Derrick Malama

1 week ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Derrick Malama

There's a new development when it comes to protecting part of the Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia's president has announced plans to establish one of the world's largest networks of highly protected marine areas. The newly established conservation areas will surpass the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which spans 583,000 square miles and is currently the largest in the world.

2 weeks ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Derrick Malama

Unprecedented ocean warming spread through the South-West Pacific in 2024, harming ecosystems and economies. That's according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization. The report highlights how sea level rise is threatening islands in a region where more than half the population live close to the coast.

3 weeks ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Derrick Malama

China's foreign minister is promising more support from the world's second-largest economy to Pacific Island countries. The latest developments come from a summit in Beijing. A Chinese government statement says the meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi focused on climate change. All Pacific Island nations that do not recognize Taiwan attended the summit.

1 month ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Derrick Malama

This week, Taiwan is hosting the governor of Guam. The U.S. Pacific territory would almost certainly be a key player in any Chinese military moves against Taiwan. Lourdes Leon Guerrero is making her first trip to Taiwan since taking office in 2019. In that time, China has boosted its threat to invade Taiwan with new ships, missiles and warplanes. Guerrero arrived in the island democracy on Sunday and is scheduled to stay through Saturday.

1 month ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Derrick Malama

The World Health Organization has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea and is calling for a vaccination campaign. An environmental sampling showed a reemergence of the highly infectious virus. The government's response includes at least two rounds of nationwide vaccination and expanding monitoring to detect any further cases. It has approved $3.2 million to roll out vaccines in the country, located north of Australia in the southwest Pacific Ocean.