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THE VAKA TAUMAKO PROJECT

NEWS UPDATE: November 9, 2007      Volume 8 Issue 2     Inside this issue: Museum Exhibit Extended by Popular Demand October 2007 Pictures from Taumako

"Sailing with Lata" Exhibition Held Over by Popular Demand! The Kaua`i Museum staff reports that the exhibit has been a big hit with local people and visitors alike. A glance at the guest book confirms this observation. Visitors from as close as down the street and as far away as Europe and New Zealand have signed in, many leaving thoughtful comments as well as addresses. Museum Director Carol Lovell recently asked if the show could stay up until 29 November. Since its next venue, the Learning Resource Center at Kaua`i Community College will not be available until December, the VTP exhibition team was glad to oblige. So, if you have not yet seen the exhibit, want to see it again, or want to tell your friends and family to see it, there is still time. (While you are visiting the museum, check out the gift shop’s array of stone carvings, newly arrived from Solomon Islands.) The Museum is located on Rice Street, Lihu`e, next to the County Office complex and across from First Hawaiian Bank. For information on opening hours etc. telephone 808 245 6931. AFTER 29 NOVEMBER, "Sailing with Lata" will move to the Learning Resource Center at Kaua`i Community College. Because the college will close for Christmas vacation in early December, the show will probably not formally re-open until early next year. We expect to revise the displays to accommodate both differences in the Learning Resource Center's layout and new materials acquired since April. We shall post more information on the new exhibit as soon as we have any.

Latest Photos from the Solomons Mimi has just returned from two busy and productive months on Taumako. Look for a detailed report on her stay later. For now, you can enjoy photos that Meph took on her brief visit in late October. FOX BODA climbs a tree to cut canoe rollers. USING THE ROLLERS FOX CHOPPED FROM THE TREE, a VTP crew pushes a te alo lili down to Kahula lagoon for a practice sail. Pushers include Mimi, (on left, wearing blue pareau), anthropologist Rick Feinberg (to Mimi's right), and Honiara VTP committee member Dr. Simon Salopuka (in background in white shirt). HOISTING THE MAST in preparation for sailing RICK FEINBERG photographs Simon Salopuka just before the canoe sets sail. UNDER SAIL IN KAHULA LAGOON with the unpopulated Bass Islands in the background. The blond woman on deck is German anthropologist and sailor Renate Westner. CREWMAN BARTON VEHU perches on the te alo. He makes this look easy, but it requires quick reactions and good balance! TE UBE SITTING PRETTY IN KAHULA LAGOON MIMI SITTING PRETTY WITH TE UBE… …BUT NOT FOR LONG! She soon got put to work bailing. THE WHOLE CREW (plus a couple) sitting pretty in the lagoon. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS TOO SOON. Nga Taumako say good-bye to Mimi, Renate, Simon, and Meph, as they set out for the Reef Islands and Santa Cruz in Ben Hepworth's motor canoe. MIMI, RENATE, AND SIMON waving farewell to Taumako AT THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE (actually a trash can filled with nambo – traditional dried breadfruit crackers) on Ben's canoe, Mimi, Renate, Simon (as well as Stanley, Tom, and Meph, who were in the stern), get down to the business of eating some of the food given to them for their journey.

Vaka Taumako Project of the Pacific Traditions Society PO Box 712 Capt. Cook, HI 96704 Phone (808) 328-1318     FAX    (808) 823-6741     Email:  vaka@aloha.net The Vaka Taumako Project operates under the aegis of the Pacific Traditions Society, a 501(c)3, non-profit organization. Monetary and some other donations are tax-deductible in the USA. In Germany, donations for the VTP are tax deductible if you donate to the Verein zur Frderung kultureller Traditionen (a non-profit organisation) under the key word "Vaka Taumako Project". For address and bank account information see  www.traditionen.org   Contact Dr. Mimi George, Principal Investigator Mailing address: Dr. Mimi George and Paramount Chief K. Kaveia P.O. Box 712, Capt. Cook, HI 96704 USA e-mail:  vaka@aloha.net Phone 001 808 328 1318 H. M. Wyeth, Permanent Secretary Phone 001 808 822 0647 FAX 001 808 823 6741 Larry Williamson, President, The Pacific Traditions Society e-mail:  larryw@hawaiian.net   To get onto our mailing list and/or to send in a contribution, please mail your name, address, e-mail address, and phone / fax to Mimi George at the address above.