Month: August 2013

Friday, August 23, 2013 by Fred Wesley THE Veitau Waqa, or traditional canoe race, is set to take place today as part of the Hibiscus Festival in Suva. The event is organised by Pacific Blue Foundation and pits the best of our traditional canoe builders in a race around the Suva Harbour. But today is…

Thursday, August 22, 2013 THE signs on the horizon are that this year’s Veitau Waqa — The Boat Lives races could signal a resurgence in the dying art of crafting traditional sailing vessels. With 10 vessels entering the competition this year as part of the Hibiscus festival events, one can’t be blamed for being more…

The head of the Fiji National University’s Mechanical Engineering has his sights set on proving that his camakau design — a fusion of traditional boatbuilding knowledge and modern engineering techniques — makes waves in another category.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 by Tevita Vuibau THE Methodist Church in Fiji has voiced its support for moves to revive the sailing of traditional i-Taukei canoes as a viable option for inter-island transport. Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua said sometimes the key to the future lay in the past. Traditional sailing, which has a…

Monday, August 19, 2013 by Ilaitia Turagabeci UNDER the watchful gaze of Semiti Cama, the camakau took shape on the shore where a dream to turn the canoe into money was born. There is no mistaking the passion in his eyes. He points out the weaknesses to the builders and they rectify. The camakau —…

Monday, August 12, 2013 by Ilaitia Turagabeci WHEN dawn breaks over the horizon on the tip of the Suva peninsula, they appear like sharks racing just beneath the surface. It’s only when they draw closer, and in the visibility of day, when the black silhouette of fins become the sails that once graced the waters…