Faafaite / Tahiti
10 Miles Outside Papeete Harbor / 17 November 2011
A squall came through as Sunny Walker was performing our awa ceremony and stole the wind and we are now bobbing our way towards Papeete harbor with a collapsing geneker. After the sunset the crew gathered in a circle and I told them a story. In 1980 on my first voyage to Tahit... Read the rest
Mataiva / 17 November 2011
Our canoe is about to reach the shores of Tahiti, Faafaite and her 15 crew members are supposed to arrive Thursday afternoon. 15 crew, one more, are now onboard, a young boy from Mataiva has joined the team. After expressing a genuine interest in va'a horomoana Teva decide... Read the rest
Dieter says a word at Faafaite departure
Emotional moment as John Kruse speaks
Rereao explains meaning of unu
Unu is presented to John Kruse
John Kruse and unu
Faafaite says her goodbyes
Waving goodbye to other crews
Goodbyes from crowd on the beach
Faafaite crew wave goodbye
Hine Moana crew wave to Faafaite
Faafaite heads out of Hanalei Bay
Crowd gathered for rest of fleet departure (two days after Faafaite)
Gaualofa perform last haka
Vakas head off
Vakas head towards open ocean
Hine Moana raises her sails
Uto Ni Yalo and Marumaru Atua on the horizon
Hine Moana under sail
Matani (of Faafaite) steers Hine Moana out of Hanalei Bay
Gaualofa heads north in the setting sun-light
Featured Crew member: Eliane Garganta
Eliane’s roots are in the Caribbean where her African, Spanish, English, and Native American ancestors met. Today, home is her adopted island of Tahiti. Eliane is an Environnemental Engineer working on natural resources management and endangered species for the French Polynesian government. “I love navigating, having done it for many years. I would like to contribute to the creation of a school for traditional navigation in French Polynesia. A school destined for the youth of Polynesia such... Meet the other Crew Members
