, ensuring their health, resilience, and prosperity for present and future generations.

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Na’e fakahoko ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia, Lord Fakafanua, ko e taha ‘o e kau fakafofonga ki hono taukave’i ‘o e ‘oseni pe Ocean Elder, ha lea fakalangilangi ‘i he katoanga ta’u 20 ‘o e Tala ‘o e Tofua’a: Fanongo ki he le’o mei moana- Ko ha efiafi ‘o e fevahevahe’aki mo kinautolu ‘oku nau feinga ke malu’i ‘a e ‘oseni, (Whale Tales: Listening to the Ocean – An Evening of Conversation with Ocean Elders) naʻe fakahoko ʻi he The Ritz-Carlton’i Maui, Kapalua, lolotonga ‘ene me’a ‘i Honolulu ki he Fakataha ‘Inivesimeni, Malu’i mo e Fakatupu Koloa. Naʻe tataki ʻa e fepotalanoa’aki ni ʻe Sven Lindblad, pea naʻe kau ʻi he kulupu ʻa e kau taki ʻi he ngaue ni ʻi māmani hange ko Sylvia Earle, Nainoa Thompson, Jean-Michel Cousteau, mo Lavinia Currier.

ʻI he lolotonga ʻo e felingiaki fakakaukau ni, naʻe nofo ‘enau fakakaukau ki he fehuʻi: “Kapau ʻe fakatahatahaʻi ʻa e kau taki kotoa pē ʻo māmani ʻi ha potu pē ʻe taha, ko e hā ʻa e pōpoaki te ke fakahoko kiate kinautolu?” Naʻe fakamamafaʻi he talanoa ni ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo e faaitaha ‘a e kau taki, tauhi mo tokangaekina ʻo e moana, pea mo e fatongia ki he ngaahi toʻutangata ka hoko mai ʻi hono maluʻi ʻa e Pasifiki mo e ʻātakai fakavahaʻapuleʻanga.

ʻOku kei hoko ʻa e moana ko e konga mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ʻo e anga fakafonua, moʻui, mo e lelei fakalukufua ʻa Tonga mo e konga lahi ʻo e Pasifiki. Naʻe toe fakapapauʻi ʻe he ʻEiki Palēmia ʻa e tukupā ʻa Tonga ki hono maluʻi mo tauhi ʻa e ngaahi potutahi mahuʻinga ni, ke fakapapauʻi ʻenau moʻui lelei, mālohi, mo e tuʻuloa maʻá e ngaahi toʻutangata lolotonga mo e kahaʻu.