Participatory methods are a common approach for ‘giving voice’ to local communities in hazard and disaster research. Drawing on a study that trialled and modified a range of methods used in North Sulawesi, Eastern Indonesia, this paper argues that participatory methods can be used to document the ‘capacity’ of small island communities and to strengthen their response to hazards. The capacity of communities was assessed from a sustainable livelihoods perspective that identified the ‘assets’ that enabled villagers to cope with hazards. This overall approach enabled communities to speak of their capacities rather than their vulnerabilities, and promoted a discourse of strengths and resourcefulness rather than weakness and victimhood. This research is significant for funding agencies and policy makers working with communities in hazard prone regions.