Local leaders are eager to discuss climate change with King Charles III during his inaugural visit to Samoa. On October 24, 2024, the British monarch participated in a traditional kava-drinking ceremony alongside a group of bare-chested, tattooed Samoans, where he was honored with the title of “high chief” of the Pacific Island region.
This visit marks King Charles’s first significant journey abroad since his cancer diagnosis earlier in the year. Dressed in a white safari-style suit, the 75-year-old monarch took his place at the head of a intricately carved longhouse, where he was served a half-coconut filled with a mildly narcotic kava beverage. The drink, integral to Pacific culture and known locally as “ava,” was prepared by the chief’s daughter and filtered using dried bark.
As the ceremony unfolded, a Samoan man loudly announced the drink’s readiness before presenting it to the king, who expressed his dedication with the words, “May God bless this ava,” before sipping from the coconut. The event concluded with applause, while Queen Camilla sat by his side, staying cool amid the tropical heat.
The Samoan community is thrilled to host King Charles, marking a historic moment as it’s his first visit to the nation, previously a British colony. Following the ceremony, the royal couple visited Moata’a village, where King Charles was bestowed with the title of “Tui Taumeasina,” or high chief. Local legend suggests that this area is the birthplace of the coconut.
Local chief Lenatai Victor Tamapua shared his feelings ahead of the visit, stating, “Everyone has taken to our heart and is looking forward to welcoming the king. We feel honored that he has chosen to be welcomed here in our village. So as a gift, we would like to bestow him a title.”
Tamapua plans to discuss the pressing issue of climate change with the king and queen and hopes to showcase the region’s mangroves. He explained the devastating impact of rising tides on their community: “High tides are eroding our reef and mangrove areas. Our livelihood depends on these ecosystems for mud crabs and fish, but over the past 20 years, we have seen tide levels rise by two to three meters, which is about ten feet.”
In addition to his ceremonial duties, King Charles is in Samoa for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Apia, where discussions are overshadowed by the legacy of colonialism. A new secretary-general will be selected from an African nominee, adhering to the regional rotation policy. The potential candidates have all called for reparations concerning slavery and colonialism. Joshua Setipa from Lesotho mentioned that resolutions could even include innovative forms of compensations like climate financing.
Climate change remains a significant topic on the agenda. Countries, including Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Fiji, have pushed for a “fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty,” urging Australia, Britain, and Canada to enhance their efforts in reducing emissions. Pacific leaders emphasize that these three nations have historically contributed over 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s fossil fuel emissions.
