Jane's Oceania Home Page

The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20050301070011/http://www.janeresture.com:80/

Jane's Oceania Home Page exists to provide visitors with a window through which they can view life in various parts of the Pacific Islands. People of the Pacific Islands have long co-existed with the environment - the sea, the sky and the land.

The term Oceania is normally used to designate all the islands of the Central and the South Pacific including Australia (continent), New Zealand and sometimes the Malay Archipelago. On this Web site, the focus is primarily directed towards the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia (including the Polynesian nation of Hawai'i). Please note that Oceania is not a continent.

The Pacific Ocean is huge. From the west coast of North America, one can travel outward for 9,000 miles across the water without seeing land until one reaches Asia. Alternatively, one can sail from the North Pole to the South Pole for 8,000 miles and that also would be in the Pacific Ocean. The sheer size of the Pacific Ocean is hard to grasp for it covers one-third of the world's surface and it is wide and deep enough for all the continents to be immersed under its waves. ( Central Pacific Islands )

The first European to see the Pacific was Balboa who was later executed by his political enemies. In 1517, a Portuguese nobleman named Magellan (Magalhaes) proposed a route to the Pacific by way of America instead of the recognized course from South Africa on the path of the trade winds. On 28th November 1520, Magellan passed through the southern tip of America which is now called the Strait of Magellan and sailed into the Pacific Ocean. Magellan gave the order for the ships to turn north-east. After incredible hardship, the first land they saw was right across the Pacific at Guam in Micronesia. They went on and Magellan was killed in a battle in the Philippines. It was not until the 17th century that Dutch merchants discovered parts of Polynesia. Tasman reached New Zealand and Roggeveen landed on Easter Island.

So much of the old world created by our island ancestors has passed away. The stone temples are now in ruins and the temple drums and shell trumpets have long been silent. Tane, Rongo, Tagaloa, Nareau and other members of the divine family of the Sky-father and the Earth-mother are still with us even though so much of the regalia and symbols of our spiritualism have been scattered among museums around the world.

What the future holds may be unclear particularly when the ocean may claim many of our islands and many of our people are still under the control of others. Perhaps by reclaiming our cultural values we can understand who we are and what the future may hold for our people of Oceania.

The following poem encapsulates the above, from the time of the early voyages through

our island mythology, to the present problems of global warming.

Sitting by the Sea

I sit by the sea

And let the waves talk to me

With stories of days gone by

About seafarers of old and sailors so bold

And frigate birds high in the sky.

The lapping of the waves

Recalls better days

When our people were free to roam

The great oceans wide

With the wind and stars as our guide

Looking for some place called home.

Those mythical men

We will never see again

And gods that we still call our own

How the world came to be

For people like me

Where our spirits forever did roam.

Now the waves on the shore

Don't seem the same any more

Their stories full of grief

Are filled with a warning

About global warming and its consequences

For our people on the reef.

Yet I still sit by the sea

While the waves talk to me

With stories of days gone by

About seafarers of old and sailors right bold

And frigate birds high in the sky.

Poem by Jane Resture

I think it is important for us to always remember that Island life is really quite simple but is governed by very complex customs and rituals. These customs and rituals are a very important part of our lives from before we are born until after we die. They depict the great respect we have for our elders and ancestors and determine the way that they are treated, even after death. The customs and rituals give us the strength to cope in extreme hardship and when our environment is very hostile. They allow us to relate to the sea and all the creatures that live in the sea, and tell us that the sea, which provides us with our existence, can also be both our friend and enemy.

Island life may seem on the surface to be very idyllic but, in fact, our very existence is often very precarious. So many island communities live on small coral outcrops, often only a little above sea level. These outcrops can be very easily overtaken by the sea, however, despite all this, these atolls are our home and are inhabited by people with a great love for life. We are affectionate and friendly people who love laughing.

Finally, for those visitors who would like to say "hello" to their host, I have included a little personal information, in addition to a Guestbook, on my Jane's Web Page. There is also a Chat Room below for the convenience of visitors who would like to find out more about the countries of Oceania or to simply chat between themselves. When accessing the Chat Room, it would be appreciated if you organise beforehand a mutual time should you like to meet with each other or with your host. Thank you.

For your free listening 24 hours daily!

Tropical Sounds, Pacific Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps)

Soak in the enchanting sounds of the sun-drenched Pacific Islands

Tropical Sounds, Pacific Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps)
Tropical Sounds, Micronesia Music Radio 33K (24 kbps)

Pacific Music Radio is also broadcasting in mp3PRO Stereo (32 kbps).

You are invited to enjoy the enchanting sounds of the Pacific in high fidelity FM Stereo!

Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Stations broadcast selected Playlists of island music continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Playlists include many carefully selected tracks from almost all of the Pacific islands of Oceania. I sincerely hope that you enjoy listening to our beautiful, cultural, unique and traditional Pacific Island music.

	Pacific Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps)
	Pacific Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps)
	Micronesia Music Radio 33K (24 kbps)

Jane Resture's Oceania Page was developed to present and: highlight an extended range of material in conjunction with; Jane's Oceania Home Page. In doing this, it will allow the
visitor to readily access information using the menu or the
clickable map provided for the Pacific Islands.

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