Hiri Moale Festival is the celebration of survival, says 2017 HMF chairman, Opao Udia.
It reflects to the time of the ancestors, particularly the return of the seafarers after the long voyage to the Gulf of Papua for the Hiri Trade.
Many years have passed since the last voyage but the celebration holds an even stronger meaning to this day.
While it’s about preserving culture, Udia says the celebration is about the struggle and determination and survival of the ethnicity, which resonates today in the face of development.
“Our most notable struggle is due recognition on our land. We are being marginalised to the extreme of being narrowed to our corners and become mere spectators on our very land,” says Udia.
“Land grabbing is a big issue. Our land is being grabbed without the consultation of the LOs. We’d like the government to be attentive to this.”
Udia states the HMF is an event to be held every year to remind the residents that the Motu-Koitabu, the local landowners of Port Moresby, exist.
“If there’s any development taking place, we want to be part of it,” Udia adds.
The festival theme this year is our culture, our tradition and our identity.
“Our lifestyle also is diminishing because of the development and migration of our other PNGeans, our identity is gradually fading away,” he says.
Udia called for unity among the Motu-Koitabu people to face this struggle with bravery and commitment and stand up to survive in this modern time of development.