Who We Are

About Pacific Islands Heritage

The Pacific Islands Heritage area is one of the last wild, healthy ocean ecosystems on the planet, with a rich cultural and historical legacy. The area includes seven uninhabited islands and atoll: Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, Palmyra Atoll, Kingman Reef, Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island, protecting approximately 490,000 square miles of cultural and ecological heritage in the Pacific Ocean. The low coral islands and atolls are the crests of ancient coral reef caps and massive underwater volcanoes up to 120 million years old.

Below the surface lies endangered and threatened wildlife, including sharks, rays, seabirds, blue whales, the leatherback sea turtle, and deep-sea life found nowhere else. Its waters have thriving fish populations, 5,000-year-old coral, and 165 known seamounts — towering underwater mountains — which are considered biodiversity hotspots.

Indigenous Pacific Islanders used the vast seascape for cross-oceanic migration and voyaging. The islands and atolls served as stopping points for rest, sustenance, and cultural practice for generations of voyagers who used the stars, winds, currents, and land and sea life to navigate these waters.

About Our Coalition

In 2014, the Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition formed to protect and amplify the cultural, natural, and historical legacy of these special islands, atolls, and reefs. Our diverse network includes elders, fishers, cultural practitioners, navigators, scientists, storytellers, nonprofit leaders, community groups, and others across the Pacific and beyond. We are committed to our vision of a connected, healthy Pacific where wildlife and communities thrive, and we care for the natural world as our ancestors.

Our Vision

We are committed to our vision of a connected, healthy Pacific where wildlife and communities thrive, and we care for the natural world as our ancestors.

Our Mission

We center Pacific Islander voices, produce and amplify research and knowledge, and foster partnerships to preserve and protect the Pacific Islands Heritage Area. 

Our Principles-Driven Approach

Our approach guides everything we do, from identifying priorities to building power in communities. 

One Pacific: We are connected as Pacific peoples, united by our shared ocean, genealogies, and intertwined histories. We paddle together towards our vision knowing that we are not bound by colonial borders, but rather connected as family across the Pacific.

Speed of Trust: We create lasting relationships when we meet people and communities where they are. This happens when we listen, offer support, and prioritize connection and trust.

Collective Action: We build power when we recognize and uplift the diverse expertise, identities, and perspectives of our members and partners. When we work together, we drive meaningful change for people and the ocean. 

Courageous Truth: We ground our work by speaking the truth of our histories and current realities. When we act with integrity and courage, we advance accountability and justice.

Centering Indigenous People and Local Peoples: We are guided by the voices, values, and priorities of the people most connected to place. We elevate Pacific Islander leadership and amplify the knowledge, stories, and lived experiences of those caring for their ancestral places. 

Intergenerational Stewardship: We honor the legacy of those who came before us, build upon what they entrusted to us, and prepare future generations to carry forward our shared responsibility for the Pacific.