Pelekila Nui - Cultural Anthropologist

Cultural Anthropologist & Guardian of Polynesian Heritage
Lead Researcher, Pacific Heritage Institute | University of the South Pacific

I Stand Between Scholarship and Ancestral Memory

I am Dr. Pelekila Nui. My life’s work is devoted to one responsibility: protecting the Mana of Polynesian heritage so that our stories remain whole, accurate, and spiritually intact.

I do not approach culture as an academic artifact. I approach it through kaitiakitanga—sacred guardianship. I was raised understanding that our stories are not decorative traditions; they are living genealogies. They shape how we lead, how we belong, and how we move across the Moana.

That calling led me to earn my PhD in Pacific Studies from the University of the South Pacific. My doctoral research focused on the Intergenerational Transmission of Mana—the systems through which identity, authority, and sacred responsibility are inherited. I built research frameworks that merge Indigenous Epistemology with rigorous qualitative methodology, ensuring that oral knowledge stands alongside academic literature as a co-equal authority.

I exist at the bridge where Talanoa meets scholarship. And I defend that bridge carefully.

Preserving the Voices That History Cannot Afford to Lose

Our civilization is encoded in spoken genealogy, chant, and ceremony. When oral traditions fade, sovereignty weakens. That is why my work centers on preserving intangible heritage with precision and respect.

Over decades of immersive field research across Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and the broader Polynesian Triangle, I have applied ethnographic mapping and Talanoa-based methodology to record histories directly from recognized knowledge holders. I do not extract stories; I steward them.

My fieldwork has produced measurable impact:

• Revived and archived three previously undocumented genealogical chants from the Lau Islands.
  

• Conducted multi-year oral history documentation across three island nations.
  

• Aligned preservation frameworks with UNESCO standards for Intangible Cultural Heritage protection.
  

• Developed qualitative models integrating Indigenous Epistemology into peer-reviewed scholarship.
  

I believe a simple truth: Polynesian knowledge systems are not “cultural color.” They are sophisticated intellectual traditions that require disciplined protection.

Decoding Our Social Systems and Sacred Structures

To understand Polynesian pride, one must understand structure—Chiefly systems, Matai hierarchies, Marae protocol, and the sacred Vā, the relational space between people and place.

My research decodes mythological figures such as Tagaloa, Maui, and Hina not as folklore, but as social philosophy. Through comparative mythology and structural anthropology, I strip away colonial distortion and restore indigenous interpretive authority.

Authority, however, must be lived—not just written.

I have mentored more than 200 emerging Pacific leaders through the Te Rito leadership framework, guiding youth in ancestral navigation, governance ethics, and cultural responsibility. I authored the Moana Star Atlas, revitalizing traditional celestial navigation systems for modern voyaging communities.

For me, scholarship is incomplete without embodiment.

Why Stories of Polynesian Pride Is My Digital Marae

Stories of Polynesian Pride is not simply a publishing platform. It is a digital marae—a sacred space of gathering, dialogue, and accountability.

As Cultural Content Advisor, I ensure every article involving genealogy, mythology, governance, or Tapu knowledge undergoes rigorous review. My process includes:

• Cross-verification with academic sources
  

• Indigenous consultation where community narratives are involved
  

• Linguistic precision to protect regional nuance
  

• Ethical review to prevent misrepresentation or commercialization
  

If content compromises Mana, it does not proceed. Authority demands discipline.

I serve this platform because I know that when people understand their roots, they stand taller. Identity strengthens. Pride becomes grounded, not performative.

Discover my publications at Stories of Polynesian Pride

Every article I contribute to Stories of Polynesian Pride carries the same standards of scholarship, cultural protocol, and ancestral accountability outlined above. Within these writings, you will find carefully researched explorations of genealogy, oral tradition, social hierarchy, mythological systems, and the living structures that define our Pacific identity.

Explore the Sacred Roots

Each publication reflects my commitment to protecting Mana, honoring Tapu knowledge, and ensuring that our stories remain historically grounded and spiritually intact.

The Work Continues

My responsibility is to safeguard the intangible spirit of our civilization—the chants, genealogies, governance systems, and ancestral memory that define who we are.

But preservation alone is not enough. Our knowledge must move forward, across the Moana, carried with dignity into the next generation. And our team of experts continues to preserve, develop, and conserve it.

Walk with me. Let us protect what is sacred—and tell our stories with the authority they deserve.