• YCAPS Pacific Connect

    - Webinar Series -

  • About the Series

    The Pacific Connect program aims to bridge gaps in knowledge and understanding about Pacific Island issues, centered on the Pacific Island Forum's 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, among policymakers and practitioners from the US, Japan, other partner countries with experts from Pacific Islands. Held in a conversational webinar format, Pacific Connect will broaden and deepen discussions about the region, focusing on local priorities and regional dynamics. Webinars will feature speakers from Pacific Islands, often in a panel format, elevating local expertise and highlighting challenges, innovations, and opportunities for partnership. YCAPS hopes that, through dialogue and deeper understanding, partners of Pacific Island States will be better able to deliver better culturally- and regionally-appropriate assistance.

  • Pacific Connect Schedule

    An event banner with information on the Pacific Connect (description of event in the text box to the right). It is on a pleasant blue background of sky and sea with some small lush rocky islands in the foreground.

    YCAPS Pacific Connect Series (Online, Zoom)

    Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – 11:30 JST | 02:30 UTC | 23:30 EDT

    While explorations for mining nodules of critical minerals on the sea floor have been ongoing for recent years, but the U.S. president's recent moves to authorize exploration and mining outside the International Seabed Authority has brought it into the forefront of discussions again. These discussions, however, are often dominated by Western voices. To highlight Pacific Islander perspectives on these developments, YCAPS is honored to host Mr. Charles Ala'ilima of American Samoa and Ms. Rima Browne of the Cook Islands. Mr. Ala'ilima will speak on the recent U.S. directives for deep-sea mining in American Samoa, a U.S. territory, from legal perspectives. Ms. Browne will speak on the scientific and policy developments for deep-sea mining in the Cook Islands, a sovereign nation in the South Pacific.

  • Past Pacific Connect Events

    An event banner with information on the Pacific Connect (description of event in the text box to the right). It is on a pleasant blue background of sky and sea with some small lush rocky islands in the foreground.

    YCAPS Pacific Connect Series (Online, Zoom)

    Monday, January 19, 2026 – 11:00 JST | 21:00 EST | 2:00 UTC

    YCAPS is thrilled to launch its newest series, Pacific Connect!The inaugural webinar will focus on Challenges and Innovations in Pacific Island Education, featuring a panel of three education practitioners from the Kingdom of Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. Mr. Herbert isoa Takeifanga will discuss achieving universal primary education in Tonga's dispursed archipelago of 171 islands, 45 of which are inhabited. Ms. Canita Harollyn Rilometo-Nakamura will present on indigenous learning recovery through incorperating traditional knowledge sharing with elders into education curricula in Pohnpei. Mr. Apolish Gumong will speak on challenges faced with effective education policy implementation and sustainability, targeting different levels of education in Papua New Guinea.

  • Additional Events to Be Announced Soon!

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