The Republic of Fiji is home to a multitude of cultures and traditions. In 2013, Fiji’s new Constitution was promulgated designating that all ethnicities that make Fiji their home be called “Fijians”. This includes the following:\n\n ‘iTaukei’ or indigenous Fijians;\n Rotuman people (a minority indigenous group);\n Indians who were mostly descendants of indentured laborers in Fiji;\n Pacific Islanders who were descendant of labourers in Fiji such as Ni-Vanuatu and Solomon Islanders;\n Descendants of early migrants to Fiji (Chinese, Indians, European/Australian/American &s Traders, Sailors and Beachcombers)\n Descendants of Banabans (Ocean Islanders) now known as Rabi Islanders.\n Descendants of Tuvaluans (Vaitupu Islanders) now known as Kioa Islanders.\n\nFiji therefore has a unique array of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and if one was to ask what would be a representative ICH of all Fijians, there is none as each ethnic group is distinctively diverse and each practice their own form of ICH which are far most different from another.

Lialiaci is a publication of the iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Fiji. Lialiaci means to ponder or reflect upon deeply. That is the intent of these articles and perspectives on culture. This publication topics are as follows:\n\nThe Vanua Spirituality written by Mr. Anasa Tawake, \nFijian Bread written by Mr. Ulaiasi Taoi,\nThe five Cultural Protected Water Body Types in Fiji by Mr. Ron Vave.

"While the artistic heritage of the Pacific is no doubt rich and representative of its cultures, it is more than merely something to be gazed upon and admired. Rather, Pacific art is both functional and symbolic of deeper meanings. Items as commonplace as bows and arrows, masks, and meeting halls are tangible expressions of the spirit of a culture. The themes in the final section seek to represent this spirit. In examining the Tongan kupesi traditions, for example, we see how the symbolism contained within the art, beyond its outer function, is reflective of the indirect nature of Tongan culture and somewhat akin to the practice of using heliaki in speaking. Likewise, in learning the complex process of building Palauan bai meeting houses, we can see that the structures stand not only as important functional spaces but also as carriers of cultural motifs and legends passed down over time. \nAll these themes attest to the art and technology of the Pacific societies as not only reflecting aesthetics but also serving a function. Traditional technological know-how allows the Pacific islanders to use available resources to their best advantage. Architectural designs, motifs, lashings, knots, stone walls, and pavement ensure that structures withstand the test of time while also carrying vital symbolic knowledge."

Lialiaci is a publication of the iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. Lialiaci means to ponder or reflect upon deeply.\n\nThat is the intent of these articles and perspectives on culture.

"In a region as geographically immense and culturally diverse as the Pacific, intangible cultural heritage must be seen in terms of diverse worldviews, each with its own knowledge system and philosophy of life that structures and informs. This section addresses how intangible cultural heritage is reflected through specific cultural worldviews. As specific and unique as they are, however, each Pacific worldview can be seen as having a commonality structured by three dimensions: the spiritual, the physical, and the afterlife or ancestral realm. \nDespite their commonalities, the themes in this section still represent Pacific elements of knowing, philosophy, governance, and wisdom that sculpt life from vastly unique perspectives. The Tongan concept of heliaki, for instance, is not just a knowledge of language and prose, but rather a construct through which the Tongans build views about themselves and their interactions as well as the hierarchy within their society. In a similar way, Palauan place names are much more than words to mark locations; they are capsules of knowledge, events, and history that help the Palauan people identify themselves and their connections to one another. In these and the other themes in this section, the included values incorporate how the Pacific peoples perceive reality and interconnectedness and how their knowledge has shaped their worlds."

"Whether we call it clan, kin, family, tribe, or community, there are multiple ways of knowing and identifying ourselves in the Pacific. A few of these ways are captured here. This section explores how social relationships and their hierarchies within the Pacific islands are vital ways of understanding intangible cultural heritage. Social and spiritual rituals, religious ceremonies, and various other cultural practices reflect how Pacific islanders prioritize social cohesion as a pathway to sustainable prosperity, ensuring the transformation of skills, knowledge, and wisdom for survival. \nThe themes in this section are pivotal to ICH because relationships represent an important organizing principle of life among Pacific islanders and determine how intangible heritage can be safeguarded. Relationships are marked in ceremonial events and rituals such as the communal harvest of balolo in Fiji and other ceremonies such as the bel kol in PNG. Likewise, the omengat, the first-birth ceremony in Palau, brings unrelated clans and families together and is central to family ties and social cohesion. The essays on these and other topics collected in this section illustrate that Pacific islanders take care to mark and honor relationships important to them, as these relationships ensure family, clan, and tribal ties and help to achieve enhanced social cohesion and sustainability."

Samoa has rich oral traditions, mythologies, and legends, and some have been closely associated with traditional festivals and rituals such as the ‘Ava (or Kava) ceremony. ‘Ava is a beverage produced from the root of Kava, which is consumed throughout Polynesia, Melanesia, and some parts of Micronesia. The dried Kava root is grounded into a powder, added to water, and blended in a tanoa (round bowl made from a single piece of wood with multiple legs). The ‘ava drink is often prepared by a group of people during the ‘Ava ceremony. This well-known ceremony has important socio-cultural meanings and is the most significant ritual at the bestowal of matai, Samoan chiefs.