[  Back to Table of Contents  ]

Original Voyaging Canoes
and Models for Sale

Canoe Models   Perhaps the most intriguing items in our catalogue are these voyaging canoe models. Taumako's most knowledgeable canoe builders made these to keep their skills alive during the decades after the last Te Puke went out of service. For many years these exquisitely made little canoes, some of which include such details as tiny sa puke bailers, were the only evidence of Taumako's long and proud voyaging history. More than just works of art or even pedagogical devices, they embody the makers hopes for the revival of voyaging.     Perfect in every detail, these authentic, carved wood models come complete with lauahala woven sail and miniature foe paddle. Vaka Taumako Project         PO Box 712         Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704 USA         Phone and Fax: 001 808 936 8462         Email:  george.mimi@gmail.com Models of a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe (tepuke) from Taumako (Duff Islands/Santa Cruz Group/Solomon Islands) for sale: # 1: Model, 2.00 m in length, made from real tepuke-woods, with a mat sail of proper dimension, steering paddle, rig, deck house, coconut fiber lashing, bailer, all complete.             US $ 2,500 # 2: Model, 1.50 m in length, complete in all details.             US $ 2,000 # 3: Model, 1.00 m in length, but not made from real tepuke-woods (made from soft woods), complete in all details.             US $ 1,500 # 4: 2 models, approx. 0.6 m in length, made from soft woods, complete in all details.             US $ 500 each Prices do not include shipping costs from Honiara (Solomon Islands) or Hawaii, USA to arrival port. Mimi George Ph.D. Principal Investigator

Original Voyaging Canoes Type: te alo; 7 m (23 ft) = 10,000 US$ Type: te puke; 12 m (39 ft) = 30,000 US$ Each complete with a woven sail made from pandanus leaves. Shipping costs from Honiara to the arrival port are not included (freighter from Honiara depart continuously.) Sailing the voyaging canoe from Taumako to Honiara = 3,000 US$.  One-half of the payment is required in advance for food and salary for the workers. Note: It requires the labor of the whole community on Taumako to build one voyaging canoe per year.