Carved pearl medals and arapitia trophies

Vaka Eiva winners will walk away with beautifully engraved mother of pearl medals and trophies carved from arapitia or albesia – the same wood that traditional canoes are carved from.

The carvers and artists at the Island Craft workshop in Tutakimoa have nearly completed the order of 800 pearl shell medals and 43 engraved wooden trophies.

Both the medals and trophies feature traditional motifs inspired by Cook Islands tattoo designs.

The ngaru or wave, which represents strength, is the most prominent design on the wooden trophies along with the tikitiki tangata motif to representing unity.

Island Craft designer Tungane Manuel had a hand in designing the motifs for the trophies and when Vaka Eiva starts – he will be in the number one seat for the Ngakau Toa open men’s team having stepped up from the junior ranks to race as a senior paddler this year.

Other stunning carvings including paddle trophies will be available for sale at the Island Craft stall at the Vaka Village throughout the Vaka Eiva festival.