Faʻafaite Explained

Faʻafaite is a reconstruction of a double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe. It was built in 2009 by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea.^[1] It is operated by the Fa’afaite-Tahiti Voyaging Society and used to teach used to teach polynesian navigation.^[2]

Construction

Faʻafaite is one of eight vaka moana built for the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea and gifted to Pacific voyaging societies. The vaka hulls are constructed of fiberglass, The wood beams are connected to the hulls with traditional lashings. The two masts are rigged with crab claw sails, with bermuda rigged sails for safety during long voyages. It is fitted with a 1 kW photovoltaic array powering a 4 kW electric motor. It was constructed at Salthouse Boatbuilders in Auckland, New Zealand.

Voyages

• In October 2010 Faʻafaite sailed to Huahine.^[3]
• In 2011 it visited San Diego as part of a fleet of six traditional canoes which voyaged across the Pacific to the USA.^[4]
• In 2011 - 2012 it was part of the Te Mana o Te Moana (Spirit of the Ocean) fleet of six vaka which visited 15 Pacific nations to spread knowledge of voyaging culture and advocate for ocean conservation.^[5]
• In March and April 2017 Faʻafaite voyaged to the Austral Islands to support the Rāhui nui no Tuha'a Pae marine reserve project.^{[6] [7]} The expedition discovered significant coral bleaching in Rurutu.^[8]
• In June 2017 it sailed to hawaii to rendezvous with Hōkūleʻa.^[9]
• In August 2019 it sailed from Tahiti to New Zealand as part of the Tuia 250 to mark first contact between Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand in 1769.^{[10] [11]} It arrived in Tauranga on 14 September 2019, after a journey of one month.^[12]
• In June 2021 it sailed to Raiatea.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Te hekenga o ngā waka: Tuia 250 Voyage . Ministry of Culture and Heritage . 1 February 2023.
2. Web site: Faʻafaite . Land of Voyagers . 1 February 2023.
3. Web site: Faafaite, la double pirogue à la rencontre des habitants de Huahine. . Tahiti Infos . fr . 17 October 2010 . 1 February 2023.
4. Web site: PACIFIC VOYAGERS MAKE THEIR WAY TO SAN DIEGO . Pacific Islands Report . 2 September 2011 . 1 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001130316/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2011/09/02/pacific-voyagers-make-their-way-san-diego . 1 October 2021.
5. Web site: Arrivée de la flottille Pacific Voyager à Tautira . Tahiti Infos . fr . 23 April 2012 . 1 February 2023.
6. Web site: Fa’afaite soutient le projet de grande réserve marine aux Australes . Tahiti Infos . fr . 13 March 2017 . 1 February 2023.
7. Web site: Fa'afaite reprend la mer avec Rāhui nui . Tahiti Infos . fr . 15 March 2017 . 1 February 2023.
8. Web site: L’expédition de la pirogue Fa’afaite a révélé un important blanchissement corallien à Rurutu . Tahiti Infos . fr . 12 April 2017 . 1 February 2023.
9. Web site: Aloha, Fa‘afaite! Voyaging canoe from Tahiti arrives in Hilo before rendezvous with Hokule‘a . Hawaii Tribune-Herald . 7 June 2017 . 1 February 2023.
10. Web site: Fa'afaite keep ocean voyaging traditions alive . Te Ao Māori News . 22 September 2019 . 1 February 2023.
11. Web site: Vaka crew traces Polynesian links in Tahiti-NZ voyage . RNZ . 20 August 2019 . 1 February 2023.
12. Web site: Canoe sails from Tahiti to Tauranga guided by stars . RNZ . 14 September 2019 . 1 February 2023.
13. Web site: Fa'afaite, l'héritage en partage . Tahiti Infos . fr . 10 June 2021 . 1 February 2023.