Author: yapadmin
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56th Yap Day Celebration: Day 3 – 1st Annual Canoe Launching Festival
The 1st Annual Canoe Launching was held at Wacholab, Maap, on the third day of the 56th Yap Day Celebrations, this March 02, 2026. The Director of the Department of Health , Mr. Theo Thinnifel, welcomed all off-island guests, including the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia, His Excellency, Aren B. Palik along…
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Yap Day 2026
The Yap Day Celebrations are one of the largest and most authentic of all of Micronesia’s cultural events. The festivities always begin with the traditional conch shell blowing and presentation of stone money, which is then followed by a number of Yap’s carefully chosen and well-rehearsed traditional dance routines. The colorful and rhythmic dances are…
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56th Yap Day Festival: February 28 – March 02, 2026
(February 25, 2026 – Yap Visitors Bureau, Yap, FSM): The annual Yap Day celebrations are one of the largest and most authentic of all of Micronesia’s cultural events. Each year Yap Day is hosted at one of Yap’s traditional village sites, and this year Tamor, in Tamil Municipality, will showcase the Yap Day performances and…
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Woleai Atoll Civil Airfield Re-Opens
The Woleai Airport was re-opened on Monday, February 9, after an extensive upgrade of its facilities and the construction of a new airport terminal. The airport had been closed for many years, with the only previous access to Woleai Atoll and its surrounding islands by an overnight journey on inter-island shipping from Yap’s Capital Colonia.…
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Revising the Ancient Art of Yapese Body Tattoos
In traditional Oceanic cultures the art of body tattoos, called Gachow in Yapese, evolved as an integral part of social and spiritual customs of the island populations. The tattoos reflected status and lifestyle and marked significant milestones and achievements such as puberty, marriage and birth, a warrior’s prowess, social standing and individual preferences. Designs mimicked…
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Join Us for the 19th Annual MantaFest 2026 – August 22 to September 06
The annual two-week Manta Ray Dive Festival, held on Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, has been attracting underwater photographers and sports divers from all over the world for the past 20 years. First launched in 2006 by Manta Ray Bay Resort and Yap Divers , who continue as the principal sponsor, it has…
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Highlights of the 4th Micronesia Expo Yap 2025.
The week-long 4th Micronesian Expo took place on Yap from July 21–25, 2025. This one-of-a-kind celebration of culture, tradition, and island pride brought together all of the Federated States of Micronesia island states – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – for a celebration of their shared heritage through traditional dance, cuisine, cultural and historical presentations,…
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MicroExpo 2025 Traditional Dance Highlights
Many thanks to Lee Arkhie Perez Photography for these great video clips of the traditional dance performances captured during the week-long 4th Micronesia Expo 2025 held on Yap from July 21-25, 2025. For more of Lee’s photographs and videos please go to: https://www.facebook.com/iamperezphotography/ Where Would You Like to go Next? Program Highlights Contact…
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Highlights of the 4th Micronesia Expo Yap 2025.
In the words of the Acting Governor of Yap State Francis Itimai, ….” Good evening.. welcome to the closing ceremony of the 4th Micronesia Exposition, proudly hosted by Yap, the Land of Stone Money. Our shared Identity, our enduring energy and vibrant cultures that define the Federated States of Micronesia. This exposition was not merely…