The 2009 Miss South Pacific Festival is set to kick off this hour and, a contestant is dedicating her whole performance to the memory of her family members that lost their lives in the tragic Tsunami last month.

Miss Samoa, Hope Tusisaleia reveals that the theme of the weeklong Festival - Climate Change and the Pacific, is indeed timely as Pacific Islanders need to realize that climate change affects everyone.

The 22 year old Army Medical technician said that the events of the fateful Tsunami, drives home the need to be aware of climate change.