Pacific Traditions Society

In march, 2023 a pts crew of 6 launched the proa sailing vessel, s.v. Lata and until august sea trials were conducted in waters off kailua-kona, Hawaii, and work on the vessel continued. In september the funding ran out and the vessel was stored at honokohau harbor. Fundraising was attempted to purchase a suitable vessel in b.c. Canada, but did not raise enough funds.in december a pilot programme grant was awarded to pts by the gerda henkel stiftung foundation patrimonies programme. Primary collaborators on the grant were from solomon islands and papua new guinea charitable organizations, each of which is supported to build capacity of their traditional voyaging schools. Research of te lapa illumination at sea was conducted funded by ongoing grants from the national endowment for the arts and the los angeles county museum association. Voyages were taken with video recording equipment in Hawaii and in fiji, the latter with collaboration of a taumakan expert navigator. Researchers also worked on communications capacity-building with the administrative manager of holau vaka taumako association of solomon islands. Numerous presentations, consultations, and grant proposals were made in Hawaiian islands introducing solomon islands and fijian voyaging education Society leaders and proposing future programs.