By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The 2018 Hiri Moale Festival was launched at the Gateway Hotel today. The Festival, which will run from September 14th-15th, is a celebration of the successful Hiri Trade expeditions the Central people undertook with the people of Gulf Province in the past. The festival is also a reminder of the standing of the Motu Koitabu people as the indigenous landowners of the nations’ capital, Port Moresby City. Setting the Lagatoi to sail signifies the launch of the Hiri Moale Festival.
The Hiri Moale festival is also a celebration of courage, determination, commitment, discipline and ultimately the friendships that were established and have lasted to this day. This year, the Hiri Moale festival coincides with the APEC meeting, and it gives an opportunity for the people to showcase their culture.
Due to APEC, the usual venue of the festival at Ela Beach will be moved to another venue and will be announced soon. Steamships Trading Company has put its hand up to construct two Lagatois for the festival to the tune of K80, 000 to coincide with its 100th year anniversary this year.
NCDC also came on board with K500, 000 for the event as the new City Manager, challenged the Motu-Koitabu people to take advantage of the changes in the city and the opportunity APEC will bring during the time of the festival in September.
