Te Laa o Lata VTP’s Mimi George just had an article published in the Journal of the Polynesian Society, about measuring performance of an ancient Polynesian Sail – Te Laa o Lata. Read Mimi’s article here. Voyaging canoes were the vehicles of ancient Pacific exploration, settlement and interactions. However, we know little about the ocean-going performance of those vessels. This account of Taumako (Duff Islands) voyaging technology draws on 20 years of collaborative research i

by Mimi George Part One: Malama Honua, Gershon II and Rapanui I am a cultural anthropologist and sailor, focused on voyaging traditions. I study how ancient knowledge can help us today. I just crewed on the escort boat to the voyaging canoe (wa’a) Hokule’a during the penultimate leg of her Malama Honua (Care for the Planet) World-Wide Voyage. For the last three years the iconic Hawaiian double-hulled canoe has sailed round the world to “weave a lei” of “stories of hope,” as s

Dr Mimi George of the Vaka Taumako Project will give the keynote presentation “Lata’s Wayfinding System and Climate Science” followed by Q&A October 18 at 7:30PM in Room 1030 of the Humanities Gateway at UC Irvine. Then, at 8:30PM in the at McCormack Film Screening Room, join us for We, the Voyagers: Matou Nga Mokupuna o Lata, a sneak preview of the first of Vaka Taumako Project’s documentary series, followed by Q&A. Join us October 18 – 19 at UC Irvine. More information, inc

Aims: Voyagers of Taumako, SE Solomon Islands will sail their ancient vessel to North Vanuatu because they want to: re-connect long separated families and communities re-open the ancient sea-roads of Austronesian and Polynesian voyagers renew trade and cultural sharing demonstrate ancient navigation methods and sustainable environmental practices document the voyage, and publish in print, web, and video dvd products. Dates: Starting November 1st the crew will stand by for the

We’re in Pacific Paddler Magazine this month.  Mahalo! #paddler #canoe #Vaka #solomon #tepuke #Taumako #pacific #Polynesian #SolomonIslands

We’re raising funds to help Taumako videographer Dixon Wia, who’s busy documenting the Polynesian voyaging traditions of his ancestors, in hopes of keeping them alive for new generations.   Dixon needs training and equipment to tell the story of his ancestors and keep ancient voyaging traditions from being lost.   Check us out our Kickstarter here. we’ve got are lots of great incentive gifts for backers, and you’ll be helping Dixon and the Taumako community keep the cameras r

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

LUOVA, TEMOTU PROVINCE: For the first time in over thirty years, a Taumako voyaging canoe arrived at Santa Cruz Island’s northwestern tip on Sunday, June 4. Captain Ambrose Miki and his gallant crew, James Mapua, Jonathan Mengo, Willie Lohia, and Harry Vanosi, sailed the tepuke from their home in the Duff Islands to demonstrate their Vaka Valo organization’s achievements and to celebrate Temotu Province’s Second Appointed Day on June 8. Tepuke under sail near Tinakula Island

Holau Vanuatu – VTP’s voyage to Vanuatu – was in the news this week in The Island Sun newspaper in the Solomon Islands. island sun – october 2016 #IslandSun #vakacausey #Lata #vanualava #Temotu #Vaka #press #holauvanuatu #SolomonIslands #VTPSI

In this video, students at the Lata Voyaging School lash the riser box onto a traditional Te Puke voyaging canoe using coconut fiber cordage. Lata Voyaging School includes 54 men, 35 women, over 70 children, including 33 full time students. The students are young people who have no employment options and who are learning good work habits and practical skills. They labored 14,208 hours to complete this Te Puke, which will be named Vaka Causey at the launching, in honor of on

Simon just sent us these photos of the hard working crew of Taumako artisans building a new Te Puke at Taumako. In March and April many Taumako young people, supervised by experienced elders, worked with adzes to roughcut the main hull. As construction continued, you can see the riser box parts and crossbeams being fitted and prepared for lashing. An average of 30 students have been working every day.  According to tradition they are fed every day they work. The new Te Puke w

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

A Preliminary Report by Dr. Marianne “Mimi” George Prepared for the National Science Foundation 2009 In the eight sections of this report are some detailed outlines of the data with some illustrations and photos provided in sections I, III, and VI. More general descriptions of data are provided for sections II, IV, V, VII, and VIII. In conclusion section IX offers observations as to how the data might prove or disprove our four hypotheses. General Hypotheses: Taumako navigat

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