18. August, 2011

Talofa lava,

Last evening was the first time since we left San Francisco that we've seen the stars and what a sight it is. We sighted Te ma tau a maui, Le manu ( Cassiopeia), the Big dipper and now Orion it being almost 5 in the morning.

The smell of the oil rig is still strong. The unpleasantness of it is getting to the crew, some of them are feeling dizzy and nauseous. It's amazing that right off the Californian coast you have these structures at the same time that the coastal area is renowned for its large marine mammals, which come through here feeding off the rich plankton. To have structures that cause such high pollution to the environment in this area - or any area for that matter - is mind boggling.

The names given to a couple of the oil rigs we passed were “Harmony” and “Heritage” - who named these things????

It's Thursday afternoon and great news: the sun's out!!! And it actually came out during the morning!!! How beautiful is that? It's heatwave of 20 degrees in the sun... and in the shade it's back down just a couple of notches.

So we have the whole va'a sunning and drying out their wet clothes. It looks like a traveling flea market. The boys are wearing their lavalavas once again. And even better: Lole already has lunch prepped!

We are still circa 55 nautical miles away from our point of destination - Paradise Cove, Malibu. We hope to arrive tomorrow Friday 19 2011.

Just received a couple of messages from our aiga in San Francisco sending their alofa - o lafo atu faafetai ole au va'a mo le taupuaiga o le folauga.

We'd like to send our alofa to our sisters and brothers on Uto ni Yalo, it's a relief to hear that no one was hurt during the mast incident. Our prayers are with you and trust repairs can be made in due time so we're able to continue and close this part of our story, our voyage.

To our people at home: We're all smiling and healthy.

Soifua, FB
Gaualofa

Leaving Monterey

Talofa Samoa,

It's been sometime since our latest update. Events on this side of the Pacific Ocean occur very fast. There’s constant motion and the urgency of preparing events on this side requires everyone and their energy to make them happen.

We'd like to apologise for the lateness in this getting you and for any future tardiness in the blogs.

Today has been a VERY eventful day. Since we've left Monterey bay we've been under our traditional rig otherwise also known as the Crab Claw rig. The weather has been overcast with fog, not much of a sun nor a star to be seen and it's also been quite cold out here.

What has kept us warm and in high spirits was the fact the crew constantly tells jokes, Lole’s cook-ups and the horde of chocolates that we enjoy on board. Well, and really, the majority of us feel that after San Francisco and Monterey we've made a positive impact on those areas.

People are now awake, more aware and actually interested in what we represent, not just the environmental message that we come with but also the cultural aspect.

...

We passed by 5 seen oil rigs today. The smell and the feeling going by them was a surreal. It being the first time the majority of the Gaualofa crew has seen such a structure their reaction was that it didn't look right.

We thought at first it was a ship of some sorts. Nick checked it out and came back and said it was an oil rig. After passing down-wind of these structures we were hit with such an overwhelming smell that we could barely concentrate on the current maneuver: a blend of oil and sewage, nice eh?

…

The night became even more eventful: Due to a sudden increase of winds form 13 knots to 25 knots we had to change our rig about 3 hours out from Santa Barbara light point. I have to say, we took our sweet time in changing the rig. Nick called all hands on deck to switch the rig. We did, and set a record: with 2 hours and 45 minutes the longest rig switch ever!!!

I put it down to the constant repartee being banded about while setting the rig up in winds of 25 knots and a new method of setting the sails up on the Bermuda booms before attaching them to the masts. Oh! and the factor that the topping lift line went flying out of someone's hand and came off the pulley… Faapau had to climb up the main mast and feed the topping lift thru again. All of this with 2 meter swells and winds of 25 knots.

After that bit of eventful time we had stir fry beef and veg for dinner. As I'm typing this up in the fale I can smell the oil that's coming off from one or possible all the oil rigs on our windward side close to land and it's about 2 miles north of our va'a. Its pungent smell brings nausea to the crew on watch.

…

The crew sends their alofa'aga and faafetai to all who have supported us on this long 5 month voyage. This voyage is just the start of many more to come. And judging by the smell right now, many more are needed.

Soifua,FB
Gaualofa.

Reflections form the Crew - Faapau

Talofa lava Samoa o a'u o Faapau Feliuai.

O le'a fai atu sau tala e uiga I le folauga mai NZ sei paia San Francisco .

Amata mai NZ ile malulu ae faaiu foi ile malulu,
Samoa e le faigofie folauga a tuaa i aso anamua.

O le taimi lenei ua mafana le mafutaga a tagata ole pasefika e afua mai i nei folauga.
E faaali ai tu ma aga faa-Samoa.

O lenei aso, o lo’o faatafafao tagata I luga o le vaa ma faamatala iai tu ma aga faa-Samoa.
Ia alofa le Atua vaelua tutusa so tatou manuia ma nofo tapuai mai pea ao alofaiva au tama fanau ile manava ole moana.
SOIFUA.

Faapau Faliuai

Gaualofa Crew Update - a message from the SVS President

Gaualofa’s crew has undergone some changes of late, possibly causing some confusion amongst onlookers and regular supporters. Our First Captain, Marc Gondard, who has ably steered Gaualofa from her construction through to recruiting and training our crew, made the difficult decision in Hawaii to take some time off the va’a and address some pressing land-based issues. He continues to be passionately involved in the Samoa Voyaging Society and our activities and we hope he will make the decision to return to Gaualofa in the not-too-distant future.

Marc was replaced by Jef Iken of Aotearoa for the 3-week journey from Kauai to San Francisco. We are grateful to Jef for stepping in at this time and are certain that he has enjoyed his stint as Captain of our beautiful va’a. Gaualofa is currently hosting Nick R.Henry as Captain. Nick is crew for Marumaru Atua, the Cook Islands va’a. He will be with Gaualofa until San Diego (early September), when all the va’a take a break for the Northern Hemisphere winter period. Crews will reform in January 2011 in readiness for their voyage through South America and back down to the South Pacific.

The Gaualofa crew is due to return to Samoa during the first week of September for their “winter” break.

Soifua.

Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale

President, SVS

18th August 2011

Talofa Samoa and Friends everywhere,

Today has been a very eventful day. Since we left Monterey Bay we've been under our traditional rig, otherwise also known as the crab claw rig. The weather has been overcast, with fog and not much sun nor stars. It’s also been quite cold. What has kept us warm and in high spirits has been the constant jokes told by each crew, Lole’s cook-ups and the horde of chocolates that we have onboard in abundance.

We feel that in San Francisco and Monterrey we’ve had a positive impact. People are now more aware and interested in what we represent – not just our environmental message, but the cultural one as well.

We passed by 5 oil rigs today. The smell and the feeling going by them was a bit surreal - it being the first time the majority of the Gaualofa crew have seen such a structure. It didn't look right. We thought at first it was a ship of some sort. Nick checked it out and came back and said it was an oil rig. After passing downwind of one of these structures we were hit with such an overwhelming smell that we could barely concentrate on the current manoeuvre: it had a blend of oil and sewage in it, nice eh?

We had to change our rig about 3 hours out from Santa Barbara light point, due to a sudden increase of winds from 13 knots to 25 knots. I have to say, we took our sweet time in changing the rig. Nick called all hands on deck to switch the rig, to which we did and set a record for the longest rig switch ever: 2 hours and 45 mins! I put it down to the constant repartee being bandied about while setting the rig up in winds of 25 knots and a new method of setting the sails up on the Bermuda booms before attaching them to the masts...oh and the fact that the topping lift line went flying out of someone's hand and came off the pulley. Faapau had to climb up the main mast and feed the topping lift thru again. All with 2 metre swells and winds of 25 knots.

After that eventful time we had stir-fried beef and veges for dinner.

As I'm typing this up in the fale I can smell the oil that's coming from one or possibly all the oil rigs on our windward side close to land, about 2 miles north of our va'a. It's a pungent smell and is nauseous to the crew on watch.

The crew sends their alofa'aga and faafetai to all

Soifua,

FB

Gaualofa.

Our Sponsorship Flyer

The Aiga Folau o Samoa (Samoa Voyaging Society) is a not-for-profit organization based in Samoa. We are voyaging on ‘Gaualofa’ to:

- encourage responsible stewardship of our oceans and of our earth

- encourage the development and education of traditional Polynesian navigation and sailing techniques

- educate people about Polynesian culture (with emphasis on our connection to the sea)

- raise awareness of the importance and health of our oceans

We have had great support from the Okeanos foundation, but require your support to continue developing the programmes that the Aiga Folau o Samoa is so passionate about.

Your support will be used to:

- further the education and training of our crew (maritime, cultural, and environmental)

- further our environmental outreach in Samoa and abroad

- further our cultural education and outreach

- ensure proper maintenance of the va’a (canoe)

- finalize the purchase of ‘Gaualofa’ by the Aiga Folau o Samoa

Sponsorship Levels:

Diamond USD 6,500.00

Gold USD 4,500.00

Silver USD 2,500.00

Bronze USD 450.00

Train our crew:

Coastal Skipper USD 525.00

Boatmaster USD 255.00

Day Skipper USD 130.00

Any support you can offer is appreciated.

Fa’afetai tele lava

Track our voyage

www.pacificvoyagers.org

www.samoavoyagingsociety.blogspot.com

Contact us

∙ for questions regarding sponsorship

samoavoyagingsociety@gmail.com

∙ to contact members of the crew

gaualofa@pacificvoyagers.org

Our bank details:

Bank Name and address: ANZ Bank, P.O. Box L1855, Apia, Samoa;

Tel +685 69999; Fax +685 69972

Account Name: SAMOA VOYAGING SOCIETY INC

Account N°: 0003803142

13th August 2011

Position: Del Monte Beach, Monterey Bay; California

Talofa lava Samoa o au o Faapau Feliuai o lea fai atu sau tala e uiga I le folauga mai NZ sei paia San Francisco .Amata mai NZ ile malulu ae faaiu foi ile malulu Samoa ele faigofie folauga a tuaa iaso anamua o le taimi lenei mafana le mafutaga a tagata ole pasefika e ala I folauga.E faaali ait u ma aga faa-Samoa.O lo’o faatafafao tagata I luga le vaa ma faamatala iai tu ma aga faa-Samoa .Ia alofa le Atua vaelua tutusa so tatou manuia ma nofo tapuai mai pea ao alofaiva au tama fanau ile manava ole moana

SOIFUA.
Faapau Faliuai

Reflections from the Crew - Taleni

Date: 10th August 2011
Position: Treasure Island, San Francisco

Talofa Samoa,

E muaumua ona viia le alofa o le Atua ma lona agalelei na mafai ai e matou ona tulaueleele i laufanua o San Francisco nei. Faafetai i lana puipuiga ma lana leoleoga i ai matou a'o matou folau mai ai i luga o le vasa. E lagona lava le faagaeetia o le loto ma le mimita o le agaga, ona o se taimi muamua lenei ua mafai e au ona tu laueleele i San Francisco i totonu o le malo tele o Amerika nei. E momoli le faafetai i tama ma tina, o uso, ma tuafafine olo'o alala ma papa'a'ao i San Francisco nei, i le tausiga o i matou i mea taumafa, o lavalava ma isi lava mea e le mafai ona laulau ina atu. Ae pau lava lona lave o S.F. o le malulu. Ae sa mafanafana lava aua sa matotou moemoe i le Hotel, Mariott. O lo'o sologa lelei lava mea uma na matou sauni nei e folau atu i Monterrey.

Soifua,
Taleni Aiolupotea

Gaualofa

9th August 2011

Position: Treasure Island, San Francisco

Talofa,

It's been a hectic schedule since we arrived one week ago, with daily sails in giving back to our wonderful and gracious hosts but also in spreading the interest and message of why the Te Mana o Te Moana fleet is in San Francisco. Today, the fleet will sail to Pier 29 and beach in small protected area right next to the Maritime Museum. This is to give those who haven't yet had a chance to look and tour the va'a while we’re still in San Francisco and give the voyagers a treat of seeing the Fisherman's Wharf and the Maritime museum. Last evening the crew of Gaualofa and Marumaru Atua were guests in the home of Sose Papali'i and her family for a BBQ dinner - it was a great turn out. Dinner was a sumptuous event. The festivities happened out on the veranda with everyone taking a turn on the ukulele jamming and singing away. The drive back to our quarters was also an event: we had Heaven, Jasmine and Andrew (our hosts) drive us back to Treasure Island and Emeryville, where a few were staying at the hotel from Pacifica (quite a drive), faafetai tele lava.

Kalolo and a few others from the fleet have been invited to participate in a tour to the Marine Mammal Sanctuary, a place where marine life are able to rehabilitate peacefully before being returned to the wild. Later they will do a few footage shots with Mike and the crew in the city, showing how the voyagers are managing the modern big city.

Stay tune for more...
Soifua,

FB
Gaualofa

8th August 2011

Position: San Francisco

Talofa lava,

It's another day of seeing San Francisco through its renowned fog; it's a sight to behold- early morn you can't see the fleet beached on the protected small cove nor our support vessel Evohe which is anchored in the small cove as well.

As the sun comes out casting its warm rays on the black sand beach the fog slowly dissipates revealing the fleet of six traditional voyaging canoes, giving it a surreal look, with the skyline of San Francisco in the background and the fleet in the fore. Quite a contrast!

Today we're taking out a group of local children and our local Samoan community that have participated in hosting the fleet. As we are welcomed in each port, each va'a gifts the hosts with a day sail - giving them just a tip of the iceberg of what it feels like being amongst voyagers out in the elements.

While on land we're still running watches. This time a little longer than usual and in smaller watch groups. Although we're beached and it's the safest for the va'a, the height of tide around this area is drastic at times so we have to make sure the va'a is still on the beach or not completely beached (just the bow on the beach and not the whole va'a).

We're looking forward to taking out our Samoan community as the majority of them weren't able to make it to the Open Vaka Day on Saturday (http://www.pacificvoyagers.org/voyage/blogs/open-vaka-day.html) and to give them another opportunity to be on board the va’a tele Gaualofa.

Everyone on the crew sends their regards to family, friends and Samoa.

We're being well looked after by:
Tuatagaloa Ropeti Malepea, Nuititi Ace Tago, Paleega Sulu, Rev Moegagogo Tamasese and his EFKS parish, Fa'atasi, PICP SF Samoa,Samoan Solutions, SF Samoan Golf Consortium, Pacific Islanders Club (CCSF, SFSU), National Samoan Chief's Council, Samoan Community Development Center and Sose Papali'i.

There are not enough words to express our heartfelt gratitude in experiencing your hospitality. Faafetai faafetai tele lava.

FB
Gaualofa

Reflections from the Crew - Faapau

Date: 7th August 2011

Position: Treasure Island, San Francisco

Talofa Samoa faamalo i le taupuaiga, famalo foi I le Aiga Folau le Tapuai. O le 'a tamua i le polokalame o se tala fiafia mai I le folaugaa o lea e manuia lava le au va’a. O se tala fiafia ia te au I atunu’u na matou o mai o Talaga uma o folauga I aso anamua sa amata mai lava I le tatou atunuu. Pau lava le tatalo a le auva’a o lau tapuaiga ao alo faiva au tama fanau . O te le masalosalo foi aua o le Atua e muamua o ia foi e mulimuli ia tei tatou uma. Molimoli atu alofaga o le auvaa I le tapuaiga a le afioga i le Ao o le Malo, o le faatama o le Sosaiete o le Aiga Folau o Samoa, male atunuu atoa e pele I le loto.

Soifua,
Faapau Faleiai.

Reflections from the Crew - Fialelei

Date: 4^th August 2011

Position: Treasure Island, San Francisco, USA

Before I go further, I just want to let you know about my topic which is new things in my life.

New things in my life are different by the time on land. I would never have known I’d spend my time to crossing Pacific Ocean and meet different people from different motu’s. Now I’m happy to spend my time to do any exercise on the ocean like sailing, fishing, and more.

The special thing I’ve learned is how to use important things around us like the sun, the moon, stars for sailing between the Islands.

Leaving from Honolulu to San Francisco, everything is good. The captain and the crew are all well because God protects us.

On the way to San Francisco Gaualofa adopted a new crew member from the ocean, a seal, and it was an amazing thing because it jumped on board and sailed with us for twenty hours and then later the next day she went back to her family.

We thank God for sharing and protecting Gaualofa and her crew. We arrived in good and high spirits to San Francisco. Soifua.

Fialelei Afoa.