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What does Meliu mean?

Meliu is a Palauan word meaning 'to draw a card'. In Palauan, the act of drawing a card isn't just about chance. It carries intention, pause, and readiness. You don't control what card you receive, but you choose to stay in the game, to look at what is placed in your hands, and decide what to do next.

That meaning sits at the heart of Meliu.

We chose the Moon card from Hanafuda as it is a fond childhood past time for us and the logo represents our name and philosophy. The moon appears in cycles. It does not rush fullness, and it does not disappear when it wanes. It reflects light even in darkness. In many traditions especially in Palauan culture, the moon is a guide when the path is unclear. In recovery and harm reduction, this matters. Healing is not linear. Change happens in phases.

Survival itself is often the win.

To draw a card is to acknowledge where you are without judgment. Harm reduction meets people in the moment they are living in, not the moment others wish they were in. Recovery, like drawing a card, asks only that you show up and stay present. You don't need to play perfectly. You only need to keep choosing.

Meliu exists for those moments. Through peer consultation, peer-led groups, cultural diversity trainings, and intentional merch, Meliu creates space to pause, reflect, and continue. We honor lived experience, cultural memory, and the quiet resilience it takes to remain at the table.

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