The Pasifika Innovation Approach is stepped through the 6 phases of designing and crafting the Kakala as a medium to articulate the co-design process in the Pacific context. Culturally the Kakala is designed and constructed for a purpose and with the person who will wear it in mind. The significance and essence in the structure of making the Kakala (lei, kahoa, ‘ula, ei) an enduring cultural practice and symbols of adornment, status, rank, and power are all woven together. The Kakala framework developed by Professor Konai Helu Thaman is of Tongan origin however, the principles of designing and crafting the Kakala (lei, kahoa, ‘ula, ei.) carry very similar values across the Pacific world.

The Talanoa approach is adopted for this reason, inherent in our Pacific practice of communicating, caring, giving, and sharing our lived experiences. “Tala” means to talk, and “noa” is to talk openly, with nothingness, and no agenda, to engender trust, and to talk with an open mind. Talanoa as a research approach is developed by Timote Vaioleti. Talanoa is synonymous with all Pacific cultures and permeates every aspect of village life. The values and principles of the Pacific Innovation Approach respond to the collective Pacific mindset and the individual island states' unique value structures, including reciprocity and giving, identity and belonging, sharing and respect, community & family (collectivism), and context-specific skills & knowledge. It acknowledges the value of co-design as an engagement process through the Pacific cultural lenses.

The framework sets out the process and framework in the spirit of Talanoa and the Kakala frameworks. The Pacific Innovation Approach overlays the co-design framework with Pacific beliefs and world views, protocols and values to support the engagement with Pacific Communities and businesses.

The Pacific Innovation Approach is the engagement framework used to gain deep insights and understanding of the lived experiences of Pacific communities and businesses.

Kakala by Konai Helu Thaman