Monthly Archives: November 2011

Nov 20 2011

Samoa’s Vaka, the Gaualofa, Now Resting in San Diego

Our very own Brynne Eaton Auva’a – who, when working with Polynesian Xplorer,  sang the national anthem at the opening of the Judo World Cup in 2010, has just completed an extraordinary journey on board the Gaualofa. Brynne was a member of one of seven Pacific Island crews that sailed a fleet of traditional Polynesian “vaka” – voyaging canoes (equipped with solar powered motors) – across thousands of miles of open ocean. In seven replicas of the ancient sailing vakas, each carrying a crew of 14 to 16 people from more than a dozen island nations (including Fiji, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Hawaii and Tonga), this young set of navigators set off from New Zealand in April and arrived in California in early August.

Brynne and her fellow wayfinders mapped their way across the vast Pacific  in the wake of their ancestors, using the stars, sun, wind, and wildlife as their guides. These young wayfinders are not only reclaiming their heritage as the finest of sailors, but are also becoming the finest of stewards. Drawing on the lessons of their past to propel us all forward, these navigators are charting a bold new course, steering us all toward a sustainable future on earth.

An article published in the Pasadena Star News last week summarized Brynne’s experience here:

For 26-year-old Brynne Eaton-Auva’a of Samoa, one of the crew members of the vaka Gaualofa, the journey has allowed her to learn more about the Polynesian side of her family. She was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, to her Canadian mother and Samoan father.

“It’s been a great huge lesson for me,” Eaton-Auva’a said of the trip called “Te Mana O Te Moana,” or “The Spirit of the Sea.”

“We sail without any fossil fuels. We sail mimicking how our ancestors would have,” she said.

And while the canoes do have propellers, the devices only are meant to help the vessels maneuver harbor waters, she said.

The canoes also are equipped with satellite phones and “all the necessary safety equipment as any modern-sailing vessel would have,” Eaton-Auva’a said.

But the goal “is to try to navigate as much as we can celestially,” she explained, using knowledge of the stars, swells and winds for guidance.

“It’s nice when you’re out there. It distances you from the distractions of the land,” Eaton-Auva’a said

More information is available from the Pacific Voyagers site here. You’ll be able to get a deeper insight into the trials, tribulations and triumphs of this great voyage when the movie,  Our Blue Canoe, is released later in 2013. In the meanwhile here’s a teaser.

Nov 19 2011

New Novel Provides Fresh Insights into Samoa’s Rich Culture

Our recent blog posts might suggest that Samoa is all about sport so it’s time to redress the balance. The very name of our country Sa-Moa means “Sacred Earth,” and suggests that our culture digs deep into our hearts and bonds us with our sacred earthly home. This concept is expressed in a modern way for young readers  by the Samoan writer Lani Wendt Young who hosted the official launch of her first novel: Telesa; The Covenant Keeper and her story has been summarised thus:

 Nestled in the heart of the Pacific is Samoa – a lush tropical paradise. We walk to a different drum beat. Here, ancient mythology tells of Telesa. Demon women who are guardians of earth and gifted with the elemental powers of Air, Water and Fire.Telesa are vengeful and cruel.Tales to frighten children.Or are they more than that? From Washington D.C, comes Leila, in search of family, a place to belong. Instead she finds her destiny and it threatens to tear her apart. There is the bewitching call of a telesa sisterhood and there is Daniel. Will Leila embrace her birthright or will she choose the one who offers her his love with a crooked smile and dancing green eyes? Will Daniel be the element that gentles the fire of the Telesa? Or must love burn at the altar of the telesa covenant? There are many different kinds of love. All of them require sacrifice. Who will give everything for the one they love?

The novel is both contemporary and ancient – linking today’s environmental concerns with timeless Samoan traditions of stewardship and respect for Nature’s forces. Lani wrote the book to both encourage the youth of Samoa to enjoy the pleasures of reading, and reconnect with their rich cultural heritage. Lani’s speech at the book launch can be sourced on her blog “Sleepless in Samoa” here.

Another key is Nafanua – the estranged mother of the central character of Leila. In traditional Samoan mythology, Nafanua is the Goddess of War and known for her prowess in battle – one of the very few women Chiefs who had united her country. In Lani’s book she is portrayed both as a throughly modern woman who enjoys the trappings of a contemporary lifestyle – her red sports car, blackberry, fine clothes, wine and food  – but who is also a fierce protectoress of all things traditional and very in tune with the land and the elemental spirit world.

Lani asked Vaimasenu’u to speak about Nafanua at the book launch because they share a common love of literature, a passion for their Samoan culture and a desire to see their children come to treasure its richness. Zita couldn’t attend as she was in Lausanne making a pitch to host the World Archery Cup events but overcame all her technophobia to make, record, and upload the following video blog. For those of you who want to understand the values that drive the Polynesian Xplorer team and make our tours so popular with our guests, you’ll really enjoy listening. So pour that coffee,  sit back, press start and be transported to another world. Better still, call +685 26940 and we’ll transport you to another world that offers all the contemporary comforts and attractions but which also provides a doorway to the sacred and elemental!!