Pictures of the Year International

Elder and master navigator Akilino Alvis mentors teenage boys in Echang, a Palauan village community of SW Islanders. Akilino is teaching the finer points as they learn to spin coconut fibers into the rope needed for sailing the traditional outrigger canoe. Fiber arts and basketry are important parts of the Palaun connection to the land. Green: Ezekiel Kintoki Red: Gyro Ramirez Blue: Westin Andrew Additional Metadata in Headline title: Spinning Coconut Fibers and Culture