Gaualofa Explained

Gaualofa is a reconstruction of a va'a-tele ("large canoe"),^[1] a double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe. It was built in 2009 by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea.^[2] It was given to the Samoa Voyaging Society in 2012, on the occasion of Samoa's 50th anniversary of independence.^[3] It is used to teach polynesian navigation.

Construction

Gaualofa 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 2010 it served as an environmental ambassador for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and Coral Reef Initiative for the South Pacific, visiting French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tokelau.^[4]
• In March 2011 it visited New Zealand^[5] before journeying to Hawaii.^[6]
• In 2011 it visited San Diego as part of a fleet of six traditional canoes which voyaged across the Pacific to the USA.^[7]
• In 2011 - 2012 it was part of the Te Mana o Te Moana (Spirit of the Ocean) fleet which visited 15 Pacific nations to spread knowledge of voyaging culture and advocate for ocean conservation.^[2]
• In 2014 it journeyed to Sydney, Australia as part of a fleet to mark the IUCN World Parks Congress.^{[8] [9]}
• In 2017 it visited Samoa's coastal communities as part of a conservation outreach program.^[10]
• In 2018 it journeyed to New Zealand for a festival of Māori and Pacific navigation, during which it sailed around the country.^{[11] [12]} It attended Waitangi Day celebrations in the Bay of Islands, a climate change conference, and the New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington.^{[13] [14]} It returned to Samoa in May.^[15]
• In 2020 it voyaged around Upolu while engaging in environmental education work.^[16]
• In January 2021 it was dry-docked for maintenance.^[17] It was refloated again in August 2021.^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Va'atele Gaualofa . Samoa Voyaging Society . 1 October 2021.
2. Web site: Gaualofa . Okeanos Foundation for the Sea . 2 October 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001124736/https://okeanos-foundation.org/gaualofa// . 1 October 2021.
3. Web site: Voyagers celebrate the gift of the 'Gaualofa' . Samoa Observer . Tina Mata'afa-Tufele . 6 June 2021 . 1 October 2021.
4. Web site: SAMOA VOYAGING SOCIETY TO BE ENVIRONMENT AMBASSADORS . Pacific Islands Report . 24 March 2010 . 1 October 2021.
5. Web site: Samoan ocean going canoe welcomed into Auckland . . 21 March 2011 . 1 October 2021.
6. Web site: Polynesia canoes ready for Auckland to Hawaii voyage . . 14 April 2011 . 1 October 2021.
7. 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.
8. Web site: Voyaging Canoes Depart Samoa For World Park Congress . Pacific Islands Report . 2 October 2014 . 1 October 2021.
9. Web site: Traditional canoes set sail from Fiji to Australia . . 13 October 2014 . 1 October 2021.
10. Web site: Traditional Samoan Voyaging Canoe To Conduct Conservation Outreach . Pacific Islands Report . 17 April 2017 . 1 October 2021.
11. Web site: Aiga Folau o Samoa take the Gaualofa to Aotearoa . Laumata Lauano . Samoa Observer . 5 January 2018 . 1 October 2021.
12. Web site: Samoan canoe crew aims to preserve ancient navigation knowledge . . 5 February 2018 . 1 October 2021.
13. Web site: GAUALOFA & The Waka Odyssey at New Zealand Festival 2018 . The Coconet . 1 October 2021.
14. Web site: Waka culture rides crest of wave . New Zealand Herald . 26 January 2018 . 1 October 2021.
15. Web site: After five months away, Gaualofa returns home . Samoa Observer . 28 May 2018 . 1 October 2021.
16. Web site: Gaualofa returns after seven-week voyage . Hyunsook Siutaia . Samoa Observer . 8 November 2020 . 1 October 2021.
17. Web site: Gaualofa dry-docked for maintenance . Samoa Observer . Tina Mata'afa-Tufele . 15 January 2021 . 1 October 2021.
18. Web site: Gaualofa ready for voyaging . Marietherese Nauer . Samoa Observer . 6 August 2021 . 1 October 2021.