Mackenzie K. Southern Hemisphere Blog

Palau is one of the many islands that make up the Pacific. Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants from what today is Indonesia. British traders became prominent visitors in the 18th century, followed by expanding Spanish influence in the 19th century. Following its defeat in the Spanish-American War, Spain sold Palau and most of the rest of the Caroline Islands to Germany in 1899. Control passed to Japan in 1914 and then to the United States under United Nations auspices in 1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
  Four of the Trust Territory districts formed a single federated Micronesian state in 1979, but this eventually dissolved as the individual districts--long culturally distinct--opted for more locally popular status. Palau approved a new constitution in 1981, subsequently signing a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1982. After eight referenda and an amendment to the Palauan constitution, the Compact went into effect on October 1, 1994, marking Palau's emergence from trusteeship to independence.
  Palau is a democratic republic with directly elected executive and legislative branches. Presidential elections take place every 4 years, at the same time as the United States' presidential election, to select the president and the vice president, who now run as a team. The Palau National Congress (Olbiil era Kelulau) has two houses. The Senate has 13 members elected nationwide. The House of Delegates has 16 members, one each from Palau's 16 states. All of the legislators serve 4-year terms. Each state also elects its own governor and legislature.
Palau's per capita GDP of $8,941 makes it one of the wealthier Pacific Island states. Palau looks like a lovely place to visit and take a vacation in the near future!

Mackenzie K. Southern Hemisphere Blog

Marshall islands are apart of the Pacific Islands. The Islands are comprised of 29 atolls and five single islands, which form two parallel groups. Two-thirds of the nation's population lives in Majuro and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development.
 The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin, which is traced to a combination of people who emigrated from Southeast Asia in the remote past. The matrilineal Marshallese culture revolves around a complex system of clans and lineages tied to land ownership.
 Virtually all Marshallese are Christian, most of them Protestant. Other Christian denominations include Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Mormon, Salvation Army, and Jehovah's Witness.
 Marshallese is the official language. English is spoken to some extent by most of the adult urban population. Now you know some history about the Marshall islands!

Mackenzie K. Southern Hemisphere Blog

 One of the Pacific islands is Tonga. Tonga is made up of 171 islands. The word Tonga means "south" in numerous Polynesian languages. Some scholars believe the inhabitants originally came from the islands now known as Samoa. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Tonga islands have been settled since at least 500 B.C., and local traditions have carefully preserved the names of the Tongan sovereigns for about 1,000 years. The power of the Tongan monarchy reached its height in the 13th century. At the time, chieftains exercised political influence as far away as Samoa. Tonga is the South Pacific's last Polynesian kingdom. Its executive branch includes the prime minister and the cabinet, which becomes the Privy Council when presided over by the monarch. In intervals between legislative sessions, the Privy Council makes ordinances, which become law if confirmed by the legislature. The governors of Ha'apai and Vava'u are appointed to their offices and serve as ex officio members of the cabinet. Tongans, a Polynesian group with a very small mixture of Melanesian, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. The rest are European, mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. There are also about a thousand Chinese immigrants. Now you know some history about Tonga!

Mackenzie K. Southern Hemisphere Blog

The Pacific consists of many islands. One of the main islands is Fiji. Fiji is located in the South Pacific. Fiji itself is made up of over 322 islands! It offerers fabulous resorts and hotels, good food and accommodations, night life, historical sites, hiking, camping, snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving. You can travel around Fiji many ways. Some of these ways include small plane, catamaran, copra boat, outboard canoe, open-sided bus, and air-conditioned coach. Fiji has so much to offer that you would barley scratch the surface if you vacationed there for a full month! Not to mention, it is a visitor friendly country with uncrowded, inexpensive facilities with outgoing people who speak english, so your trip can be that much more relaxing and makes communication a breeze!