Vaka Taumako Project
Special News Updates 2003        

— Update, Added 05/24/03

Kaveia Plans to Deliver Tealolili

As soon as the tradewinds return, Paramount Chief Kaveia and crew plan to sail the longest of the two tealolili voyaging canoes to it's new home in Outer Reef Islands. The closely related Vaeakau people eagerly await their first new voyaging canoe since the 1960's.

In 2001, P.C. Kaveia decided to build one for them so that they might become reeducated in navigational skills.

In March 2002, several Vaeakau Chiefs joined the Taumako people in several of the steps of building two tealolili canoes, and Paramount Chief Kaveia chose the longest of the two to be the one that would go to Vaeakau. Any day now this canoe, which is as yet unnamed, may sail for Reefs.

At this time we have no funds to support the stay of the crew in Reefs while they instruct the Vaeakau Chiefs in how to sail and care for the canoe, and then the return of Kaveia and his crew to Taumako by motorcanoe and shipfares, and their living expenses while waiting for a ship that can take them back to Taumako. We also hope to communicate directly with Chief Kaveia if and when he passes through Lata.

Tax deductible donations to the Vaka Taumako Project of approximately $2,000.US would go a long way to paying the expenses.

— Update, Added 05/24/03

Cinecentrum Sends Amount Owed to Traditionen

The German film production company Cinecentrum sent $3,400.US to our sister organization Traditionen. There was no communication with Vaka Taumako Project by Cinecentrum, so we do not know specifically what Cinecentrum intended this donation to be used for. This was aproximately the amount Cincentrum owed to the laborers who built the second tealolili ordered by Cinecentrum so that their crew could video the main steps of building a voyaging canoe for airing on TV.

The board of directors of Traditionen decided to accept the funds and immediately send them to the Vaka Taumako Project so that we could, at long last, send them to Paramount Chief Kaveia to pay his workers. It was a year ago, May, 2002, when the construction work was completed.

The Taumako workers were relieved to receive payment. We are very greatful to the dedicated people of Traditionen who made sure the funds came to the Vaka Taumako Project so that we could pay the workers.

— Update, Added 05/24/03

No More Alcohol Sales at Taumako

In early March, 2003, almost one year since Meph and I (Mimi) departed Taumako, Kaveia sent word that there has been no alcohol sold at Taumako since he, several Taumako Chiefs, and various community leaders in Temotu, demanded that the illegal alcohol traffic be stopped.

As a result of their work, a strong warning letter and statement of policy was issued by the Temotu Police Commander in June, 2002. Kaveia then emailed (a new U.N. community email service in Lata!) a copy to us.

It seems that the southeast Asian businessmen owned stores that began selling liquor in villages where such sale was prohibited, and the crooked politicians and sometimes violent businessmen who collaborated in such behavior, have been forced to cease and desist. It is remarkable that Kaveia and his supporters succeeded in stopping such powerful adversaries. The illegal alcohol traffic began in the wake of civil war in the Solomon Islands during 2000 and 2001. It definately took guts for these Taumako Chiefs and citizens to stand up to the rich and powerful outsiders who wanted to keep making money be selling it on Taumako.

— Update, Added 05/24/03

Now Raising Funds to Support Two Traditional Navigation Schools and to Complete the Tealolili on Kaua'i

The Vaka Taumako Project is now fund-raising for support for Traditional Navigation Schools to operate in Taumako and Outer Reef Islands. On Taumako there are 35 students who want to take four navigation classes and one canoe maintenance class. The cost of materials and compensation for the five instructors and principal (Kaveia) and assistant principal for one year of operations on Taumako would be $6,000.US. This may be the last year Kaveia is able to go to sea and to give active leadership of such an ambitious undertaking. The cost of a year of school at Outer Reefs would be $8,000 US. This will be more expensive because they have not had the experience of sailing and building that occurred in Taumako during the last several years.

KKKaveia and three crew are willing and able to come to Kaua'i one more time to complete the tealolili they started in 1999. The current costs of transport and accomodations for such a group have tripled in the last four years. So we need $65,000.US to get them to Kaua'i for 6 weeks. In this time they could complete the canoe and teach us how to sail it interisland. The Taumako crew h as already rough cut the pieces needed to complete the outrigger on Kaua'i. We need approx. $5,000.US to ship the pieces here from Taumako. This, unfortunately, shipping from Taumako is cheaper than trying to find adequate timber in Hawaii or mainland U.S.A. and get it to Kaua'i. In 1999 they already made the hull, sennit, and the lau hala sail and some pieces of the ama (outrigger). These are waiting for the return of Taumako crew to finish carving and to lash together the tealolili. Kaveia also wants to spend time with us in a planetarium identifying navigation stars and looking at how the sky looked thousands of years past.

Any amount in donation to any of these programs is welcome. Please make checks out to the Vaka Taumako Project and send to the VTP Treasurer c/o Mimi George, P.O. Box 712, Captain Cook, HI 96704

Correspondence to the Vaka Taumako Project is welcomed at vaka@aloha.net

If you have any questions or to make a donation please contact H.M. Wyeth at tel. 8220647 and fax 8236741. Donations may be c/o M. George, P.O. Box 712, Captain Cook, HI 76704, for deposit in the Vaka Taumako Project account and to receive a receipt toward tax deduction credit.