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The 2024 Hiri Moale Festival takes place, March 22nd – 24th in the nation’s capital, Port Moresby.
The Festival celebrates the epic trading voyages of the seafaring Motuans who journeyed to the Gulf Province on the famous iconic sea vessel – the ‘lakatoi’.
The lakatoi was a large sailing canoe with many hulls to store mainly clay pots which the Motuans made and traded with the people of the Gulf in exchange for sago. There were a variety of other traditional goods that were also exchanged during the famous Hiri trade.
The Hiri trade route took many months to complete and was a very difficult journey for the Motuans and at times fraught with danger from storms and rough winds, especially for the return home as the cargo was much heavier.
Motuan culture – from songs, dances and rituals reflect largely on the Hiri trade and cover celebration, lamentation and tributes to gods and ancestors.
The Festival is not just a celebration and showcase of Motuan culture but involves other tribes whom the Motuans traded with throughout their history, which include the people of the Gulf, Mekeo, Hula and Koiari.
The Hiri trading voyages forged friendship and lineal ties going back thousands of years. Much of this is evident today with the Hiri Motu language, a vernacular understood by the Motuans and their south westerly trading partners.
The Hiri Hanenamo contest is a popular attraction at the Festival, where young Motuan women vie to be crowned ‘Hiri Queen’ based on their knowledge and display of traditional Motuan culture.
2024 Program (click image)
50th Hiri Moale Festival, March 22nd to 24th, Port Moresby.
The National Mask & Warwagira Festival promotes the unique mask cultures of East New Britain Province.
The Festival is an extravaganza of cultural dancing, ritual performance, story-telling and exchange – with a variety of arts and crafts on display.
The 2024 National Mask & Warwagira Festival is a cultural tribute to the people of East New Britain – the Tolai, Baining and Pomio.
The first day of the festival will include the ‘Kinavai’ – the arrival of the Tolai ‘Tubuans’ and ‘Duk-Duks’ at dawn. Witness the traditional Tolai shell money exchanges that mark the opening of the festival.
At night visit the Baining people who live in the mountains and watch in amazement as men perform harrowing dances through blazing fires.
For further information contact the National Mask & Warwagira Festival Committee, email: maskfestival2019@gmail.com or Phone +675 7307-5124
2024 National Mask & Warwagira Festival flyer
The ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Bomana War Cemetery is Papua New Guinea’s biggest dedication service to honor the ANZACs and the local militia and civilians serving Allied Forces during the world wars.
The Bomana War Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Port Moresby – less than a half-hour drive from the capital’s main central business district.
The service begins at about 4:30 am. There will be ample security provided by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the PNG Defence Force. Transport can be arranged through Kokoda Track and Port Moresby tour operators.
The Gunfire Breakfast is usually organised by the Australian High Commission of Port Moresby. The gunfire breakfast tickets must be obtained/purchased before the event and is arranged by the Australian Returned Services League Port Moresby Branch.
Papua New Guinea’s relationship with Australia and New Zealand extends to the colonial era, World War I and World War II. The most memorable being World War II, when numerous battles raged across PNG – from Kokoda Track to Rabaul. Many Papua New Guinean’s served as service men and women, as well as labourers assisting the allied forces, especially the legendary ANZACs – the Australian and New Zealand defense forces.
Although ANZAC Day is no longer a public holiday in PNG, special memorial services are still held every year on April 25th to commemorate the contribution of the ANZACs to our nations history.
For updates and further information Like and Follow the Australian Returned Services League Port Morebsy Branch on Facebook.
Papua New Guinea’s capital city, Port Moresby, is all set to host the inaugural, Australian National Rugby League Pacific Championships.
As part of the Pacific Bowl segment of the Championships, Papua New Guinea’s national teams – the Kumuls and the Orchids, face-off against some of the best rugby league teams in the Pacific right here in Port Moresby, including Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Be a part of the rugby league excitement at the Pacific Championships in the nation’s capital – Amazing Port Moresby!
For game tickets, visit the PNG Tiket Mastas website.
Image: Rodrick Tai, Papua New Guinea Kumuls player | 2023 Pacific Championships in Port Moresby.
The East New Britain Shell Money festival will be held in Kokopo, at the Malapau Beach Front.
Tolai shell money in East New Britain Province is known as ‘tabu’. This traditional currency is still in use today, and is a very important feature of Tolai cultural ceremony, especially funerary rituals. Tabu defines status and social order, as well as strengthens kinship ties in the Tolai society of East New Britain.
Celebrate Tolai tabu culture in Kokopo this September! This year’s theme is: “Promoting, Safeguarding Tabu, the Source of our Strength“.
Festival highlights include:
– Kinavai performances by Tubuans
– Traditional Tolai performances
– Sharing of shellmoney
– Displaying of cultural items
– Students engagement in Tabu competition
– Threading and coiling of Tabu
– Tabu crushing race
– Canoe racing
For booth registration and the event program, please contact the event organizers: enbsf2020@gmail.com or richardtapil.9@gmail.com; +675 7449-4650 / 7952-9102
📸: Photos by East New Britain Tourism Authority, Rabaul Historical Tours and Colin Taimbari.
The Port Moresby Nature Park presents the annual EASTER FAMILY FUN DAY – a special day set aside for the whole family during the Easter period.
Register your family now by emailing: info@portmoresbynaturepark.com or call +675 326-0248 / 8246-2880
Celebrate a fun-filled Easter with the Port Moresby Nature Park!
The Port Moresby Nature Park presents the annual EASTER EGG HUNT, from the 8th – 16th April, 2023. On the 10th of April is FAMILY FUN DAY – a special day set aside for the whole family during the Easter period.
A free egg hunting map is available in the Monday and Thursday edition of The National newspaper.
Register for the Easter Egg Hunt by emailing: info@portmoresbynaturepark.com or call +675 326-0248 / 8246-2880
Celebrate a fun-filled Easter with the Port Moresby Nature Park!
The Kemase Ecotourism Festival takes place in September a few days before the famous Goroka Show.
Kemase village is in the Lufa District of the Eastern Highlands Province – under an hour’s drive from the township of Goroka.
The village is home to famous historical sites, such as limestone caves that feature prehistoric art.
The festival will feature unique cultural dances from Kemase and other parts of the Eastern Highlands.
Guests will be treated to an array of local cultural experiences – dances, rituals, feasts, arts and crafts and nature tours, including visits to the famous Kemase caves.
For further information, contact Mr. Lincoln Kisuma of Kemase Tourism Services: call +675 71774589 / 72892713 email kemaseecotourism@gmail.com / lincolnsimonkisuma@yahoo.com
The Tama’ah Festival celebrates a beloved local cuisine of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville called Tamatama.
Tamatama is either made up of banana, taro, casava or sago – wrapped in fresh banana leaves and cooked in coconut milk over an open fire.
Festival visitors will be given a rare opportunity to see and taste a variety of traditionally prepared and cooked Tamatama from all over the Autonomous Region of Bougainville – a treat for food lovers.
The festival will also showcase traditional dancing, plus arts and crafts from Bougainville.
For tours and accommodation, contact: Bougainville Experience Tours, email bougtours@hotmail.com, mobile +675 73656050 / Central Bougainville Tourism Association, mobile +675 7374-7028
2024 Tama Festival in Arawa, Autonomous Region of Bougainville
The biennual Tavur Show is a celebration of West New Britain culture featuring unique traditional masks and singsings from Nakanai, Balala, Bariai, Talmalmali, Bali Vitu and more.
Tavur Show aims to promote unity and cultural appreciation for the Province in one of Papua New Guinea’s fastest growing townships, Kimbe. The theme of the show is: “We value culture as the source of our identity, strength, guidance and prosperity.”
The Show will be a five-day event hosted by the West New Britain Provincial Government, at the Bernad Vogae Memorial Park – formerly Independence Park, in the heart of Kimbe town.
There will be 30 cultural groups performing, 16 of which will be indigenous to West New Britain, while the rest will feature other cultural groups from various parts of the country.
The West New Britain cultural groups will be a special showcase and thus a real treat for show goers, because a cultural village has been developed to assist the performers carry out the sacred rituals that are required before the dances are performed.
Entry to the Show will be free, and the West New Britain Provincial Government will be ensuring the security and personal safety of all visitors at the Tavur Show.
Please contact the West New Britain Provincial Government for more details. Contact Mr. David Mundawi, mobile: +675 7922-0970, email: dlmundawi@gmail.com
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