Friday 10 August 2012

Toroa at Porirua Harbour 2003

That's me butt steering to prove a point to the attendees gathered on the shoreline. Matahi Brightwell in attendance far left. Photo by Ole Maiava.
This image was taken of Toroa by my "Brudda" Ole Maiava who organized for me to attend a Kaihoi Waka workshop at Te Wananga O Aotearoa.

Te Wananga O Aotearoa is the name of an educational Institute run by Maori for Maori. Kaihoi Waka was the name of a program designed to teach water and waka handling skills to enrolled students.

I have great and enduring memories of Porirua Harbour, Takapuwahia Marae and the amazing people who were attracted to Ole's magnetism, particularly the ground shaking, hair raising haka that Toroa and I received from the staff and students at the finish of the workshop/weekend.

There were a large number of stingrays under us in 2 - 3 meters of clear water at the time this picture was taken, some the size of a small car!

The wind gods were very gentle with us that day, most unusual for Wellington.



Love always

Harmen.
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Toroa by Harmen Hielkema & Mike Toy.

Header Photo: Toroa at Rawene by Julie Holton.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of my father Roelof Hielkema who instilled in me the willingness to learn.
These pages are intended to inform and add to the growing body of knowledge concerning the Canoe Culture of the Pacific, past, present & future, from the Tupuna, the Ancestors of the Pacific cultures to the people of the world.

These pages contain Images and text relating to our two proas, Toroa & Takapu, some history relating to our experiments & experiences.

The dissertation that I posted on this blog in April 2008 "Takapu The Proa" was written by me in 1997 in response to an assignment that I was set whilst studying for my design degree. The dissertation covers many issues that a proa enthusiast may benefit from reading about.

Waka define culture as culture defines waka

Waka reflect the individuality and uniqueness of a society which in turn is governed by the geography, geology, topography, climate, location, resources, isolation, origin, flora, fauna, flotsam, jetsam, etc.

Waka are our link to the past, they have shaped our present and define our future.

Waka are the vessels of knowledge, physical and mental development, freedom of bondage to the land, key to our inquisitiveness, expressions of our ingenuity and courage, our love of shape and form, the seat of our power.

Waka are the source of our material culture, from which all processes are derived.

Waka are who and what we are.