GULF EXTENDS SUPPORT TO 2026 HIRI MOALE FESTIVAL

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

THE Gulf Provincial Government and Kerema District Development Authority have each pledged K100,000 to support the 2026 Hiri Moale Festival.

Member for Kerema Thomas Opa made the announcement on Friday 14th August 2026 saying the sponsorship recognises the strong historical and cultural relationship between the people of Gulf and Motu Koitabu.

Opa also announced that four to six cultural groups from Gulf Province will participate in the festival, showcasing traditional storytelling, string bands, sago-making, lime-making and other cultural practices.

He said the groups will demonstrate traditional processes such as sago production, giving people an opportunity to understand how the sago consumed in Port Moresby is traditionally produced by men and women in Gulf Province.

Opa said the festival provides an opportunity to revive and recognise the generations-old connections between Gulf and Motu Koitabu like the traditional Hiri Moale voyages and trade routes.

Meanwhile, Motu Koitabu Chairman Russel Wavik welcomed the support from the people of Gulf describing the two communities as relatives connected through bloodlines rather than simply friends.

He said the shared history of their ancestors provides a strong foundation for bringing Gulf and Motu Koitabu people together and strengthening their cultural ties through the Hiri Moale Festival.