Vaka Marumaru Atua will skip Tahiti and sail directly to Hawaii with a youth crew to attend the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Honolulu in June.

Traditional master navigator Peia Patai, who will serve as captain of the vaka for the voyage, confirmed yesterday that they will now be bypassing Tahiti to get in more crew training which has fallen behind due to unfavourable weather delaying the vaka’s return to the water.

Weather permitting, the vaka is now scheduled to depart Rarotonga on May 3^rd for the 25-27 day voyage to Honolulu.

“We will be mindful of the weather and are leaving around this date to give us plenty of time to arrive in Honolulu before the start of the festival,” said Patai.

Vaka Marumaru Atua will have a crew of 16 onboard – filling all the seats to offer opportunities to the youth in the Pa Enua.

Patai has selected nine of the 16 crew sailing to Hawaii from the Pa Enua who have all successfully completed the Teretereanga Vaka programme which has been running for over a year.

From Hawaii, eight of Te Puna Marama Foundation crew will be flying back home and will be replaced by eight of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society crew who will be flying to Hawaii from Rarotonga, and returning home on the vaka.

Patai earlier told Cook Islands News: “Sailing to Hawaii is not easy, it has always been difficult. This trip needs crew who are right on top of their skills.”

“It’s a long trip and a hard trip and you want people who are capable.”

The crew members will be undertaking sail training this and next week.

From Monday, April 29, the crew will be loading the vaka with groceries and essential equipment for the voyage.

The departure ceremony for Vaka Marumaru Atua is scheduled for Thursday, May 2^nd. Weather permitting, the vaka will set sail for Hawaii directly following the ceremony.

While in Hawaii, Patai will also be attending the Polynesia Voyaging Society meetings.

The vaka will depart Hawaii on June 17 for her voyage back home.

Tahiti’s vaka, Faafaite will also be sailing to Honolulu to attend the festival.