Well...

What does Meliu mean?

The name Meliu comes from a Palauan word meaning 'to draw a card'. The act of drawing a card isn't just about chance, it carries intention, pause, and readiness. You cannot control what is placed in your hands, but you can decide how to respond. This mirrors the core principles of harm reduction and recovery: meeting people where they are, honoring survival, and understanding that healing is cyclical rather than linear.

That meaning sits at the heart of Meliu.

Meliu’s visual identity reflects this philosophy. The moon symbolizes cycles, reflection, and guidance through darkness. The coconut tree represents resilience, sustenance, and adaptability, rooted deeply while bending with the wind. The ocean holds movement, memory, and connection, reminding us that change is constant and that our communities have always known how to navigate uncertainty.

This meaning reflects Pacific Island navigation and wayfinding traditions. Our ancestors did not rely on fixed routes or rigid maps. They read the stars, the wind, the ocean swells, and the changing currents, adjusting their course while remaining rooted in knowledge and relationship. Navigation required attentiveness, adaptability, and trust in collective wisdom rather than control.

Meliu carries this understanding into harm reduction and recovery work. There is no single path and no linear timeline for healing. People begin from different shores and move through different conditions. Progress often looks like staying alive, staying connected, and continuing to navigate even when the destination is unclear.

Whatever card you draw today, you are still here. And that matters.