Unfavourable winds have delayed the much-anticipated departure of Vaka Marumaru Atua to Hawaii.

Marumaru Atua will attend the 13^th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) to be held in Honolulu from June 6–16. The vaka was scheduled to depart today.

According to traditional navigator Peia Patai, captain of the vaka for this voyage, the departure will occur with the next favourable winds forecast for late Tuesday or Wednesday morning next week.

Yesterday, Te Ui Ariki and Tauranga Vananga Ministry of Cultural Development hosted the crew to a Ve’eve’e (farewell) traditional blessing and ceremony at Tuituikamoana (Avarua Wharf).

Anautoa Rangatira, Tuaine Unuia led the Ui Ariki and dignitaries’ procession from the Ngarurutu Palace to Tuituikamoana.

House of Ariki president Kaumaiti Nui, Tou Travel Ariki was the keynote speaker, followed by Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas.

“Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania” serves as the theme for FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, honouring the traditions that FestPAC exists to perpetuate, with an eye toward the future.