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23/12/2004: "POLYNESIAN 'PRINCESS'......Balabala at Nukuoro"
The crown of flowers worn on this young person's head was traditional. Her name was Balabala a favourite friend of the Peace Corps Volunteers on the island. (July 4 2005) Moves are underway to try and located this little girl who would be now aged about 43 - enquiries are happening through a church network of friends. Ken DaVico comments on seeing the above picture. At the time I'd wished for a flash-fill, but the result proved me wrong:
This is a great photo. You are absolutely right that fill flash would have totally changed this very natural and beautiful shot. It is perfect.
December 18, 2004
"Warm Keselehlie or Humalia from the people of Kapingamarangi Village in Pohnpei! This is a letter to request your kind support in our effort to raise funds needed to build our church. The current church is a semicircular roofing type of structure built from the left over remnants of World War II.
Historically, the people of Kapingamarangi who are residing in this village moved to Pohnpei from their home island situated in the south of Pohnpei State.
Two successive disasters hit the island so severely which resulted in the lost of many lives and the establishment of their Porakiet Village in 1919. Under the Japanese rule, many of these people were relocated from the comfort of their home to Pohnpei where they settled in the Porakiet Village.
This has eased up the population pressures during their recovery process on Kapingamarangi.
Approximately eighty new immigrants were among the first wave of people that left for Pohnpei. Today the Porakiet Village population has increased to nearly five-hundred people, and many of these families have made Porakiet Village their permanent home.
The Village has also become the home of those who are visiting for a shorter period from their home island (Kapingamarangi). The 18-acre tract given by the government was not enough to provide for farming so fishing was a main source to substantiate their daily living.
Few people have found employment with the Government or the private sector, while most depended on handicrafts they make. Only the employed people earn steady cash. The fates of the many that carve and weave depended exclusively on tourism, an industry that has yet to see its better days. Nearly every family, if not, all are economically disadvantaged like most Micronesian families (by US standard).
Because of the Polynesian ethnicity of this community and the unique handicrafts they produce, Porakiet Village has become a tourist landmark for the State of Pohnpei.
The new Church when finished will reflect an added touch of the craftsmanship and skills of local carvers on the interior design. We hope the new facility will also become a frequent visit for new visitors. The facility will be used to develop and implement youth related programs that aim to address and minimize problems of young people. Many of the tin-roof structures in this Village are substandard".
