PILP G5 hike to top of Koko Head in Hawaii

From all walks of life in the pacific island nations, we have one common goal and that is to conquer and secure common grounds for a better and great pacific nation as a young and upcoming leaders.

The recent hike undertaken by the Pacific Island Leadership Generation Five (PILP G5) participants to the top of Koko Head was one of the success activity over the weekend as a team. The motivation and guidance on the track while acceding and descending showed team strength.

A view from the base of Koko Head looks tranquil and convincing for a first timer to reach the top of the 368 meter peak within an hour but realities never seemed to exist when starting the hike on the vertical slope. Every hiker has to climb 1,048 stairs/railroad ties, which were originally built over 60 years ago to get supplies to the military bunkers at the top during the Second World War (WWII).

The Koko Head itself has three significant depressions or old vents and its last eruption dates back to 30,000–35,000 years ago.

The curiosity to reach the top of Koko Head to capture the panoramic view of Hanauma Bay was one motivational factor for each of PILP G5 participants on the hiking group. Some of the participants have developed the interest while reading the featured articles and seen photos on social media.  The PILP leadership consultant, Mr. Philippe Lemmonier who organised the hiking led a group of eleven (11) participants from PILP G5 successfully to the peak.

The old stairway or trail proved challenging when two of the participants gave-up midway and the fastest of the group could reach the peak within 45 minutes of which approximately takes more than one hour in average for the active climbers. The site is regularly visited by everyone who lives in Hawaii for physical exercise and also gets the chance to see the remains of WWII bunkers. 

The hiking of Koko Head in some aspects strengthens the mental capability to conquer and not to quit midway given the difficulty the slope stairway presents. The climb to the top concludes achievement or similar to the scenarios in life where we all set goals and ambitions to achieve in life.

The stairway to Koko Head is frequently hiked by residents of Hawaii and tourists from all over the American states and other countries. Old and young or families alike take the hike as personal motivational activity for physical exercise and metal enrichment. PILP G5 participants who have hiked the Koko Head came to realize some practical characteristics of what has been learnt in the leadership lessons under the ‘Wayfinding’ theme and looking forward for more challenges in life.  

‘’I cannot imagine I have made it to the top after most of my times were spent in the office and never done any physical exercises in preparation to hike such a trail to the top. I took it to myself as a personal challenge and goal. Finally I made it to the top’’; said Penitito of Samoa.

The view from the top was amazing and it was first of its kind for the PILP G5 participants who felt like standing on top of Hawaii and looking down to Hanauma bay’s residential developments and part of famous Waikiki beach and area. 

The group spend approximately 30minutes taking photos and descend back to the base.

The PILP G5’s hiking of the day concluded at Hanauma beach for a swim and it was one of the experience as a team.  

PILP-G5 Participants at the top of the Koko Head Lookout Point after reaching the top
PILP G5 Hike to top of Koko Head

PNG needs to stop the talk & start acting to heighten security

It is believed that North Korea’s missile program is moving close to achieving the range to hit targets as far away as the United States and Papua New Guinea.

But it is premature that vulnerable countries like PNG openly to condemn North Korea’s intentions and possibly provoking the hermit kingdom to see PNG as a target to attack or be threatened, especially as APEC convenes in Port Moresby next year.

PNG has military support from Australia and other allies but not having significant military assets and capability leaves it in a vulnerable state.

The hostile words to North Korea expressed by the PNG's foreign affairs minister in local newspapers recently were childish and regrettable but are too late to recall.

PNG needs to be sensitive to its geopolitical alliances and affiliations so neutrality maintained. We should avoid becoming intertwined in the North Korea – America conflict.

There are already indications that PNG already may harbour terrorist elements and other transnational criminals. These criminals see PNG has a safe haven and a transit point into Australia.

On numerous occasions, unidentified foreign fishing vessels have been sighted by locals in PNG’s coastal waters and most escape with their illegal catches. This has been going on for a long time despite the establishment of the Border Protection Authority which does not have the capacity to perform the border protection task.

Each year some illegal immigrants arrive in PNG and are registered by PNG Immigration. But many more illegal immigrants cross the border from Indonesia or arrive on landing barges that bring supplies to logging camps in remote locations.

There are number of foreign businesses in PNG that recruit non-nationals to do jobs supposedly reserved for Papua New Guineans. Some of these businesses provide false information to labour and immigration officers.

For instance, the Foreign Employment Permit indicates that a migrant claims to be a manager or has trade qualifications but this person gains employment as a stock-filler, cash-register operator, delivery truck driver or something that nationals can do.

These are the obvious indicators of PNG’s weak internal security system which needs to be toughened up for our independent and sovereign nation.

In light of the North Korea issue and APEC 2018, the critical question the immigration ministry and related state agencies must answer is: ''What have you done to eradicate or minimise the internal security threats that are making our country vulnerable?”

The answer to this question will form the basis of our confidence in how secure PNG really is.

The foreign affairs minister’s statement on North Korea was too shallow and has implications for APEC and beyond.

PNG has unresolved internal security issues and, at a regional level, needs to form alliances with Pacific island nations in our mutual security interest.

These matters are much more important than a simple remark to North Korea which pretends that PNG has the capacity to defend itself against the military might and other threats from hostile countries.

PNG needs to stop the talk & start acting to heighten security