29/05/2026
Alingano Maisu Returns to Palau as Taiwan, Palau, and Pacific Partners Celebrate Austronesian Voyaging Heritage
A welcome ceremony for the return of the Alingano Maisu was held at 2:00 p.m. on May 29, 2026, at the Drop Off dock in Palau. Traditional leaders, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS), Palau Community College, crew members, and friends from across the Pacific gathered to welcome the Alingano Maisu home after its meaningful voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
The ceremony featured a traditional welcome led by Master Navigator Ali Ali Haleyalur of the Federated States of Micronesia, followed by an opening prayer. Remarks were delivered by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment Steven Victor; Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Palau Andy Kang-I Chen; Sakinu, founder of Taitung Huntter School. Ambassador of Japan to Palau Kenichi Kasahara; Founding Member of the Micronesian Voyaging Society and former President of Palau Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr.; MVS President Shallum Etpison; and MVS Vice President Alan Seid. The speakers highlighted the importance of the voyage in preserving traditional navigation, strengthening Austronesian connections, and deepening exchanges among Taiwan, Palau, Okinawa, and Pacific island partners. During the ceremony, Reklai also presented 20th anniversary commemorative paddles to all crew members, symbolizing the highest respect for their courage, dedication, and mission to carry forward the legacy of traditional voyaging.
The Alingano Maisu departed Palau on February 15, 2026, crossing the Pacific to visit Kaohsiung, Taitung, and Hualien in Taiwan, with plans to continue its journey to other Pacific islands. The voyage not only demonstrated the spirit and skills of traditional non-instrument navigation, but also further strengthened the deep friendship among Taiwan, Palau, and Pacific partners through shared culture, ocean heritage, and Austronesian connections.
In his remarks, Ambassador Chen stated that the return of the Alingano Maisu reminds us that the ocean is not a boundary that separates peoples, but a pathway that connects communities, cultures, and historical memories. The ocean carries the stories of ancestors, the wisdom of peoples, and the future of the next generation. Ambassador Chen emphasized that the name Alingano Maisu, meaning “fallen breadfruit, the one who shares without selfishness,” carries a profound lesson: true success is not measured by how much we possess, but by how much we give back; not by how many achievements we accumulate, but by how many young people are inspired to rediscover their cultural roots and how many communities remember that their traditions remain alive.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ambassador Chen extended appreciation to all partners who made the voyage possible, including the Government of Palau, the Micronesian Voyaging Society, Palau Community College, Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, Council of Indigenous Peoples, Ocean Affairs Council, as well as all NGOs, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Ambassador Chen also expressed special gratitude to the master navigators, all crew members, and friends from Taiwan — Sakinu, Du Shi-Hao, and Mr. Chen Kuan-yu — for joining Palau and the Pacific family on this journey. Their participation, he noted, demonstrates that Taiwan and Palau are not only diplomatic allies, but Austronesian relatives connected by the ocean, culture, and a shared responsibility to preserve ancestral wisdom for future generations.
During the ceremony, crew members from Guam, Saipan, and Japan also shared reflections on the voyage. Crew members Landon Keonie Moss Sewralur, Rekesiuang Wayne Lee Adelbai, and Zea Nauta delivered remarks, expressing their deep appreciation for traditional voyaging culture, the spirit of mentorship, and the shared identity of Pacific island communities.
The Alingano Maisu is more than a traditional voyaging canoe. It is a living symbol of Pacific cultural revitalization and intergenerational transmission. The welcome ceremony marked an important moment for Palau, Taiwan, and Pacific partners to reaffirm their shared commitment to safeguarding ancestral wisdom, continuing traditional navigation, and advancing people-to-people exchanges, cultural cooperation, and regional friendship in the spirit of selfless sharing.
Taiwan will continue to work closely with Palau and Pacific partners to support Austronesian culture, ocean education, and the transmission of traditional knowledge, so that the ocean may continue to serve as a pathway connecting peoples, and the friendship between Taiwan and Palau, as well as the bonds of the Pacific family, may be passed on for generations to come.