The 2025 Yap Day Festival Another Resounding Success

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The 2025 Yap Day Festival Another Resounding Success

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Press Release

The recently concluded Yap Day Festival, one of the largest and most significant cultural events in Micronesia, has been declared another resounding success. 

The traditional canoe that was rebuilt for Yap Day 2025
Factfile

ABOUT YAP: Yap is an island in the Federated States of Micronesia, in the Pacific Ocean that is ringed by spectacular coral reefs and famous for its scuba diving with giant manta rays, sharks and mandarin fish. Other key activities on the island include kayaking, hiking, deep-sea fishing and exploring the many World War II historical sites. Yap is also uniquely famous for its stone money (huge disks of stone, which are still used today in major transactions), strong traditional culture and way of life, and welcoming residents. Just a short flight away from Guam or Palau, this Pacific gem is one of the tourism industry’s best kept secrets. For more information on visiting Yap go to www.visityap.com.

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The vibrant culture and heritage of Yap were showcased during the celebrations, which took place in the villages of Rull and Weloy from February 26 to March 3, 2025.

The festivities featured interactive cultural displays, including demonstrations of traditional crafts such as weaving, as well as the Yapese traditional presentation of shell and stone money. Visitors also enjoyed several traditional Yapese dances, which symbolized the island’s rich history. Women's groups from both the main and outer islands collaborated to host a "Taste of Yap" booth, offering culinary experiences that highlighted the island’s connection to the land and sea.

One of the standout moments of this year’s festival was the successful rebuilding and maiden sailing of a traditional Yapese canoe — the same type used in ancient journeys to transport stone money from Palau to Yap. The canoe was sailed from its home in Maap to Weloy and then to the capital, Colonia, giving visitors a chance to witness Yap’s traditional maritime practices firsthand.

The event concluded with the passing of the Yap Day torch to the Tomil Municipality, which will host the 2026 festivities. To view photos and highlights from the 2025 Yap Day activities, visit the Yap Visitors Bureau’s  Facebook and Instagram pages.

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