Gaire Village in the Central Province have been tasked with building the double hulled Lakatoi for this year’s Hiri Moale Festival, which is set to take place on the 3rd to the 5th of March at Ela Beach in Port Moresby.
ExxonMobil PNG Limited has come onboard as a K150 000 Gold Sponsor, to support the 49th Hiri Moale Festival.
This sponsorship was presented by the Chairman and Managing Director of the EMPNG Limited, Mr. Peter Larden to the Motu Koita Assembly Chairman and NCD Deputy Governor Mr. Dadi Toka, this morning at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby.
In his opening remarks, EMPNG Chairman and MD, Mr. Peter Laden expressed that EMPNG is a very proud sponsor of this year’s festival.
“EMPNG has been a sponsor of this event since 2014 and we have a deep connection to the cause and what it reflects and stands for.”
Peter Larden said EMPNG relied on trade between Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asian region, which signified the direct connection to what the festival represented and all the work that goes into reflecting the heritage and culture that it stands for.
“We also have a close connection to the Motu Koita people as Papa, Lealea, Boera and Porebada are all villages that are very close to our operations down at our LNG Site here in Port Moresby and so reflecting the culture and what those communities stands for is of course, very close to our hearts as well.
EMPNG’s sponsorship for this year has increased from the past 9 years and is part of a host of other programs and projects that they have assisted the locals with.
To signify this partnership, a miniature Lakatoi was floated across the pool of water at Airways by the EMPNG Chairman, the Motu Koita Assembly President and reigning Hiri Queen Guba Hitolo.
The Hiri Moale Festival will have Cultural Performances on the day, from the Motu Koita Villages, a canoe race, the arrival of the Lakatoi and the crowing of the 2023 Miss Hiri Hanenamo.