The Vaka Taumako Project of
the Pacific Traditions Society
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The 10th Anniversary of the Vaka Taumako Project|
Vaka Taumako Project Aloha to all our friends! Ten years ago, almost to the day, the Vaka Taumako Project was born. Some of you were with us at its conception, some attended its birth, and some have held its hands while it took its first halting steps. We are grateful for you all. Much in our individual lives, in the Pacific, and the world has changed since 1996. The Solomon Islands suffered a debilitating civil war that finally required intervention from other Commonwealth nations. Even islands as remote as Taumako were touched by the violence on Guadacanal. Naturally this affected the Valka Taumako Project. What effect the April 2006 disturbances will have remains to be seen. As Bishop Terry's insightful letter (q.v.) shows, many of the problems that caused both the civil war and the recent riots remain unsolved. We are grateful that the situation in Honiara seems to have stabilized, and hope that peace will prevail. The good people of Solomon Islands need the civil order that will allow them to resume the hard work of building a twenty-first century nation. As any student of history can attest, nation creation has never been simple. The Solomon Islands obtained independence in 1978. Twenty-eight years after the American revolution, the United States was for from being a rich or stable polity. Many observers doubted that it would even survive. Like the first United States at America, the Solomon Islands is blessed with some bright and industrious people. One of them is Dr. Simon Salopuka, a Duff islander working in Honiara, and author of the enclosed letter. We consider ourselves fortunate to have him on the VTP committee. Another is Luke Vaikawi, Chief Kaveia's grandson, and a senior officer in the Solomon Islands maritime defense force. Because these men understand how to work in both the modern and traditional cultures, and because they have the respect of nga Taumako, they are invaluable allies. We are grateful that they have chosen to take time and energy from their busy lives to help the Vaka Taumako Project.
If this project, (and, indeed, the nation of Solomon Islands) grows and
prospers, it will be largely because of people like Simon and Luke. We thank
them for their support, and you for yours. We look forward to what the next
ten years will unfold.
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Vaka Taumako Project Honiara, Solomon Islands 24th March 2006. Dear Hawaiian VTP friends and supporters, On behalf of Taumako Community and the Vaka Taumako Project (VTP) I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you individual supporters, business houses, organizations in other countries and Hawaii and Hawaii VTP board of directors for your continuous support to the VTP since its inception in 1996 until this year 2006. I would also like to acknowledge the initator and mentor of the VTP, Principal Investigator Dr. Mimi George and Paramount Chief (PC) of Duff Island Kruso Kaveia and Permanent Secretary of VTP, Meph for your patience and continuous contributions to the VTP. I was appointed by PC K.Kaveia as Honiara based VTP Chairman in July 2005 during a difficult time in the history of the VTP because of political interference and selfish Taumakoan individuals who attempt to ruin and tell lies about the VTP, Dr. Mimi George and PC K.Kaveia to the Taumako community and outsiders in order to gain access and aim of taking over and control of the VTP and its fund because of their selfish motives and personal interest. Despite working on such non condusive atmosphere the current VTP committee members still stand firm, nor departed or demoralized by the evil motives and actions of Noel Hatu and his co-associates. This kind of working atmosphere had tested and strengthened the current VTP team togetherness and solidarity for the goodness of the VTP. I would like to assure Hawaiian VTP supporters that those who had tried to ruin the project would never succeed. I have witness myself that their claims were unsubstantiated and with baseless grounds and such individuals would not be entertained and tolerated by the Taumako community and the current VTP committee. Those individuals who spread lies and false claims against the VTP, PC Kaveia and Dr Mimi George would be taken to the court of law and currently we are filing cases against Honourable Willie Kesi, Noel Hatu and his co-associates and the Temotu Provincial government for interfering with the VTP and they would be restrained from interfering with the project. VTP legal aids have assured that the VTP will be in a good position to win its cases and those individuals who attempt to ruin the project will be possibly prosecuted for stealing from VTP and telling lies about the VTP to outsiders and Temotu Provincial government. Without your continuous support we would not go this far. I would like to once again acknowledge the individual supporters who had donated funds to bring PC Kaveia and team from Duff Islands to Honiara and Lata last year and this year to work in opening of cases against those who had stolen money from the VTP and telling lies about the project and defamation of Dr.Mimi George and PC Kaveias' status and character to the public. Money donated to support PC Kaveia and the VTP committee's work was safely received. The court hearing is proposed to be held in Duff Island where a lot of witnesses will be present and much less expensive. I would like to assure donors to the VTP that money donated was received and was used for its intended purpose. Refer to receipts and summary break down from Dr. Mimi for evidence and proof. I am honoured to announce to the people of Hawaii that Noel Hatu is neither a true paramount chief nor a leader in Duff Island Community. The election of Noel Hatu and his so called house of chief were illegal and traditionally unprocedural and will be challenged in court. I would like to warn you that letters that had been received from Noel and his house of chief of claims against the VTP, Dr. Mimi and PC Kaveia were not true and must be ignored instantly and never reply to them. In my view and personal assessment of the situation in Duff Islands only a few community members were being demoralized and were convinced by the lies of Honourable William Kesi and Noel Hatu and co-associates and the majority of Taumako Community totally support the VTP. I am looking forward for your continuing support of the Vaka Taumako Project.
Yours truly, |
MIKE GRACE and Pono inspect the new hale for the tealolili. |
In Germany, donations for the VTP are tax deductible if you donate to the Verein zur Frderung kultureller Traditionen (a non-profit organisation) under the key word "Vaka Taumako Project". For address and bank account information see www.traditionen.org
Contact Dr. Mimi George, Principal Investigator
H. M. Wyeth, Permanent Secretary
Larry Williamson, President, The Pacific Traditions Society To get onto our mailing list and/or to send in a contribution, please mail your name, address, e-mail address, and phone / fax to Mimi George at the address above. | ||||||
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