A Pan-Pacific Vaka Network: Institutionalizing Modern Polynesian Sailing Boats The Okeanos Project © 2016

For the last eight years, the dedicated work of the Okeanos Foundation has fostered a renaissance in traditional Polynesian boat construction, sailing and navigational training that has inspired innovative, culturally based solutions to the challenges Pacific islands are facing.

I. Building Upon the Past to Prepare for the FutureThe Okeanos vision for the Pacific is based on the fundamentally holistic principle that the solutions to the urgent problems islanders are facing require respecting and building upon traditional knowledge to prepare for the future. We have witnessed again and again how embracing the almost lost art of Polynesian wayfinding, deeply rooted in traditional ocean stewardship, has consistently motivated and inspired community led innovation.

Ocean Transportation: The Lifeblood of the Pacific Okeanos understands that regular and healthy transportation between the islands is the lifeblood of the region’s circulation system; it fuels Pacific history and culture, unity and economy. Building upon the genius of traditional Pacific engineering and knowledge, Okeanos has constructed, in partnership with Pacific experts across the region, more than a dozen Vaka Okeanos: traditionally designed sailing canoes, built with modern materials and propelled by fossil-fuel free technologies. Simultaneously, Okeanos has supported the training of hundreds of Pacific islanders from more than ten nations in traditional sailing and navigation.

Now. A critical moment in history. Pacific islands’ vulnerability to climate change has never been more visible. In 2015, Kiribati President Anote Tong brought his country’s plight to the world stage announcing preparations for climate induced migration while simultaneously five Samoan islands were disappearing under rising sea levels. In June 2016, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon honored the worldwide voyage of Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hōkūleʻa drawing international attention to the threats the Pacific ocean and its peoples are facing. Today, the global community, and the Pacific region as a whole, are searching for best practices and evidence-based plans to prepare small island nations for environmental threats while protecting culture, providing tools for sustainable development and economic independence from foreign aid, goods and fossil fuels.

II. Okeanos History and Impact: Eight Years of EvidenceOkeanos’ efforts and ethos stand on the shoulders of Pacific island heroes who revived the almost lost Polynesian art of wayfinding, the students of Mau Piailug and the brave men and women who brought Hōkūleʻa to life in 1976 and continue her courageous voyage today. Okeanos’ developing modern sailing canoes and supporting vaka-based initiatives provides visible evidence of the effectiveness of modernized Polynesian sustainable sea transportation to be fully embraced at the local level for a variety of purposes. Today, the real world use and implementation of Okeanos Vakas in seven Pacific countries, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Vanuatu, is proof of concept, a realization of the potential and need for a pan-Pacific vaka network.

International Voyage, Cultural Revival, Capacity Building In 2008, Okeanos began working with voyaging societies across the Pacific to develop and build a fleet of seven traditionally designed, fossil fuel free double masted Vaka Moanas, representing 10 island nations.

Our international voyage Te Mana O Te Moana (The Spirit of the Ocean) began April 2011. Over the course of two years, hundreds of sailors were trained as they navigated across the Pacific twice, carrying the message of respect for culture and ocean and visiting 15 nations along the way. Collectively we safely sailed 210,000 nautical miles of open ocean.

Map of Te Mana O Te Moana International Voyage 2011-2012

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The Gifting of Vakas: Voyaging Societies and a Renaissance in Wayfinding Culture In 2012, Okeanos gifted four vakas from the Te Mana O Te Moana fleet to the voyaging societies of Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti. The significant impact of the Okeanos gifted vakas can be seen throughout the Pacific as iconic symbols of cultural pride and hope for the future featured on agency and government issued currency, stamps, tourism and Policy materials.

Okeanos Vaka Gaualofa gifted to Samoan Voyaging Society is featured on the cover of Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) strategic plan as well as within “A Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape” endorsed by Pacific Island Forum leaders.

Okeanos Vaka Uto-Ni-Yalo gifted to Fiji Voyaging Society featured on Fiji national stamp series.

Left, Center: Okeanos Vaka Marumaru Atua gifted to Cook Island Voyaging Society featured on Cook Island five dollar coin and Bank of Cook Island Mastercard.

Right: Okeanos Vaka Faafaite gifted to French Polynesian Voyaging Society featured on cover of AirTahiti’s Revatahiti magazine.

Right: IUCN World Congress 2016 website and promotional materials feature Okeanos Vaka Moanas from Te Mana O Te Moana fleet.

Left: IUCN World Congress 2016 website and promotional materials feature Okeanos Vakas Moanas from Te Mana O Te Moana fleet.

III. Okeanos Mission: A Pan-Pacific Vaka Network Islanders from across the Pacific have embraced Okeanos Vakas as their vehicles from which to launch innovative and interdisciplinary solutions to the challenges they face. It is the mission of the Okeanos Foundation to implement a pan-Pacific inter-island vaka network to fulfill unlimited regional needs for transportation of cargo and people (passengers, doctors, teachers, etc) through commercial enterprises as well as culturally based platforms for education, research and ocean monitoring.

Public Service Needs: Inter-Island Transportation Infrastructure

● A pan-Pacific vaka network would provide sustainable, safe, adequate, and affordable transport services at all times to all people including those in remote areas and the outer islands.

Disaster Brigade (emergency response network)

● Pan-Pacific vaka network of 40 plus boats stationed on each island nation with trained crew ready as emergency responders in the event of natural disasters.

● Benefits: The Okeanos Vakas are able to navigate shallow waters and land on beaches without docks. They are propelled by alternative energy (wind, sun, coconut oil), independent from fossil fuel, and always immediately operable to move people, supplies and relief between the affected islands.

Ocean Monitoring Infrastructure

● The sustained presence of a pan-Pacific vaka network would provide new and regular transects between the islands and the opportunity to collect much needed ocean data for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).

● Okeanos Vakas outfitted with ocean sensing devices would provide sustained data-streams that are critical contributions to the GOOS Pacific system, filling gaps in the international database. Localized Pacific ocean monitoring capabilities build the region’s capacity for environmental management, forecasting, storm prediction and climate change preparedness.

Scientific Research Platforms ● The Okeanos Vakas are driven by wind and solar power are quiet, non-polluting and often

provide the perfect platform for scientists, ocean researchers and observers to work in close proximity with marine wildlife. The unique catamaran design provides researchers with sustained access to remote, hard to get to areas that are difficult for standard fossil fuel driven boats to reach.

Education and Ocean Stewardship

● Okeanos Vakas are innovative floating classrooms providing a wide variety of educational experiences through partnerships with schools and universities across the Pacific. Okeanos Vakas have a long history of inspiring learning in traditional navigation, ocean stewardship, environmental and ecosystem science for elementary, high school and university students.

● Okeanos Vakas equipped with ocean monitoring devices can feed data to local universities providing educational resources for ocean observation education and training.

Workforce Development

● The establishment of a pan-Pacific vaka network involves the training and sustained efforts of Pacific peoples in a variety of disciplines and expertise. Involved islanders from across the region will be needed to implement a wide array of skilled activities including boat building and maintenance, sailing, navigation, ocean monitoring and data collection, and small business development.

Private and Commercial Service Opportunities:

● Sustainable community led business initiatives ● Cargo and Passenger transportation ● Culture and History Based Tourism ● Ecotourism (whale watching and shark sanctuaries) ● Boat Building and Technical Maintenance ● Training Certificates

Okeanos 2016 On-The-Ground Activities: In 2016, Okeanos began several international efforts as first steps toward the development of a pan-Pacific vaka network. Our current activities include:

● Building four new Okeanos Vakas ○ three Okeanos Vakas built at Salthouse Boatyard, New Zealand ○ Development of a new boatyard in

Tahiti, building one Okeanos Vaka there

● Launching of Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transportation small businesses in New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu

● Implementing coconut oil engines into Okeanos Vakas to advance their capability and efficiency in daily, practical use

● Establishing research partnerships for the implementation of appropriate (low- cost) ocean monitoring flow-through sensor packages that provide essential ocean variables required by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).

● Establishing research partnerships to study best conditions for community-led environmental management and exploring new policy and regulations for appropriate maritime laws for vaka commercial operation.

● Developing boat building and navigational internship opportunities for Pacific youth

● Providing individualized support for voyaging societies across the region

“Okeanos is a collection of values and ideas and solutions put into a fabric found only at the genius level. Having the Pacific people and our ancestral knowledge be a part of the solution and the pathway is very powerful.” Nainoa Thompson, President Polynesian Voyaging Society

IV. Okeanos Vakas: Designed for Multiple Purposes

In developing modern traditional vakas, Okeanos seeks to incorporate appropriate technologies that promote sustainable best practices while empowering communities, maintaining cultural traditions and reducing the human footprint. Over the last seven years, we have developed three types of Vaka, providing solar powered alternative ocean transportation for almost every Pacific need.

The VAKA MOANA (Boat of the Ocean) is our largest traditional canoe built according to drawings made by James Cook around 1770. She has two masts, a maximum weight of 14 tons, accommodates 16 people and is able to carry four tons of load. She is made for open sea transportation over long distances with the larger goal of reviving traditional Pacific culture for the next generation.

The VAKA MOTU (Boat for the Island) is a smaller

version of the vaka moana. She has only one mast, a

maximum weight of nine tons, can accommodate 12

people and three tons of cargo. She is primarily designed

for commercial operation between the islands.

The VAKA HAPUA (Boat for the Lagoon), a completely

new construction covered by solar panels, is the first

vaka model intended for transportation within lagoons.

She will be able to ferry 16 passengers with luggage and

little cargo. She is currently under construction scheduled

to begin operating in March 2017.

All three vaka models share the same technologies including solar panels, battery type, electric engines, controllers and switchboards and differ only with regard to battery size or engine performance. This helps to ensure a high degree of operating efficiency and security.

See “ADDENDUM: vaka technical details”

V. Next Steps: Building and Bridging Capacity In the Pacific, environmental conservation and sustainable development is inextricably linked with the social fabric of communities and lived cultures. For sustainable development strategies to be success, they must be relevant and have origins in the island communities. Okeanos’ specific on-the-ground activities and overarching goals align with, and thereby support, forward thinking Pacific policy frameworks designed to successfully navigate island nations toward a prosperous and sustainable future.

Aligning with National and Regional Pacific Policy Goals Okeanos’ work directly aligns with this Framework for Pacific Regionalism key objective: “sustainable development that combines economic social, and cultural development in ways that improve livelihoods and well-being and use the environment sustainably.”

Okeanos’ work directly aligns with Society for Pacific Community (SPC) Framework for Action on Transportation Services primary goal to provide: “Safe, secure, regular, reliable and affordable transport services for enhanced sustainable development.”

Okeanos principles directly align with these key Pacific Oceanscape principles:

● Sustainable development and ocean management through practices that promote sustainable ocean resource use, development and management based on existing experiences. Continuing and advancing ocean science learning and monitoring as part of sustainable development.

● Maintaining ocean health of the ocean by reducing the negative impacts of human activities and implementing sustainable development strategies that protect and conserve biodiversity

● Improving our understanding of the ocean – through more robust and comprehensive scientific understanding and monitoring

● Seeking partnerships as necessary for sustainable development and marine resource conservation.

VI. Supporting Pacific Policy Sustainable Development Goals We wish to support and help fulfill the goals of Pacific Regionalism as Okeanos activities:

● build upon the cultures and traditions that inspire individuals, bind communities, provide social stability and resilience.

● support Pacific livelihoods and opportunities for sustainable development. ● supports economic fossil fuel free independence for Pacific islanders relieving

dependence on foreign oil and food

● Promote sustainable development that combines economic, social, and cultural

development in ways that improve livelihoods and well-being and use the environment sustainably.

Okeanos is confident that a pan-Pacific network of traditionally designed modern sailing canoes is capable of integrating aspects of ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, education research, workforce training. As such, we believe that the work of Okeanos can help realize the implementation goals of Pacific Oceanscape in these ways:

● Strengthening and supporting national sustainability development strategies ● Reducing marine pollution ● Reducing fossil fuel energy use ● Improving data collection and monitoring ● Pooling resources and embracing a collaborative approach ● Coordination and cooperation as essential for a holistic and cost effective response to

environmental issues;

● Enhancing national and regional disaster preparedness and climate change preparedness

● Capacity training for young pacific islanders in navigation, small business enterprise and data collection and monitoring – and public and community education

In addition, we believe Okeanos’ work helps realize components of Pacific Oceanscape:

● Sustainable Development ● Improving our understanding of the oceans ● Promoting the peaceful use of the ocean ● Creating partnerships and promoting cooperation ● Education training and awareness ● Contributing to global greenhouse gas reduction ● Knowledge, Information, Public Awareness and Education

Okeanos’ commitment to research on best practices and conditions that foster lasting change, as well as commitment to supporting ocean monitoring and data collection, is aligned with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) mission:

● To work for the wellbeing of Pacific people through the effective and innovative application of

science and knowledge, guided by a deep understanding of Pacific Island contexts and cultures.

In addition, Okeanos and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) share these core values:

● We treasure the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and environments of the people of the

Pacific, and our sustainable solutions are based on a sound understanding of their strengths and needs, and of the challenges they face.

● We are committed to adding value to the scientific and technical capacities of our members, in pursuing transformational development.

As such, the applied, real-world work of Okeanos supports Secretariat of the Pacific Community SPC’s specific Development Goals to:

● Strengthen sustainable transport and energy security ● Improve multi-sectoral responses to climate change and disasters ● Improve Education Quality ● Strengthen sustainable transport and energy security by providing services to promote

reliable, affordable, safe and clean transport and energy services. ● Advance social development through the promotion of gender equality, cultural diversity

(traditional knowledge and cultural practices) and opportunities for young people.

As Okeanos pursues a holistic marine transportation network that includes access to rural and outer islands intended to facilitate safe, secure, adequate, reliable and affordable transport services at all times by all people, Okeanos efforts match the implementation goals of Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Framework for Transportation.

The establishment of a pan Pacific network of modernized polynesian sailing boats could also support SPC’s Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) goals to improve post natural disaster response. Okeanos is currently working to establish ocean science data collection partnerships for the detection, forecasting and warning of potential natural disasters. Fossil-fuel free vakas can naturally serve as first response vehicles as part of an emergency preparedness network.

VII. Joining Forces for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific Future

Pacific islands currently suffer from a dependence on expensive oil and electricity. While they have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, they are now the most threatened by global warming with rising sea levels salinizing their crops and endangering their very existence. They have the culture, resources and knowledge necessary to make change and feel an urgency to take control of their future by implementing sun, wind, geothermal and biofuel technologies to run all homes, cars, and everyday needs.

Small Island nations are posed to be the world’s front runner in the global paradigm shift away from corporate oil and gas dependency toward democratized clean energy production, distribution and consumption. With abundant natural resources and a wealth of traditional knowledge about stewardship of native resources, Pacific island communities are ready to quickly establish an economic infrastructure based upon renewable energy.

We are at a critical moment where Pacific people are ready to free themselves from an imposed western economy and in turn become leaders in applying traditional knowledge to establish sustainable infrastructures and become first fossil free continent on Earth.

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A Pacific Marshall Plan

All Pacific nations are burdened by international loans and continually dependent on financial aid. They will never be financially free if they do not substantially restructure their economic system. One possibility could be a model based upon the success of the Marshall Plan that helped Germany and Japan recover after World War II.

At that time, Germany received a 10 billion dollar interest free credit with which the German government financed thousands of short-term loans for small and medium sized companies. The unique success of this economic model was the ability of the German government to use this money over thirty years and continually reinvest in new development thereby igniting and fueling self containing economic growth that was never seen before. After thirty years, Germany was able to fully repay the initial Marshall Plan funds with ease.

This exceptional success can be replicated in the Pacific by a union of Pacific island nations that launch a “Pacific Marshall Plan”. The loans from such a plan would be used to achieve our four Okeanos Project goals. The immediate benefit would be that that less money leaves our islands for truly unnecessary foreign goods such as imported food and fossil fuel. At the same time, each dollar that stays within the islands will continually spawn economic growth and foster ongoing entrepreneurship and investment in infrastructure.

Shared Goals and Collective Action

Joining the forward thinking efforts of all stakeholders invested in the cultural preservation and sustainable development of the Pacific region is necessary to make significant and meaningful progress toward a resilient, fossil-fuel free future. We are in urgent need of a collaborative, holistic and interdisciplinary approach that pools knowledge and actions to implement appropriate place-specific solutions to the challenges Pacific peoples are facing. Together, the islands of the Pacific have the potential to offer innovative, culturally relevant prototypes for all coastal communities threatened by environmental degradation and climate change. Coordinating the efforts of regional, national, private and nonprofit organizations all striving to protect the health of the Pacific and its peoples is our only chance to preserve the complex fabric of life within our world’s largest ecosystem.

The Okeanos Project 2016 © is a copyright of the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea

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CONTACTS:

Dieter Paulmann Chairman Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea Auf der Marienhöhe 15 64297 Darmstadt Germany dieter.paulmann@okeanos-foundation.org

Dena Seidel Director, US and Pacific Region

Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea 33 South 4th Ave Highland Park, New Jersey, USA dena.seidel@okeanos-foundation.org

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ADDENDUM: Vaka Technical Details

The Vaka Moana

The vaka moana is our largest traditional canoe, built based on drawings made by James Cook around 1770. On the basis of these measurements, lines and on the initiative of Sir Thomas Davis, the first vaka moana “Te Au O Tonga“ was built in 1985 in Rarotonga/Cook Islands. Essentially, our vaka are recreated on these lines. However, in contrast to traditional vakas with hulls that have been made of one big tree trunk, our hulls are made of e-glass and epoxy resin as it would be irresponsible to build boats these days with precious wood.

The vaka moana has two masts, a length of 72 ft, a beam of 22 ft and a draft of two ft. It has a maximum weight of 14 tons, provides accommodation for 16 crew or passengers and is able to carry four tons of cargo. The deckhouse has a height of only 1.45 m. However, it offers room for a small galley, a navigation point and a pilot berth for the watch captain or for sick passengers. The vaka moana has two rigs, a traditional one (crab claw style) and a contemporary one. This is advantageous on high seas as it is better equipped to reef the sails that have a total sail area of 850 square feet (79 square meter). The average sailing speed within the last two years (crossing the Pacific twice) was 7 knots per hour, or approximately 160 nm per day.

The vaka moana sails 65° to the apparent wind. It is steered in a traditional way by a wood steering paddle (hoi). All beams are connected with the hulls through traditional lashings.

It is mainly operated by celestial navigation and does not have a compass. However, to ensure safety it is equipped with GPS and other navigational installations, VHF and AIS as well as safety equipment such as life rafts, life vests, flares etc. following international safety regulations.

The solar installation consists of eight solar panels with 230 W each, having a total capacity of 1.9 kW. With this capacity the vaka can be driven at sunlight with a speed of four to five knots. It has, in addition, a LiPo 48V battery system with a capacity of 2x 15 kWh which guarantees an operational range of about 20 nm when there is no wind or in the night. It is propelled by using two electrical pods of 10 kW power each, fixed under the deck planking, which can be lowered to the water for propelling or for recharging of the batteries during sailing.

Each vaka has two independent systems so that there is a redundancy, if one system fails. While in constant use over the past six years, we did not experience one situation where the battery capacity was not sufficient to reach our port of calls.

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The Vaka Motu

The vaka motu has one mast and sails with a traditional crab claw rig or a contemporary rig. It has a sail area of 615 square feet (58 square meter), a length of 50 feet, a 20-foot beam, a two and a half foot draft (80 cm) and is operated by four crew for normal operation. Its maximum weight is nine tons, and it is mainly destined for commercial use and can carry twelve people, three tons of cargo under deck plus one ton of cargo on deck.

It is steered by a traditional wood steering paddle (hoi). All beams are connected with the hulls through traditional lashings. It is mainly operated with GPS navigation, is equipped with a compass, VHF and EAS as well as with international safety equipment such as life rafts, life vests, flares etc following international safety regulations. The average sailing speed is about 7 to 8 knots. It sails nicely high to the apparent wind between 55° and 60°.

As is the case with the vaka moana, the hulls of the vaka motu are made of e-glass and epoxy resin as it would be environmentally irresponsible to build boats with wood nowadays.

The solar installation consists of eight solar panels with 230 W each, offering a total capacity of 1.9 kW. With normal sunlight the boat can be driven with a speed of four knots. Independent of the sun it can run 20 nm, equivalent to four hours with five knots by using a LiPo 48V battery system with a capacity of 2x 15 kWh. It thus has a sufficient cruising range to reach ports or other safe places even when there is no wind or during the night. There are two independent systems so that there is a redundancy if one system fails. The vaka is driven by 2x 15 kWh electrical inboard engines. And now, in autumn 2016 we have finished the first vaka motu that runs with 20 HP Volvo diesel engines operated with coconut oil. This will enable the islands to use the abundance of coconuts and might be the more appropriate propulsion system for the islands. This will be decided mainly on the spot by the main typical use of the vaka.

The typical distance for inter-island traffic would be 50 to 100 nm, but is also designed for long open ocean crossings. It is mainly used as a ferry boat to bring goods from remote outer islands to the central markets, for coastal fishing operations, noise-free whale watching, sightseeing tours for tourists and can even operate as a floating school-bus.

It contains a very spacious deckhouse, which is only 1.45m high, but offers enough space to give eight passengers shelter against sun, rain and wind. At the same time it provides space for a navigational area and two pilot berths. The hulls provide six comfortable bunks in two separated compartments with good sleeping amenities for the passengers as well as two separate crew areas with four bunks. For the wellbeing of crew and passengers it is equipped with a special galley area in the port side and also with a functional toilet with a black water tank on the starboard side.

The vaka motus that currently operate in the Pacific were built in New Zealand for practical, technical, design, surveillance, safety-at-sea testing and construction reasons.

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However, in order to gain experience it would be beneficial also if they were to be built locally on small islands. The materials that are used, mainly wood, lashings, sails, ropes etc can all be sourced locally.

The production, either with fibreglass or jute which is just in a testing phase, is relatively simple and can be handed over easily to local people due to a mould that is easily transportable in small containers and helps to build the hulls out of fibreglass after adequate training.

The main impetus behind the vaka motu was to become the typical working boat for the Pacific, built and operated by the islanders themselves. This would not only revive old skills, knowledge and tradition but would also provide a lot of opportunities for young people to stay on the islands and find a profession that provides a good balance of challenges and benefits.

The Vaka Hapua

The vaka hapua - a boat for transportation within lagoons - is a completely new construction including most modern technology and design. The first is just under construction at Salthouse Boatyard in Auckland/ New Zealand and will be delivered in April 2017. It combines the most current and innovative use of the fibreglass with epoxy resin construction process with a solid solar technology and electric power system.

It has a length of 32 ft (11.8 m), 16 ft beam (5.8 m), 2 ft (0.6 m) draft and a maximum weight of six tons. The roof incorporates 36 solar panels that provide roughly 10 kW solar energy during sunshine.

The vaka hapua is propelled by 2x 25 kW electrical inboard engines powered by a LiPo 144V battery system with a capacity of 2x 60kW, enabling the boat to operate in all weather conditions (no sunshine, heavy rain, at night) at eight knots for a maximum of six hours, which means that even under worse conditions it has an operational range of 50 nm. The maximum speed can be up to 12 knots, however, this reduces the range accordingly. The vaka hapua is normally driven only by the sun and operates with six knots. It runs very smoothly and almost soundlessly. The electrical engines are much valued as they require very little maintenance and are robust in operation.

Its range of use is robust – from daily inter-island transportation of passengers, shuttle services for tourists between the airport and their hotel, reef excursions, whale watching, sunset tours and dive operation trips to school bus shuttle services, express cargo operation or funeral services. The vaka hapua can ferry 12 people with luggage and little cargo. It provides all islands a unique chance to convert their energy production to alternative energy. This implies the creation of an additional significant business market as the conversion from boats powered by fossil fuel to electrically driven boats on a larger scale requires an additional energy supply during the night. The boats are mainly used during the day and the batteries can be fully recharged within 8 to 10 hours during the night.