The Cook Islands Voyaging Society (CIVS) is a non-profit organisation in the Cook Islands dedicated to the promotion of Polynesian navigation, cultural ancestry, and environmental knowledge for future generations.[1] It builds and sails replicas of traditional double-hulled voyaging canoes, undertaking voyages throughout Polynesia using traditional navigation techniques.
The society was established in 1992, and formally incorporated in 1993.[2] It was initially led by former Cook Islands prime Minister Tom Davis. In 1994, Davis led the design and construction of the society's first replica voyaging canoe, Te Au o Tonga.[2] Te Au o Tonga was later used by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea as a model for a group of fiberglass-hulled replicas, including Marumaru Atua.[2] Marumaru Atua was gifted to the society in 2014.[3]
Since 2018, the society has collaborated with NGO Korero te Orau to run a school holiday program on traditional voyaging and vaka knowledge.[4]
In December 2019 the society was featured in an exhibit at the Cook Islands National Museum on the revival of voyaging in the Cook Islands.[5] In 2022 the society celebrated its 30th anniversary.[6]
In September 2022 the society partnered with woodcarver Mike Tavioni for the Te Mana O te Vaka boat building and sailing project, to construct six double-hulled vaka using traditional methods.[7]
The society is funded by the Cook Islands government, international NGOs, and public donations.[1] [8]