The modern story of these Pacific Voyagers unfolds from the shoulders of Dieter Paulmann, the founder of Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea, who wished to bring awareness to the growing imbalance of our Ocean’s Ecosystems.  Dieter found the Ancient Polynesian’s Vaka boats could hold open a portal where thousands, maybe millions of people can connect.   “Vaka of Hope” is the name of the film Dieter is producing to document the voyage – The Vaka can be a sustainable way of life.

Another branch of Dieter’s vision is the ambitious Vaka Motu grassroots project affording remote islander communities the skills and plans to build their own seafaring boats in order to foster personal and communal empowerment, cultural respect and economic upsurge.    By building and sailing a modern version of the ancient canoes, people can renew their commitment to Oceans which sustained their ancestors and whose preservation will be the greatest legacy left to their descendents.  As the matriarch of my family, I have placed my children within this powerful circle of renewal.

Six of these Vakas, courageously crossed the Pacific ocean manned with crews from Aotearoa (New Zealand), Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Hawaii (USA), and Vanuatu.  The purpose can be found on the backs of each sailor…“Te Mana o Te Moana” meaning “Spirit of the Sea.” Explained further on the  website, “Voyaging on our Vaka, we are continuing to revive our ancient Polynesian cultural traditions while exercising respectful stewardship of our ocean.”

At each landfall of the journey, locals have received the crew members with festive ceremonies.   In Malibu, representatives of the Chumash opened the ceremony with song, chants, gifts and blessings.   Crowds gathered near the two Chumash plank canoes (Tomols) as one man in furs and feathers draped each rower in plumes of burning sage and chants of purification.  Before the voyagers even touch land,  five Chumash, including the maker of one of the Tomols rowed out to greet the Vaka voyagers.

Once all the crew members had landed and greeted each other with hugs and a Maori Hongi (where foreheads and minds touch)  a circle of people organically formed where a more formal ceremony of welcoming and honoring began.  Chumash spokespersons invoked the spirits of many animals that hold a sacred place in their lives: dolphins, hummingbirds, whales and more.   One elder emotionally compared her feelings of sighting the Vakas on the horizon as to how her heart feels when she sights her brother whales.  I teared up many times with raw emotion to be a witness & participant in the completion of such a circle.

Next, a Moari spokesperson from the voyage stepped forth and called upon recently passed elders whose spirits now live in the Ocean.  And how the Vakas had not just brought them thousands of miles to this shore, but connected us all to the past of our ancestors and future generations.  After introducing the captains of each Vaka and their crew, the Pacific Voyagers shared a powerful Maori dance/chant to honor members of the Chumash tribes and other SoCal residents, like my daughters and myself who will further the intent with more connection.

We had to go before the ceremony was over.  And with a sleeping four year old on my shoulder, I stooped down to thank one of the New Zealand Vaka crew sitting in the sand.  With another wave of tears in my eyes I said, “Thank you for what you have done for my family.”

The words seem simple now, but in that moment he and I were connected in mutual gratitude for something that was far greater than each of us individually.  We all have the power to connect to others and in unison – Heal Our Oceans, and in turn – Heal Our World.