The Hiri Moale Festival

This colorful celebration in November honors Motuan culture and is held in PNG's capital city, Port Moresby. The Motu are a people that live on PNG's southern coast who used to go on risky trading excursions to distant portions of the Gulf of Papua. Although the Motu's annual hiri, or trading, voyages are no longer held, an annual celebration honors their heritage. When spectators witness the canoe races at the festival, they may readily visualize their epic sea trips in their famous canoes, known as lakatoi.

These boats, made of big logs and sails fashioned from coconut fiber, traditionally required a crew of 30 men to sail. Singing and dancing, arts and crafts displays, and the crowning of the Hiri queen are among the highlights of the festival, which takes place mostly around Ela Beach and the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

When: in November
Where: Motu-Koita Assembly