The Art of Talanoa

Sitiveni Halapua served as Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program at The East-West Center, Hawaii, 1991-2010 and as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders and its Standing Committee, 1992-2010. It was in the execution of these roles that Halapua developed the theory that would drive his work going forward. At its heart was a recognition that development is synonymous with conflict and any ambition towards the former necessitates that you resolve the latter. His formulation of Talanoa was conceptualised and actualised through his work in the Asia-Pacific region particularly Fiji, the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. A summation of his thinking is contained within this book, The Art of Talanoa.