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# Voyaging Canoes Dock In Solomon Islands For Pacific Arts Festival Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
hardnosethehighway 00:08 UTC 03 Jul 2012 | Lucky are the people in Honiara now! Voyaging Canoes Dock In Solomon Islands For Pacific Arts Festival Fleet lands in Honiara to take part in celebrations HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, July 2, 2012) – The fleet of seven traditional Polynesian ocean going canoes have arrived in Honiara over the weekend to join the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) in the Solomon Islands. The canoes arrived yesterday morning to a rousing welcome at the Yacht Club beach front. The Tahiti cultural groups, Toelegu panpipers and another local cultural group performed at the beach front to welcome and crew from the vakas. The cultural performance was a hit at the seafront yesterday which caught the attention of many locals. Members of the public and other festival committee delegation were at hand to welcome the sailors who have traveled for many weeks and months around through the ocean just to reach the country in time for the festival opening today. FOPA chairlady Doreen Kuper welcomed the crews and sailors to the Solomon Islands in preparation for the festival. The sailors thanked God for guidance during the journey. They said they are excited to be part of the celebration and just can’t wait for it to kick off today. The vakas were part of the festival celebrations in Pago Pago, American Samoa four years in 2008. Te Vaka o Te Moana is project founded by Dieter Paulmann, a German philanthropist and founder of the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea. He realized that these canoes using traditional navigation techniques would be an ideal way to spread a message of sustainability and respect for the ocean; to move your paddle silently through the water. From one man’s inspiration, the fleet of seven vakas, or ocean going canoes, have been sailing across the Pacific. These boats are powered by the wind and sun. Each has eight solar panels that charge batteries used to power electric motors if needed for safe entry into harbors. On the high seas they rely on sails. Beginning in 2010 the fleet has travelled the Pacific Ocean from New Zealand, where the vakas were built, to the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawaii, across to the California coast of the USA, down the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica, to the Galapagos Islands, back to Tahiti, Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji and Vanuatu. The vaka are crewed by indigenous people of many Pacific nations, sailing as one, reconnecting with cultural heritage and raising awareness about contemporary threats to the ocean. The fleet has been navigating without instruments across the vast Pacific Ocean using traditional methods of observation of the stars, sun, moon, wildlife and ocean swells. This art is being revived, with voyaging canoes and Pacific voyagers serving as powerful messengers to raise awareness of our imperiled oceans. The last of the seven vaka launched is named Hine Moana, the Guardian Lady of the Sea. Her dignity was given to her by the elder John Haunui, who blessed her in April 2010. It was the last vaka he launched before he passed away at the end of last year. She has her beauty from the design, drawn by well-known artist Ti, from the Cook Islands. The design is all-embracing and reflects many of the countries around the Pacific. All this is encompassed in her soul: she will welcome people from the whole Pacific and will carry a pan-Pacific crew on her voyage to Hawaii. On board the Hine Moana is Cliff Rufi, the sole representative from the Solomon Islands. His home is the island Tikopia, Solomon Islands. Cliff is one of 120 voyagers who have joined the seven voyaging canoes Cliff says the ocean is home to the creatures in the sea and therefore we have to protect it. "The islanders in general are dependent on the sea, they collect their food from the ocean," Rufi says. He believes if we do the right things to protect the ocean ourselves, on the vaka, other people will watch us during the voyage and change their own behavior. "This way we can teach other people. If we are successful there will be change. In addition the 30 year old has his personal dream: I want to become a traditional navigator, going back home and teach my own people." |
lagoon 04:16 UTC 03 Jul 2012 | Thankyou for this news report, hard-nose. The fleet of vaka are an awesome sight for sure. Considering how many months the vessels and many of the crew have been at sea all who participate are very keen to explore other areas of the Pacific they haven't yet been to. I'm sure the 2012 Arts Festival will be an outstanding success! Go well all vaka voyageurs and supporters. | 1
ozziegiraffe 15:01 UTC 03 Jul 2012 | One of my friends in Honiara is posting photos on Facebook, but so far none of the canoes. Thanks for the post. | 2