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Español Rapa Nui Outrigger Club and Hokule’a
Mata Hoe Vaka Kahu Kahu O Hera Rapa Nui
Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hokule’a in Long Beach Harbor, escorted by Rapa Nui paddlers. ©1995/RNOC/Photo: Jo Anne Van Tilburg.
Mata Hoe Vaka and Rapa Nui Outrigger Club
During the 1989 field season, anthropologist Dr. Ben Finney visited Rapa Nui. He gave a lecture in the school auditorium about Hokule’a, the great replica Polynesian voyaging canoe. Dr. Jo Anne Van Tilburg agreed with Finney and then-Governor Sergio Rapu that an outrigger canoe club would be a wonderful new challenge for Rapanui young people and a good way to renew cultural links between Rapa Nui and the rest of Polynesia.
Rodrigo Paoa A. of Mata Hoe Vaka welcoming Hokule’a to Long Beach, CA. ©1995/RNOC/Photo: Jo Anne Van Tilburg.
Van Tilburg took the idea to Rodrigo Paoa A., leader of Corporación de Resguardo Cultural Mata Nui A Hotu A Matu’a O Kahu Kahu O Hera, the island’s Masters of Culture Program. La Corporación consists of a vital and active group of Rapa Nui artists, artisans, community leaders, businessmen and teachers. There were, in 1989, 80 members and a seven person board of directors. Rodrigo formed Mata Hoe Vaka Kahu Kahu O Hera Rapa Nui. Niko Haoa and Cristián Arévalo Pakarati were founding members, and Van Tilburg and Finney served as advisors. Our challenge was to return to the US to form, from scratch, the Rapa Nui Outrigger Club (RNOC) as a support group for Mata Hoe Vaka. Our goal: to get an outrigger canoe to Rapa Nui.
The West Coast Voyage of Hokule’a
In 1995, Komike Hokule’a was formed in Long Beach, CA. The goal was to organize a warm welcome for Hokule’a when she arrived in Long Beach on her West Coast Voyage. At the same time, the dream was to foster Polynesian voyaging heritage awareness among school children and the local California community. Headed by Ka’ala Pang, Van Tilburg and Ted Ralston joined the komike. A great welcome at sea for Hokule’a was planned as she entered Long Beach harbor. A fleet of outriggers joined the escort, and members of RNOC, who flew from the island to join in the celebration, paddled one of them. [Read More…]