Va Moana – Space and relationality in Pacific thought and identity

By  Albert L Refiti, A-Chr. Engels-Schwarzpaul, Lana Lopesi, Bille Lythberg, Arielle Walker & Emily Parr

Va may be a small world, but it carries expansive meaning. Rooted in Indigenous Pacific Knowledges- Samoan va, Tongan ta-va, Maori and Hawaiian va– this concept of relational space binds people, ancestors and cosmologies across time and place. Since the late 1990s, va has become a powerful framework in academic and cultural contexts, energising conversations across Oceania and beyond.

As the world grapples with the rise of hyper-individualism, va offers an urgent and restorative alternative: one that centres connection, responsibility and collective belonging. This rich collection of individually and collaboratively authored chapters explores how va, wa and related Indigenous concepts are lived, theorised and practiced today. Drawing from diverse disciplines and grounded in specific cultural contexts these contributions deepen our understanding of relationality, space and place across the Moana.