Pacific Day An Escape to Island Time, Excuse to Pig Out (Literally!)

Seashell necklaces and bottles of fresh Fiji water greeted all guests as they arrived to Pacific Day at the New Zealand Embassy on Monday.

Hosted by the Washington Pacific Committee, Pacific Day showcased ideas, food and culture from the Pacific Island Region… and capitalized on the importance of environmental preservation and enhanced engagement between the Pacific Islands and the United States.

The event started with speeches from the Honorable Henry Puna (Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum) as well as the Honorable Hersey Kyota (Dean of the Pacific Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Palau), followed by a reception featuring dancers from the Pacific Islands, and a tempting traditional buffet inviting guests to sample such dishes as Fa’alifu Fa’i (green bananas cooked in coconut milk), Lamingtons (mini sponge cakes covered in chocolate and coconut) and a whole roasted pig.