Tonga

The head of the United Nations said many Pacific Islands are in "grave danger" from rising sea levels. He told a gathering of regional leaders that the world must "answer the SOS before it is too late." HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

As the South Pacific has become an increasingly contested geopolitical space, the annual summit for its leaders has grown from its 18 member countries to delegates from more than 40 nations, all seeking to advance their agendas in the region.

The CEO of Tesla has been invited to attend the annual Pacific Island Leaders meeting next week in Tonga. HPR’s Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

A Traditional Leaders Forum is underway as part of the Festival of the Pacific Arts and Culture. Traditional leaders from Fiji, Aotearoa, Sāmoa and Hawaiʻi are building on a history of diplomacy among Pacific nations dating back to the reign of King David Kalākaua. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Leimoana Faʻalogo said her seven-member family includes her grandmother, parents, husband, siblings and a dog. They deeply feel they need to stay together as one household. Many immigrant families are in the same situation.

A police report released this week included information about the Lahaina fire victims and where their remains were found. The report noted that 15 people were found in their cars, including a Tongan family of four. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz spoke to one of their relatives who has also been helping the Tongan community recover.

Scientists say last year's Tonga volcanic eruption produced the fastest underwater currents ever recorded. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

Scientists have done further research into a huge volcanic explosion that ripped through part of Tonga early last year. They have found the magnitude was equivalent to the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the United States. HPR’s Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

The United States is opening a new embassy in the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu. It's the U.S. government's latest move to boost its presence and counter China's influence in the Pacific. With the Pacific News Minute, HPR's Derrick Malama reports.

It's been just over a year since a massive volcanic explosion rocked the Pacific island of Tonga. The eruption created a huge plume of ash and water that stretched more than halfway to space. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.