A multidisciplinary work (botany, genetics, culture, agriculture, economics, pharmacology, chemistry and geography especially) about the kava, plant of the Pacific, in all its aspects in 361 pages, 77 maps and figures, 415 color photos, with more than 500 references and decades of field experience.

Kava is a major cultural trait Pacific Islander insofar as it differs from the rest of the world. It exists nowhere else. It is a common denominator between Melanesians, Polynesians and Micronesians who grow, process and drink it according to their cultural preferences. This iconic plant of a large geographical area is also the expression of diverse local identities. Kava is a gateway of choice to tackle the complexity of large islands in the ocean, it is also at the heart of the development of its societies. Presenting its role in the history of the Pacific Islands as well as the role it plays in the modern world, it is no exaggeration to say it represents the people who cherish it as the great civilization of kava.