Voyaging & Climate Risk: The Polynesian Voyaging Society says it’s adjusting the sail plan for Hōkūleʻa’s Moananuiākea Voyage after NOAA’s latest El Niño outlook, citing a 97% chance El Niño continues through spring 2027 and a very high risk of typhoons and stormy sailing conditions across the Western North Pacific; PVS says the revised schedule adds one year, with CEO Nainoa Thompson pointing to “a whole menu and safety checklist” discussed with forecasters. Indigenous Heritage & History: A new look at Tahiti’s colonial past traces how France moved from protectorate status (1842) to annexation (1880), ending the independent kingdom era after Queen Pomare IV and local islanders resisted. Conservation & Culture: Tiny tree snails are making a historic comeback in Moorea, with Partulidae species returning after near-total wild collapse in the 1980s–1990s due to introduced predators—an effort that also protects cultural practices tied to their shells. Culture, Identity & Self-Determination: A piece on Indigenous peoples’ enduring struggle highlights how peace can remain out of reach when structural conflict persists through land dispossession, corruption, and attacks on self-determination. Regional Politics: Coverage notes ongoing tensions around maritime boundaries in the Pacific, including disputes involving France and island communities’ claims tied to cultural connections.