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ix Acknowledgments My heartfelt gratitude goes to the people of the Trobriand Islands, whose contribution to this research is beyond measure. I hold deep appreciation and respect for all the men, women, and young people who were willing to sit down with me and talk openly about their culture and their lives in a spirit of trust and collective concern. Agutoki saina kwaiveka. Sincere appreciation is extended to the Trobriand Paramount Chief, Guyau Pulayasi Daniel, for his endorsement of the project. I am indebted to my research collaborators, Diana Siyotama Lepani, Florence Mokolava, and Ethel Jacob, for their commitment to the project, their invaluable advice and untiring support, and their lasting friendship. Our teamwork was strengthened by the memory of Asi Toyola, whose dedicated career as a nurse touched the lives of many people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). I also acknowledge Lisepa Tony and Nelson Toposona for helping to facilitate discussions, and the women’s fellowship groups, church deacons, and ward councillors who received me with the greatest hospitality when I visited their villages. The residents of Orabesi village and the women of OKO Women’s Fellowship always made me feel right at home, and I greatly value their kindness and generosity. I wish to acknowledge the government authorities in the Trobriands for their logistical help and support, including Thomas Pilai, district administrator; Haydon Abraham, area manager; and Sergeant George Bayagau, Royal PNG Police Constabulary. I am appreciative of the help provided by Tirah Elliot, district health manager, and the staff of Losuia District Health Center, who graciously accommodated my frequent visits and requests for information. The principal and staff at Kiriwina High School were also very helpful, and I appreciate their support and interest in the project. I am particularly indebted to the kindness of Sarah and Rodney Clark and the staff at Konki, who provided ongoing practical support for my communication and transportation requirements as well as many friendly conversations. I also thank the late Sir Dennis Young and the staff at Digogwa and Kiriwina Lodge for providing practical assistance and transportation, often on short notice. It has been a privilege to be associated with the many dedicated individuals and organizations involved in the national response to HIV in Papua New Guinea, and I appreciate the support and encouragement of them all. I hold immense respect for the late Carol Jenkins, whose extensive knowledge of PNG and HIV provided critical vision from the beginning of the national response and whose indomitable spirit will always be a source of inspiration. I also pay tribute to the late Sue Crockett, who will be remembered by many friends and colleagues for her vital contribution in paving the foundation for the national response. Sincere x ISLANDS OF LOVE, ISLANDS OF RISK thanks are extended to the founding director of the National AIDS Council Secretariat , Dr. Clement Malau, and subsequent directors, secretariat staff, and team members of the National HIV/AIDS Support Project. I am grateful to the PNG National AIDS Council Research Advisory Committee for a grant to support my fieldwork in 2003. At the provincial level, I wish to acknowledge the members of the Milne Bay Provincial Government Research Committee; Dr. Festus Pawa, provincial health manager; Dr. Noel Yaubihi, chair of the Milne Bay Provincial AIDS Committee; Stephen Nesai, manager of the Provincial Management Information System; Lois Elaine Bate, statistician; and Lester Bisibisera, provincial disease control officer. Special thanks to my wonderful group of women friends in Port Moresby, who manage to hold things together with remarkable resilience, dignity, and finesse. In particular, I am grateful to Lady Roslyn Morauta for her ongoing support and friendship throughout this long process, and I wish to acknowledge her important leadership in PNG’s national response to HIV. I appreciate the institutional support of the Australian National University (ANU) and feel fortunate to have my academic home in such an excellent collegial environment. I am thankful for the ANU International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and financial assistance for fieldwork from the former Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. I thank my program advisers, Christine Helliwell and Mark Mosko, and ANU colleagues, past and present, for their critical intellectual support and friendship, in particular Sue Andrews, Greg Dvorak, Richard Eves, Vicki Luker, Doreen Montag, Christine Phillips, Elizabeth Reid, Bill Standish, Frances Steel, Christine Stewart, Jack Taylor, and Katerina Teaiwa. I am especially grateful to John Ballard for his resolute encouragement at every stage and his meticulous reading of my work. I also wish to...

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