Restoration of Vaka Marumaru Atua

On Saturday the 2nd of September 2017 a fire broke out on board our vaka Marumaru Atua. It took firefighters several hours to put out the blaze in the starboard hull of our vaka. She has sustained significant damage and will require the rebuild of a new hull to replace the damaged one which is estimated to cost up to $300,000. The exact cause of the fire is uncertain, we have had several inspections and we can't rule out the possibility the fire may have been deliberately lit. Our beautiful vaka has sailed through out the Pacific sharing our voyaging traditions with communities and how we need to take drastic action to protect our ocean. Every second breath we take comes from our oceans and the signs are obvious that our ocean is under severe stress from pollution and man made climate change.

Back home in the Cook Islands our aim is to educate our youth and ensure the legacy of traditional sailing and navigation and how each individual can care for our precious environment through adopting our sustainable traditional practices of conservation.

It is difficult to see our once proud mama vaka in such bad shape but trying to be positive and looking to the future. We need to do a massive repair job and refit to get her seaworthy again and to continue our Cook Islands Voyaging legacy, so we are asking for support from our friends around the world to lend a hand if you possibly can, to restore a Cook Islands National Treasure. Although we are separated by Moana Nui O Kiva, it is the ocean that connects and binds us. We have already received so many messages of support, and wonderful pledges of assistance from those wanting to help. Meitaki maata in advance from the bottom of our hearts to all those who have already and who will lend a hand.

Kia Manuia, te Atua te Aroa!

Funds raised will be used to repair the damage sustained to our beautiful vaka so she may continue her work through out the Cook Islands and Pacific.