Epeli Hauʻofa’s We Are the Ocean: Selected Works (2008) is a collection of essays, fiction, and poetry that challenges dominant views of Oceania and its development. Spanning three decades of writing, Hauʻofa critiques colonial and global narratives while offering alternative perspectives rooted in regional strength and creativity. His essays, including “Our Sea of Islands,” “The Ocean in Us,” “Pasts to Remember,” and “Our Place Within,” propose that Oceania is expansive and interconnected, not small or dependent. Hauʻofa blends analysis, satire, and lyrical reflection to inspire Pacific peoples to see themselves as active custodians of their ocean and to engage globalization on their own terms. Ultimately, the work envisions a stronger and freer Oceania built on cultural originality and environmental responsibility.

Hauʻofa, Epeli. 2008. We Are the Ocean: Selected Works. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.