Whaka Paikea returns to Aitutaki

The Vaka Paikea and its crew left Avarua Wharf on Tuesday afternoon for an overnight cruise and arrived in Aitutaki yesterday afternoon.

After being in dry dock since November last year, the Paikea has been fully restored and is ready to continue its educational program, playing an important role in preserving maritime heritage.

While the ship was in dry dock, the captain and crew had a busy three months as part of the team that sailed Vaka Marumaru Atua to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the 13th^day Pacific Arts and Culture Festival in June.

Captain Peia Patai, a traditional sailing master, was delighted to see the boat back in the water and sailing again.

“It’s time to get Paikea back to sea so we can continue our plans and get the Star Compass project off Aitutaki,” Patai said.

He said they also needed to complete the Star Compass project, revisit the land where they proposed to build the school and meet with the family to seek their support.

This cruise is also an opportunity for guests to come aboard to experience the joy of sailing and to provide additional training for the crew.

Patai expects westerly winds to be strong all the way to Aitutaki, with winds of around 10 to 15 knots.

Travellers on the overnight boat to Aitutaki included Fenny Smith, Terito Macquarie, Ngatama Tuakanangaro, Steve Daniel, Tapita Patai, Zebediah Ravarua, Stan Wolfgramme of Te Ara Museum and Olly Oodlers.

Tuakanangaro, from Mauke, has been working with the crew on the maintenance of the Paikea in Rarotonga and will also sail to Mangaia.

Macquarie was excited to be back on a waka after nine years. Her last voyage was in 2015, travelling from Rarotonga to Aotearoa New Zealand on the waka ‘Motu Okeanos Rangi’ with skipper Patai.

Te Puna Marama trustee Cecile Marten said they were also delighted to have Air Rarotonga representative Fenny Smith on board.

Marten added that Ewan Smith of Air Rarotonga was a big supporter of young Cook Islanders in Paenua and sponsored Te Puna Marama flights from Paenua for them to join the voyage to Hawaii.

“Thank you Meitaki Ewan and your family for your continued support,” Marten said.

Training traditional mariners and future mariners is at the heart of the Te Puna Marama project.

Te Puna Marama’s Level 2 Teretereanga Vaka programme will start next month, during which the crew will learn more about modern and traditional navigation.

Before the Paikea left Avarua, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking system was installed to provide identification and location information for the vessel.