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

The “Spirit of Enderby,” a 50 passenger cruise ship of Heritage Expeditions, will visit Duff Islands (Taumako) on Nov 1st. They will be greeted by the crew of the TePuke that will sail to Vanuatu as soon as the favorable Te Palapu wind blows. Heritage Expeditions Thanks to Heritage Expeditions, Dr. Salopuka and Heuionalani Wyeth will give presentations aboard and travel with the ship to Sola, Vanualava, where they will coordinate for the Holau Vanuatu voyagers. Heritage Exped

Vaka Taumako Project’s Dr. Simon Salopuka was recently interviewed by The Island Sun newspaper of Solomon Islands. You can read this article online or download the PDF below. Island Sun SalopukaDownload #IslandSun #Salopuka #vakataumakoproject #press #news #SolomonIslands #VTPSI

A few fresh pics of Drs. Salopuka and George presenting at the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, Hawai’i.  Dr. Salopuka’s presentation was “We are the crew of Lata: Moana Is Our Home” Dr Salopuka talks about the jobs that all the crew of Lata do to build and sail. Doc Simon presenting at the conference #Hawaii #Salopuka #WorldConservationCongress #honolulu #MimiGeorge #teube

Come See how Ancient Polynesian Voyaging is still practiced today. Drs. Simon Salopuka and Mimi George of the Vaka Taumako Project of Solomon Islands present from 12 noon to 1PM, Sept 8. Everyone welcome! limited seating, pay parking available on UH campus, sponsored by East-West Center Pacific Islands Development Program & UH Manoa Center for Pacific Island Studies. Contrary to what has been thought for 45 years, there is a little known, unbroken Polynesian way finding trad

Mimi and Meph have just returned from two busy and productive weeks in Solomon Islands. Here are a few highlights:For the last few months there was no communication with anyone at Duff Islands. In the best of times there can be intermittent radio contact between individuals at the Duff Islands and Lata or Honiara. But there has been none for the last several months, which is not unusual. So we all had a lot to talk about and plan. Mimi and Meph attended two Board of Direc

Dr. Simon Salopuka, of Vaka Taumako Project – Solomon Islands, will submit this report to the SI government, offering recovery recommendations in the wake of Cylcone Pam. #Salopuka #Temotu #pam #recovery #Taumako #cyclone #SolomonIslands #VTPSI #DuffIslands #duffis

The Vaka Taumako Project’s Solomon Islands wing is now up and running. We are now officially registered as a charitable organization in the Solomon Islands as the Vaka Taumako Project of Solomon Islands (VTPSI), also known locally as “Valo Group.” Dr. Simon Salopuka – Executive Director of VTP Solomon Islands The direct contact for VTPSI is Dr. Simon “Doc” Salopuka, who can be reached here. Doc Simon will be participating in the Talanoa for Sustainable Sea Transport in Suva,

Aloha Kakou! I am so happy to tell you the good news. At last, the educational vision of the late Chief Kaveia is being fully realized! Taumako has a new generation of leaders in place, and now the small children who prepared coconut husks for sennit and who gathered and crushed seaweed into paint for the 1997 te puke, and the mature adults who made several vaka since then, are all fervently focused on learning to be voyagers. There is no confusion about the value of this anc