Marumaru Atua Day 10

Kia Orana no Akatokamanava,

We rose as one with the sun this morning (Wednesday). I was pretty keen for a light cereal breakfast but as has been the situation most mornings, it was a classic case of frying up the leftovers from last night. No case of starving sailors here. We are simply inundated with food from the kindness of our pa enua anau.

With our number two uniforms on (the green ‘Taua e Moana’ t-shirts) we taxi from the lady Marumaru Atua to land. We are warmly received at Apii Mauke with song, dance and prayer before our cohort get to work in delivering our educational.

One of the best parts of this entire voyage is bringing the vaka to its people, particularly the tamariki. Their excitement when they come aboard is priceless. This is what the children did after we taught them in school.

I had to stay on land this time around, so took the opportunity to visit the dairy for a shot of peanut slab, an injection of ready salted bluebird chips and a swig of sprite. Myself, Deon and Sandy were privy to a tour around the island with Papa Temakave Tua or ‘Mauke MacGyver’. We saw fresh water swimming holes, lots of pigs roaming free and secluded beaches with blinding white sand nestled against jagged coastline.

Of significant importance was our visit to Anaiti. This is the place where Kea, the beautiful wife of tipuna Paikea ‘the whale rider’ sat and waited for his return from the ocean. She waited here to the end of her days where her remains lie buried on the cliff looking out to sea. This was particularly touching for me as I, like many people from the East Coast of NZ, relate to Paikea. We are brought up on the marae singing of his legend.

This (Wednesday) evening we were hosted for yet another kaikai. Somehow it all feels healthy when you’re sipping nu at the same time. And to think I weighed myself before this voyage thinking I would shed a few kgs.

A quick taxi back out to sea with the sun going down. Stepping back aboard the vaka and it feels like home. Some might say it feels like boarding school or one of those capsule room things in Tokyo, given our sleeping arrangements. All in all, it’s nice to be here, lying horizontal, waiting for my next watch from 12-3am. Shoutout to my bunker buddy Ants for encouraging me to write today’s blog post for you all.

With love, from moi. Meitaki ranuinui e kia manea i to kotou po.

- Mahonri