since 1988, Pacific Traditions Society

supports initiatives

by practitioners of ancestral voyaging cultural knowledge

to educate youth in seafaring

and revive ancient voyaging networks.

In March 2023 groups from 4 regions of the Western Pacific and PTS formed the Ancestral Voyaging School Alliance. One of these groups is Holau Vaka Taumako Association (HVTA) of Solomon Islands. The aims of HVTA are stated below:

Train youth to build vaka and navigate
using ancient designs, methods & materials

Honor & protect Taumakan cultural heritage
& intellectual property rights

Accommodate local and international students
at Taumako Traditional Voyaging School

Create more sustainability, resilience,
bio-diversity and food security

Revive use of ancient seaways & establish
peaceful voyaging partnerships and networks

Write, archive, video, and make films about
ancient cultural knowledge of voyagers

Host and participate in cultural exchanges,
presentations, and demonstrations

LEARN MORE

Pacific Traditions Society updates

Pacific Traditions Society (PTS) has posted very few updates on vaka.org since 2020. Many posts are available about the Vaka Taumako Project, the Ancestral Voyaging School Alliance, and other PTS projects and partners on Facebook pages "vakataumakoproject" and "george.mimi.56" These posts include:

* a PTS Strategic Plan for December 2024 - December 2026

* a statement of need for support of training programs of the Taumako Traditional Culture and Voyaging School of Holau Vaka Taumako Association. Delivery of safety equipment and fuel for an escort boat is needed to fulfill government rules for teaching youth at sea on traditional vessels. The HVTA school aims to serve the entire region of S.E. Solomons and Northern Vanuatu (where no passenger transport vessel is based).

* an article "Pacific Traditions Society 45 Years of Ancient Voyaging Culture Education"

* a description of the 2024-2025 Gerda Henkel Stiftung grant for Holau Vaka Taumako Association (HVTA) of Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, and Pasana Group (PG) of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. In the first year each of two voyaging schools built a canoe house / student accommodation. In the second year each built an ancestral vessel, and began training youth to sail and navigate using ancestral methods. HVTA celebrated the opening of it's school in September/October, 2025. PG plans to celebrate the opening of it's school in late 2026. Both schools seek funding to support training at sea.

* a request for support for INOWON of Lau Group, Fiji, and INOWON of Polowat, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, to build a canoe house and an ancestral vessel. This is what is required to revive sustainable schools and rebuild networks of oceanic learning and connection, and welcome both local and international students.