In 2005, ninety-six year old Paramount Chief Koloso Kaveia announced his plan to sail (holau) to Vanuatu on a TePuke. He had taught his students how to make short voyages. Now he wanted them to know what they would find if they went further. Kaveia’s family objected to the idea for a couple years, because of his age. In 2007 Kaveia told them “I am the son of Lata” (the Taumako culture hero who was the first voyager) and “I will die on this voyage.” Then his family accepted hi

The Vaka Taumako Project (VTP) of the Pacific Traditions Society, under Direction of cultural anthropologist and sailor Marianne “Mimi” George, had a research permit in the Solomon Islands for 20 years. During that time the George, and the VTP, worked in support of the aims­ of Te Aliki Koroso Kaveia—the main aim being to teach a new generation to build and navigate voyaging canoes using only ancient designs, methods, materials, and tools. Kaveia died in 2009, and his student

We’re in this month’s Hana Hou Magazine! A BIG MAHALO to Derek Farrer, author of the “Lata’s Children” article on page 100 of the June-July issue of Hana Hou, Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight magazine, and new-found friend of Taumako voyaging crews who are descended from the first Polynesian voyager, Lata. We have been receiving many good comments from people who have read Derek’s work. We think it is the best article about VTP written by anyone who has not actually been to Taumak

Chief Kaveia’s Guidance by Mimi George For 16 years Chief Koloso Kaveia of Taumako (Duffs Group of SE Solomon Islands), strived to train a new generation to build canoes and make voyages using only ancient designs, methods, and materials. For several years he had in mind that he and his students would make a voyage from Taumako to Vanualava Island in the northernmost province of Vanuatu. The distance of that route is only about 300 miles. But making a north/south voyage in th

In answer to recent requests, here is a scan of the 1999 Sailing New Zealand article “The Return of Lata: An Authentic Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Sails Again,” by Dr. Mimi George with Paramount Chief Koloso K. Kaveia of Taumako. The second half of the article is a brief statement of the 30 Steps to Build a Te Puke. You can view and download a PDF of the article below. Return of LataDownload #returnoflata #archives #VakaTaumako #sailing #article #magazine #MimiGeorge #Kaveia #

#penchansky #Voyaging #holau #Kaveia #trailer #Polynesian #video #vimeo #film #bbc

Chief Kaveia with carving of his ancestor Lata Our aloha and condolences go out to family and friends of Paramount Chief Koloso Kaveia, founder of the Vaka Taumako Project, who recently passed away at his home. During his long and remarkable life, he touched many people in many parts of the world. In Solomon Islands, Germany, New Zealand, Hawai`i, England, Vanuatu, California, Fiji, and Japan live those who cherish his memory.  As befits someone with a wide network of acquain

II. NAVIGATION USING SWELLS AND WAVES – “HOKOHUA LOA AND HOKOHUA KIKO” Data was elaborated that added to and built upon previously conveyed data (during 27 inter-island voyages in the Santa Cruz Group and between Taumako and New Zealand in small sailboats during 1993 – 2005). The new data includes various drawings and discussions of how one senses the phenomena and how widespread it is, and in three demonstrations at sea (outside the fringing reef) within 5 n.m. of Taumako du

In August, 1998, the Te Puke named Vaka Taumako made its first voyage. For the first time in over forty years, a Polynesian voyaging canoe, a vaka, was built using completely traditional methods and materials. For the first time since 1963 a Te Puke voyaged on a traditional route. The people who built and sailed the Vaka Taumako sum up the experience saying “Lata, the first person to build and sail a Te Puke, came back at last.” This is their affirmation that they are still t