Kristina Hay, Keeping Waifuna’s Flame Alive for the Seas of Raja Ampat
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Waifuna, Raja Ampat
Kristina Hay carries on the sasi tradition in Kapatcol, helping to preserve the waters of Raja Ampat
Biography
In Kapatcol Village, West Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua, the sasi tradition is more than an ancestral rule. Sasi is the community’s way of protecting the sea so it can continue providing life for future generations. Within this heritage, Kristina Hay is part of the younger generation carrying forward the legacy of the Waifuna Women’s Group, a women-led collective that, since 2010, has shown that women can also lead marine sasi management.
Kristina grew up witnessing how the late Betsina Hay, alongside Almina Kacili, fought for women’s rights to manage sasi areas. Their struggle not only shifted community perceptions but also produced a marine management system that benefits the entire village. Proceeds from sasi openings help support education, healthcare, and various social needs in Kapatcol.
Now, as part of Waifuna’s leadership, Kristina shoulders the responsibility of sustaining the organization while preparing the next generation to continue this spirit of conservation.
Beyond her management role, Kristina actively participates in sasi openings and practices free diving to harvest according to the rules. For her, sasi teaches patience, discipline in following regulations, gratitude for nature’s gifts, and the responsibility to take only what is necessary so the ocean’s wealth can endure for future generations.
“I am proud to continue what the mothers of Waifuna have started. This sea is our heritage. If we protect it today, our children and grandchildren will still be able to enjoy its bounty,” Kristina said.
Kristina’s passion reflects that Waifuna is not just about the past, but about the future. With guidance from the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation and partners who combine traditional wisdom with scientific approaches in managing sasi, the younger generation is equipped to protect the ocean sustainably.
On the shoulders of Kristina and other young people in Kapatcol, the wind of change, first stirred by Betsina Hay and Almina Kacili, continues to blow, ensuring the sasi tradition remains alive and the marine riches of Raja Ampat endure for generations to come.