The Vaka Taumako Project of
the Pacific Traditions Society
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Presentation: Matangi o Lata – Lata's Wind
On Saturday 1 March, Mimi and Meph did a presentation for the Kaua`i
Museum's `Ohana Day. The event's working title was Matangi o Lata –
Lata's Wind.
It is one of a series illustrating the four elements, earth, air, water,
and fire. Although air and water will dominate, earth and fire also was
represented.
Mimi presented her latest findings about Nohoanga te Matangi, the
navigational system used by Chief Kaveia. Meph talked about various
manifestations of Lata, including dance and weather modification.
To illustrate the kind of equilibrium Lata embodies, there was a
hands-on finale in which everyone had the opportunity to join in
making a traditional rope from `ilihau.
Stephanie Guyer-Stevens of the Outer Voices Project came to Kaua`i to record
part of the program she is assembling from interviews with Polynesian
navigators from Temotu. (Long-time fans of VTP may recall that Stephanie and
her assistant Carlos Tejada visited Taumako and the Reef Islands in 2005--check
out the August 2005 newsletter on this site to see photos of their journey-- to
record these interviews.) She planned to tape voice-overs of the Temotu people,
and thought that Native Hawaiian accents and intonations would fit well with
those of their southwestern cousins.
After the KCC presentation on 3 March, therefore, Mimi, Meph, Larry, and a crew
of honorary Taumako, Puanani Rogers, Nelson Ka`ai, Carol Lovell, Hualani Duncan,
and Hale Mawae, assembled at KVIN televison studio on Kawaihau Rd. in Kapa`a.
On hand also were Tim Delavega and several members of the studio staff, who
interviewed Mimi for a broadcast of "Vaka Taumako, the First Voyage" on KVIN TV.
It was a long afternoon, but all went well. Stephanie was delighted with the
actors and the facilities. She hopes to have the broadcast finished by late
April or early May. It is possible that there will be a premier of the program
in California sometime in June. We shall post information on this as soon as we
have it.
You can also check Stephanie's website:
www.outervoices.org for more
information. (Check out other programs in the Outer Voices series on this site
too. You may be especially interested in "The Hula Lesson", a program featuring
Roselle Bailey and her students.)
Mahalo nui to Nani, Nelson, Hua, Carol, Hale, Tim, and the KVIN crew for their
help with this endeavor. We look forward to hearing the finished program.
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