Uto Ni Yalo - Update 6
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Report from Colin Philp & Carson Young - Onboard the Uto Ni Yalo
Auckland, New Zealand.


We awoke Sunday morning to get ready for what was to be a very busy day, and started to prepare the Uto Ni Yalo at 6am by rigging the traditional sails, cleaning the vaka and dressing in our uniforms.

Formalities for the day started with all the crew from the Aotearoa, Cook Islands, Samoa/Vanuatu/Tonga and Fiji Vakas, together with friends and families assembled on a nice grass lawn at Bayswater Marina. Tuinui Iwi elder Hoturoa Kerr opened the event before introducing the speakers from each participating country. We were fortunate to have Manoa Rasigatale speak on Fiji’s behalf.  A representative from the New Zealand’s Green Party and Taholo Kami of ICUN also speak.

Because of the amount of traffic in the Auckland harbor and with just barely enough wind for a decent sail, the organizers decide that the sail past starts from Mission Bay and finishes at the Harbor Bridge – a good 3NM sail. We were looking forward to racing the other canoes but it was decided that the day wouldn’t be competitive – but rather an opportunity to show all the vakas sailing together.

With invited friends and guests, the Uto Ni Yalo graciously sailed along with 28 people onboard, including a pair from Tagata Pacifica and our New Zealand based crew member, Mario Mausio. The four Vakas created a very dramatic interest to what is already a busy Auckland Harbor.

The Vakas beached at Mission Bay to a waiting crowd of about 10,000 people and we weren’t going to miss this opportunity to make our presence felt. To everyone’s delight, a loud cry pierced the warm afternoon air, as the crew performed our ‘bole’ Vutala Na Ua on the front deck of the Uto.

This drew even more people towards our Vaka. Amongst the crowd were at least a dozen Fijian families - now living/working/studying in New Zealand - who together with others, were quick to grab the opportunity to come onboard the Uto Ni Yalo. Jacqui St. Julian, Byrce Irving, Mere Naikatini, Bel Sweetman were some of the familiar faces that greeted us.

Just as we were about to commence our sail back to Bayswater, we were pleasantly surprised when antique fighter planes rip through the skies in what turned out to be a brilliant air show only a 100metres away.

A friendly sail ensued and ended back at the Baywaters Marina . There we were met by a large group of Fijians including Fiji Rugby player Graham Dewes and the extended Smith family. After more meet and greet aboard the four Vakas, the afternoon activities took place with the Fiji contingent taking centre stage in the ceremonial receiving of the Kumete or kava bowl. Gracing the occasion were preeminent guests, sister of the Maori king and official representative (Maori Kingitanga) of the king, Princess Te Ariki Nui the Princess and a Cook Island Princess who were appropriately acknowledged and accorded the highest honor during the kava ceremony.

The event then finished with a decent sit down meal still out on the lawn while the kava flowed freely accompanied by the serenading of the Uto ni Yalo crew. The other voyaging societies soon join the Fiji crew and take turns on the guitars.
Following a long day of sailing and socialising, we simply couldn’t stop there and finished the day with the Uto Ni Yalo crew driving back to Mangere hall for a few more tanoas of kava!

From tomorrow we start getting the Uto Ni Yalo ready for the 2,500 mile journey to French Polynesia. We hope to leave by this weekend but this depends on the weather. Until then we will continue to prepare the Uto and provision her with food and water so that we're ready to go when Mother Nature sends her winds!

Please visit the gallery often for new photos.

 

For the latest updates, check www.fijivoyaging.com

For more information:
Nathan Hildebrand (nathan@razor.com.fj)
FIVS Media Officer