Post #384522 by Toataiaha on Wed, Jun 4, 2008 12:41 AM

International Festival of Canoes: Part 2

"" Each year Maui's International Festival of Canoes features a different carving crew from outside Polynesia. This year, we introduce you to the team from the island of Yap in Micronesia. Chief Bruno Thamgan is doing what he normally does on his home island of Yap, carving canoes. But this time he is doing it much quicker. "What takes me two months to do back home in Yap, Micronesia only takes me two days to do here. The equipment is much faster than what we have." Bruno is here with a crew of four, including his sone who will be the first graduate of the Yap Traditional Maritime Institute. The school was founded in 2006 and strives to perserve traditional Yapese canoe building, sailing, and navigating practices. "There are not very many people that can build canoes. I am the last of a breed that knows how to build canoes in the traditional Yapese way. I want to pass it on to my kids and children of Yap." Festival coordinators look forward to seeing the different styles of canoe building each year. Mahalo to Chief Bruno and all the participants in this year's International Festival of Canoes. We can't wait to see what Maui plans for its 12th annual event. ""

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