Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation’s Vaka Paikea was relaunched into Avatiu Harbour under the watchful eyes of its captain and traditional navigator Peia Patai and crew after nearly nine months on dry dock.

This relaunch marks a new chapter for Vaka Paikea as the traditional vaka will soon set sail on a series of educational and cultural excursions to the southern Pa Enua of Aitutaki followed by Mangaia.

Cecile Marten, Te Puna Marama board of trustee member, said they have a busy few months ahead which will include the Level II Teretereanga Vaka training programme to introduce participants to modern and traditional navigation.

Vaka Paikea was lifted onto dry dock in November last year in preparation for the November to April cyclone season.

Since then, many hands have helped to prepare Paikea for the 2024 sailing season. 

Te Puna Marama crew and Captain Patai have also been keeping busy teaming up with the Cook Islands Voyaging Society Vaka Marumaru Atua captain Deon Wong and crew.

Patai served as captain of Vaka Marumaru Atua to Honolulu, Hawai’i, for the 13^th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture from June 6–16, departing Rarotonga on May 10, 2024, for the 22-day voyage.

He also captained Marumaru Atua’s return journey home, leaving Honolulu on June 15 and arriving in Rarotonga on July 7 after a brief stopover in Mauke.

Vaka Paikea has undergone extensive restoration and maintenance work over the past several months in preparation for more sailing programmes.

The deckhouse has had a fresh coat of paint, the seats have been sanded and stained, the storage container cleaned out, fuel tanks emptied and refilled, and the hulls sanded for the antifoul.

Tuaine Teiti, Olly Oodlers and Zebediah Revake have been working on the beautifully carved star compass on the deck which will be used as learning tool for Cook Islands’ future navigators.

Master seaman Steve Daniels has put up new lines on the railing and lashed the oe.

Next week, Vaka Paikea is scheduled to sail for Aitutaki to start part two of its “Ikairo Tuku Kaveinga Māori” project funded by a New Zealand High Commission grant.

Marten said: “We are grateful for the support from the New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga, Cook Islands and also to the Pawanka Fund for supporting the revitalisation of reo Māori in our teachings.”

Patai, Marten and Te Puna Marama Foundation would like to acknowledge the hardworking crew and support from family, friends and sponsors.