As warming seas alter fish populations and extreme weather makes fishing more dangerous, Pacific Island communities face another challenge: securing the funding and authority to protect the coastal waters on which they depend.

Health leaders noted that measles is one of the most contagious diseases that expose weaknesses in immunization systems. Nearly 1.7 million babies—or about one in every 11— born in the Western Pacific missed the first routine vaccine dose in 2025, the World Health Organization said, warning against the risks of otherwise eliminated diseases resurging in the region.

Islanders also asked their ancestors for help with planting crops, traveling, going to war, or other important activities. Traditional healers, called "makahna," used the skulls in prayers and rituals.