A Sea of Struggles is a multi-layered, Pan-Pacific and transdisciplinary perspective on the lives and work of Epeli Hau’ofa, Konai Helu Thaman, Haunani-Kay Trask, and Ranginui Walker—as four of many intellectual voyagers who have traversed academic, activist, artistic, and community worlds in Oceania.

The project will be available at this website on a free and open digital platform (Scalar) that contains introductory essays, close reading and analysis of key texts, learning resources in the form of questions to guide further exploration, a series of interviews with a newer generation of scholars and activists who have been inspired and influenced by their work, and a comprehensive bibliography of sources and references.  The platform is designed to facilitate engagement and further development of the work through interaction, dialogue and ‘digital talanoa’ with students and communities.  

There are many interwoven strands that connect these four writers to each other and a wide range of issues and themes in Pacific thought, activism and scholarship. There are many possible interpretations of their work. We hope to make a modest contribution to the emerging fields of Pan-Pacific studies by drawing some new connections between different domains of experience, knowledge, and wisdom in Oceania.  Our approach is grounded in a deep commitment to Pacific student learning and well-being, and situated in the wider context of decolonising education in the Pacific.

All four thinkers address a range of significant issues regarding Oceania. Our project seeks to mark out these contributions, so a partial genealogy of Pan-Pacific thinking on important issues comes into view. We argue that Hau’ofa, Thaman, Trask, and Walker all offer solutions to contemporary issues facing Pacific people in Oceania today.

We aim to release the project here on the Scalar platform by late November 2018.  Please feel welcome to subscribe to (occasional) updates on the project by providing your email address below.

Project authors: Tony Fala (lead writer), Stanley Frielick (digital wrangler), Marcel Allen (video production).
Email contact: info@seaofstruggles.nz