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 Tahiti, we were about the same location ... 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 decided to take him on the last leg, it i... Read the rest
Into Southern Waters / 16 November 2011
As the sun slowly rises out of the eastern horizon, Sunny Walker steward of cultural protocol aboard sailing canoe Faafaite, welcomes us into the calm waters of the equatorial belt. Offerings of chants, songs, tapa, and ti leaf lei's are ceremoniously given as we bid farewell to the Hawaiian gods of the nor... Read the rest
Out the Backside / 06 November 2011
We crossed over the backside of the doldrums after enduring a day and a half of squally weather, the crew of 11 Tahitians and 3 Hawaiians welcomed the change into the blue skies of the doldrums we leave behind us. We are now surrounded by a typical trade wind cloud pattern in a wind field that is struggling to ... Read the rest
Faafaite follows Ke Ala i Kakihi / 01 November 2011
October 29,2011 Up at 4:00 in the morning we go up the mountains to see the sunrise and we all chant and clap to E ALA E, Arising of the Sun. We are at Moaulanui the highest point (1422ft) on the island. A gift exchange, Ho’okupu, takes place with the crew members of Faafaite and Kahoolawe Protection Oh... Read the rest
