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

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

by Meph Wyeth Mimi and Meph spent most of November in Solomons and, in Meph’s case, northern Vanuatu. They hoped to participate in Holau Vanuatu, a voyage from Taumako to Vanua Lava in the Banks Islands. Traditionally vaka would sail this route during November. riding the Patapu (northerly) wind, and waiting out the cyclone season before returning home in May or June. Originally planned for 2015, the voyage was scuttled by Cyclone Pam, which tore through Temotu Province and V

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

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

Aloha Tatou, The Vaka Taumako Project of Solomon Islands is preparing for a voyage from Taumako to Vanuatu in November, 2016. The aim of this voyage is to reunite the families who have been separated for over 70 years by a closed border. There are family members on both sides who have not seen each other all this time, and they plan to do it before they die. When this border re-opens for local residents then there will be a revival of regional community and people from both

After more than 70 years of separation and loss of communications between members of a family born and raised on Taumako, a small reunion has occurred. Longtime VTP partner Commander Luke Vaikawi was in TORBA Province of north Vanuatu as an international monitor for their recent elections. There Luke found his great uncle Mr. Jimmy Jones, and Jimmy’s wife Mrs. Violate Jones. Left to right: Jimmy Jones, Luke Vaikawi, Violate Jones This was the first contact between family mem