Joyce McClure

1 week ago | guam.stripes.com | Joyce McClure

Photos by Joyce McClure () THE ISLAND OF YAP Society on the small, remote island of Yap is interconnected at all levels and each person has his or her own role to play, like the frames of the traditional buildings that are common throughout this Micronesian culture. It is said that, when tied together properly, a traditional Yapese building represents the spirit of families, villages and communities.

2 weeks ago | pacificislandtimes.com | Joyce McClure

Photo courtesy of Island Solider LLC/Hawaii Public RadioThe per capita enlistment rate in the U.S. military for citizens of the freely associated states (Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia) is higher than that of most U.S. states. More than 1,000 FAS citizens currently serve in the armed forces, while approximately 240 veterans reside in their home countries.

1 month ago | guam.stripes.com | Joyce McClure

In the far western reaches of the Pacific Ocean, the small, remote island of Yap sits amid a rich coral habitat that is home to some of the largest sea creatures in the world. Divers come to Yap from all over to swim with the resident population of manta rays that have a wingspan of up to 13 feet and weigh upwards of 1,500 pounds.

2 months ago | guam.stripes.com | Joyce McClure

Women’s standing dance performed at the Living History Museum, Colonia, Yap (Photo courtesy of Yap Visitors Bureau) The long, low sound of the conch shell announces the beginning of Yap Day, an annual holiday set aside to celebrate the unique culture of this remote island, one of the best-preserved in the entire Pacific region.

Jan 12, 2025 | pacificislandtimes.com | Joyce McClure

While the US military pays close attention to Yap, the FSM national government treats the state like the nation’s stepsister“Yap Governor Urges Immediate Action on Delayed Priority Infrastructure Projects in Yap State,” announced the Yap State Government’s Facebook post on Dec. 18. Gov. Charles Chieng’s petition to President Wesley Simina via a letter dated Nov.