Te Mana o Te Moana - Fakarava, Tuamotu May 2011

Te Mana o Te Moana

We were very fortunate to be on the Tuamotu atoll of Fakarava (May 17-23, 2011) when the voyaging canoes of "Te Mana o Te Moana" were first united as a fleet of seven. One canoe, Faafaite, came from Tahiti, another, Marumaru Atua, from the Cook Islands, and gathered here at Fakarava with five more canoes that sailed from New Zealand. The seven canoes with 120 crew members represent 14 Pacific island nations.

From Fakarava the seven wa'a,  waka, va'a, vaka, or Polynesian voyaging canoes, are sailing as a fleet to Hawai‘i via Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, and eventually four canoes will sail to California, Central America, Galapagos, Marquesas, Tahiti and back to New Zealand.

The wa'a are now in Hilo, Hawai'i having safely arrived yesterday, June 16, 2011.

This project is generously funded by Dieter Paulmann, of the "Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea" to bring awareness to the state of the ocean and sea animals. His foundation is filming the voyage and will produce a documentary.

So sorry that I have not posted these photos earlier - many technical and "Internet logistic" problems.... 

Mahalo nui for taking the time to visit our little blog and to understand these incredible voyaging canoes.

We wish the wa'a very safe continuing passages and good winds!

Mālama pono, a hui hou!

 ~ Victoria and Nāwa‘a 

Te Mana o Te Moana 

Seven Polynesian Wa‘a Departure 

From Fakarava to Nuku Hiva, Marquesas

May 21, 2011