
Across the Pacific: Palauan Voyagers Renew Austronesian Bonds in Taitung
TAITUNG, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Taitung County Government invited the Palauan-led multinational crew of the traditional sailing canoe Alingano Maisu, which brought together sailors from across the greater Micronesia region and Taiwan. The crew has recently completed a remarkable cultural voyage from Palau to Taitung, Taiwan, as part of a broader Austronesian exchange. With their return voyage now underway, the journey served not only as a reaffirmation of shared heritage but also as a fresh chapter in the living story of oceanic kinship.
The crew was welcomed with a traditional ceremony led by the Dulan Youth Group, featuring ceremonial chants and protective dance performances—an expression of ancestral ties and mutual respect among Austronesian peoples. At the Taitung County Government Hall, a Voyaging Culture Sharing Forum was held, where the navigators shared their experiences crossing the Pacific and their traditional knowledge of celestial navigation. In return, local boatbuilders engaged in dialogue, sharing insights into their own seafaring culture and strengthening a shared reverence for the ocean.
During their stay, the guest voyagers visited several Indigenous communities along Taiwan's eastern coast. In the Amis community of Duli, they took part in hands-on workshops exploring traditional cigarette rolling, fishing techniques, and even rice wine brewing—experiences that offered a deeper appreciation of Indigenous craftsmanship and knowledge passed down through generations.
The journey also included a scenic ride on the antique 'Breezy Blue' express train, which hugs the coastline between Taitung and Jinlun. This allowed the visitors to soak in the spectacular sea-and-sky vistas, through open windows, and gain further insight into the region's history and lifestyle.
Cultural exchange extended to the table as well. Besides enjoying meticulously prepared Indigenous meals, the crew also experienced Taiwan's signature hotpot culture. Sitting around the steaming pot, guests and hosts shared stories, laughter, and flavors—reminding all that food is one of the most powerful ways to build bridges between islands.
Local Amis hosts presented the voyagers with betel nuts, hand-carved wooden badges, and even ukuleles—symbols of friendship and cultural pride.
The crew also participated in the opening of the Kavulungan Cultural Park, a major cultural event celebrating the traditions of the Paiwan people. The visit concluded with a joyful farewell banquet filled with music, dance, and heartfelt connection—bringing the entire journey full circle.
Through this voyage centered on voyaging culture, traditional maritime skills were not only honored but reawakened. As the Palauan canoe sets sail homeward, the enduring spirit of Austronesian solidarity continues to ripple across the Pacific, reminding us all of the powerful stories carried by wind, waves, and kinship.
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Across the Pacific: Palauan Voyagers Renew Austronesian Bonds in Taitung
TAITUNG, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Taitung County Government invited the Palauan-led multinational crew of the traditional sailing canoe Alingano Maisu, which brought together sailors from across the greater Micronesia region and Taiwan. The crew has recently completed a remarkable cultural voyage from Palau to Taitung, Taiwan, as part of a broader Austronesian exchange. With their return voyage now underway, the journey served not only as a reaffirmation of shared heritage but also as a fresh chapter in the living story of oceanic kinship. The crew was welcomed with a traditional ceremony led by the Dulan Youth Group, featuring ceremonial chants and protective dance performances—an expression of ancestral ties and mutual respect among Austronesian peoples. At the Taitung County Government Hall, a Voyaging Culture Sharing Forum was held, where the navigators shared their experiences crossing the Pacific and their traditional knowledge of celestial navigation. In return, local boatbuilders engaged in dialogue, sharing insights into their own seafaring culture and strengthening a shared reverence for the ocean. During their stay, the guest voyagers visited several Indigenous communities along Taiwan's eastern coast. In the Amis community of Duli, they took part in hands-on workshops exploring traditional cigarette rolling, fishing techniques, and even rice wine brewing—experiences that offered a deeper appreciation of Indigenous craftsmanship and knowledge passed down through generations. The journey also included a scenic ride on the antique 'Breezy Blue' express train, which hugs the coastline between Taitung and Jinlun. This allowed the visitors to soak in the spectacular sea-and-sky vistas, through open windows, and gain further insight into the region's history and lifestyle. Cultural exchange extended to the table as well. Besides enjoying meticulously prepared Indigenous meals, the crew also experienced Taiwan's signature hotpot culture. Sitting around the steaming pot, guests and hosts shared stories, laughter, and flavors—reminding all that food is one of the most powerful ways to build bridges between islands. Local Amis hosts presented the voyagers with betel nuts, hand-carved wooden badges, and even ukuleles—symbols of friendship and cultural pride. The crew also participated in the opening of the Kavulungan Cultural Park, a major cultural event celebrating the traditions of the Paiwan people. The visit concluded with a joyful farewell banquet filled with music, dance, and heartfelt connection—bringing the entire journey full circle. Through this voyage centered on voyaging culture, traditional maritime skills were not only honored but reawakened. As the Palauan canoe sets sail homeward, the enduring spirit of Austronesian solidarity continues to ripple across the Pacific, reminding us all of the powerful stories carried by wind, waves, and kinship.


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Phoenix Rising: Grand Opening of Historic Landmark Where Dianetics & Scientology United
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Ron Hubbard (LRH) not only published Dianetics 55!, but completed the work leading to the legendary Unification Congress, held six miles away at the Phoenix Little Theatre. There, Mr. Hubbard declared that, for the first time ever, two subjects—Dianetics and Scientology—were to be united. That Congress became an event the Journal of Scientology immediately declared as 'the most important thing that ever happened in Dianetics and Scientology.' By 1954, Phoenix had become the center of the Scientology universe. It was the home of the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International (HASI)—located in seven facilities nearby in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Now, some 70 years later, the Osborn Road site is a treasure of midcentury design and Scientology heritage restored to the precise way it appeared when Mr. Hubbard lived and worked there. Built in the Prairie style and touched with Moderne influence, original elements have been returned to how they once were, including the railroad trestle support beams, steel porthole windows and handcrafted maple cabinetry. Even the teardrop-shaped swimming pool and cascading stone waterfall now sparkle in their original mid-1950s splendor. Today, an audience of Scientologists, community leaders and historians gathered at Osborn Road beneath an Arizona setting sun to celebrate a glorious ribbon-pull, opening the restored Landmark Site. Inside, they had the chance to see rare artifacts of history, as visitors can view Mr. Hubbard's original desk where he wrote the milestone work Dianetics 55! Also on view are personal items such as the Hammond S4 Chord Organ Mr. Hubbard enjoyed playing and his Coronado stereo cabinet console that filled the air with waltzes and jazz. Outside, even the glacier-blue Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide and his 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe Station Wagon have been returned to their full vintage glory. At the opening ceremony, dignitaries echoed the impact Mr. Hubbard had on Phoenix, now the fifth-largest city in the US. City Councilman Kevin Robinson, a retired police officer of 36 years, spoke with pride. 'Phoenix is a city that doesn't just rise—it rises again and again. From ancient canals carved by our Native American ancestors to the neighborhoods of today, this is a place of progress. Phoenix has always been a frontier town, not just in geography, but in spirit,' Robinson said. 'Today we turn another page in this city's history. This is a community achievement, so I extend my gratitude for what you've done for this neighborhood, for what you've achieved for our city and for helping history live again.' Mr. Stan Patton, a heritage restoration specialist with 40 years of experience preserving some of Arizona's most treasured landmarks, spoke of his unrivaled passion for the Osborn Road project. 'What's been accomplished here at this L. Ron Hubbard Landmark Site isn't just building restoration, it's recapturing a place and time. We were committed to bringing back every fixture, every detail as if Mr. Hubbard himself had just stepped out of the room,' Patton added, 'and I believe we accomplished that. In fact, of all the projects I've done, I call this my life's crowning accomplishment!' John Jacquemart, who won the Arizona Governor's Heritage Award for his work on historical sites, spoke of Mr. Hubbard's enduring legacy. 'I've spent my life listening to stories as a historian and an Arizona native. The stories we tell in these parts are the ones about lone riders, long shadows and lawless roads. Yet, the story of L. Ron Hubbard? It's the most compelling of all. While this town was booming, Mr. Hubbard brought a different kind of growth. Not in land or lumber, but in ideas. His lectures filled our most iconic halls with a hunger for knowledge and a vision for the mind and spirit,' he said. 'It's a story Phoenix owns and, starting today, one it will never let go!' Dr. Albert Celoza is the Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement and received the Arizona Professor of the Year Award. 'Milestones for one religion are milestones for us all. And you could say we stand here in Phoenix on hallowed Scientology soil. After all, it's where L. Ron Hubbard gave voice to a truth shared by all faiths: that man is, at his core, a spiritual being. Here, too, he wrote the Creed of the Church of Scientology,' Dr. Celoza said. 'So I say this with conviction: as an interfaith leader—one who has stood beside rabbis, imams, monks, priests and pastors—I honor L. Ron Hubbard for his contribution to people of all faiths!' This newest L. Ron Hubbard Landmark Site is the second in Phoenix. Just two miles away is another site at the base of Camelback Mountain. Previously opened in 2005, today it is officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. All told, there are now eight such Landmark Sites open on three continents, including: Bay Head, New Jersey, where LRH wrote Dianetics, the bestselling book ever on the human mind; Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he formed the first Dianetics Foundation; the Founding Church that Mr. Hubbard established in Washington, DC; the original Hubbard Communications Office on Fitzroy Street in London, England; his Linksfield Ridge estate overlooking Johannesburg, South Africa; and his headquarters at Saint Hill in East Grinstead, England. Each Landmark Site offers a literal and visual history of the work and advances Mr. Hubbard achieved during the time he was at that particular location. Each also features a room devoted to the wider story of Mr. Hubbard's life of global exploration and research—including his pivotal accomplishments here in Phoenix, Arizona. In full, the sites mark Mr. Hubbard's progressive steps to the founding of Dianetics and Scientology. The next Landmark Site is slated to open this summer in Southern Africa—continuing the legacy of Mr. Hubbard's work. Like Osborn Road, each represents a global tribute—preserved in space, alive in time and destined to inspire many more.


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