The Current Use of (Kava) in Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia.

In Pohnpei Island, (kava) is a symbol of the traditional culture. Although the use of was once limited to people of high rank and used only during ceremonial occasions, it is now consumed in bars and sold in bottles around the island. Recently, negative medical and environmental effects correlated with the increase sale of have attracted scholarly attention. However, the current use of is not fully understood. This study aims to describe the current use of and consider by whom, on what occasions, and for what purpose is consumed, and whether it continues to play a traditional role. Fieldwork was conducted from July to September 2019 in Kolonia (where people of Pohnpeian ethnicity live) and Mand (where non-Pohnpeians live). The latter was included to investigate whether was consumed by people of ethnic groups that have never used it traditionally. Data were collected via interviews using a questionnaire, direct observation, and casual conversations. A total of 89 people (41 in Kolonia; 48 in Mand) participated in the study. Most (71% of those in Kolonia and 58% of those in Mand) reported they drank at some point in their lives. Although the frequency of consumption was significantly lower in Mand (), it was consumed regardless of their original culture. Commonly reported reasons for drinking included treating anxiety and socializing. The use of in Pohnpeian society continues in traditional contexts, such as feasts, marriage proposals, and forgiveness. Additionally, increased consumption has been profitable for people engaged in businesses related to .