On 26 January 2009, two traditional canoes set sail from Yap, bound for Palau. The main purpose of the voyage, sponsored by the Traditional Navigation Society of Yap, was to recreate the sailing expeditions to Palau the Yapese made in the 16th-century to quarry stone money. The "Mathaw Maraw" was guided by Master Builder and traditional navigator, Chief Bruno Tharngan of Maap, while the 30-year-old "Simion Hokule'a," built by Master Navigator Mau Piailug and his brother on Satawal, was guided by Master Navigator Ali Haleyalur of Lamotrek. There were 17 crewmen on the two vessels: 8 on the "Mathaw Maram" and 9 on the "Hokule'a." [This information comes from a news release issued by Sebastian F. Tamagken, Chief of Media and Protocol for the Yap State Goverment.] The canoes arrived safely in Palau on 29 January.
Many thanks to the Traditional Navigation Society of Yap for allowing us to post these photos here and to Larry Raigetal, Director of the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs for the Yap State Government, for kindly providing captions for the photos.
Many thanks to the Traditional Navigation Society of Yap for allowing us to post these photos here and to Larry Raigetal, Director of the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs for the Yap State Government, for kindly providing captions for the photos.
Crewman for the "Simion Hokule'a" making final preparations before departure. All crew members are from Lamotrek Atoll. The canoe was Navigator Mau Piailug's canoe, built by him and his sibling on Satawal. It has been to Palau twice before, navigated the first time by Mau and the second time by Mau's son Sesario Sewralur. This was the canoe's third voyage to Palau, in addition to other voyages to Saipan, Guam, and other Outer Islands. The canoe is about 30 years old.
Crewman for the "Simion Hokule'a" making final preparations before departure. All crew members are from Lamotrek Atoll. The canoe was Navigator Mau Piailug's canoe, built by him and his sibling on Satawal. It has been to Palau twice before, navigated the first time by Mau and the second time by Mau's son Sesario Sewralur. This was the canoe's third voyage to Palau, in addition to other voyages to Saipan, Guam, and other Outer Islands. The canoe is about 30 years old.
