A scan of academic databases shows research publications covering every topic from impending death in the "Journal of Near-death Studies" to keeping potatoes safe in the "Journal of Potato Storage." The most popular languages for publications are in English, followed by French, German, Spanish and Chinese. While Chinese is the least popular, there are, nevertheless, over 1,400 Chinese language journals. As at March 2021, a search of the University of Waikato's library databases shows more than 72,000 published papers that focus to some degree on the Pacific. However, not one of those papers is published in a dedicated journal by, or among, Pacific peoples in their own languages. The University of Waikato recently launched a new online Pacific academic journal which has been created by Pacific scholars for Pacific scholarship in Pacific languages. It is designed to address the research publication gap and other ethical, equitable and cultural issues associated with medium of expression and stakeholder position and engagement. This digital initiative has been launched as a global pandemic continues to impact connection and relationality. With this in mind, this article first examines the context and issues around language and research in terms of discrimination, ethics and other risks. Next, the article discusses the vulnerability and positionality of Pacific scholars, learners, peoples and communities in relation to the research publications. In the third and final part, the article describes the journal initiative generally and the hopes for it--with a blatant invitation to other scholars to participate.