Ancestral Voyaging School Alliance

Pacific Traditions Society (PTS) is a small non-profit organization with educational purpose, based in the USA. The project began in 1988, when PTS was registered as a 501c3 in the USA.  In 1993 a Master Navigator of Taumako, Te Aliki Koloso Kaveia asked for support from Kaua`i-based anthropologist and sailor, Dr. Mimi George. PTS answered Kaveiaʻs and other requests by local experts who wanted to educate youth in ancestral voyaging knowledge and culture .

In 1993 Te Aliki Kaveia had a fully formed and detailed project plan. This became the Vaka Taumako Project (HVTA) administered by PTS in the Solomon Islands. In 2017 PTS no longer did research in Solomon Islands. Since 2022 PTS has been a Consultant of the Holau Vaka Taumako Association, a registered charitable organisation based at Taumako. In 2024 PTS won a grant from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung Foundation and began administering that in support of both the HVTA  of Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, and the Pasana Group, of Basilaki Island, Papua New Guinea.  

PTS seeks support for 55 other communities with ancestral voyaging experts who aim to start their own revivals of voyaging education and projects that teach ancestral voyaging knowledge to youth, and that want to collaborate with outsiders who want to apply ancient knowledge to solving current problems.  PTS and AVSA is growing a global network of voyaging schools and communities that needs financial and volunteer support.