Taumako community & Vaka Valo Association Potential members and participants in the Tepuke construction since 2015 to 2022.

MALE PARTICIPANTS TOTAL 87:  1 Ambrose Miki (Sup) 2 Ataban Sau 3 Andrew Holland 4 Ambrose Tepeka 5 Ambraham Maone 6 Amos Sade 7 Amos Waiaru 8 Allen Yoki 9 Allen Mata 10 Basil Tekava 11 Basil Mekau 12 Baddley Nubao 13 Baddley Natei 14 Barnabas Bolami 15 Charles Lakapau 16 Christopher Temilo 17 Charles Mohano 18 Columbas Nokali 19 Dixion Wia 20 Elison Vakitau 21 Enest Malea 22 Elias Temenu 23 Enest Alai 24 Fr Leslie Loku 25 FR Inny Taupea 26 Fox Boda (Sup) 27 Geoffrey Niumama 28 George Tetule 29 Gabriel Vakatau 30 Godfrey Kikolo 31 Harry Vanosi 32 Hipolite Kennedy 33 Hugo Maniva 34 Hebrew Lovela 35 Jackson Motulau 36 Jonathan Mengo 37 James Mapua 38 John Tege 39 Japhet Motulau 40 Joel Veveki 41 JEREMIAH LAUA 42 John Teilo 43 John Hibi 44 Jonas Kollanu (Sup) 45 Johnson Tehu 46 Joseph Peile 47 Judah Moeala 48 Judah Vailau 49 Jerry Kalae 50 Leonard Poiliki 51 Michael Tauwopi 52 Mason Natei 53 Martin Lutia 54 Mostyn Vane 55 Moses Memuana 56 Nicholas Maena 57 Nathaniel Leiau 58 Noel Hatu 59 Patrick Vaitui 60 Patrick Kuligi 61 Peter Lui 62 Philip Niuly 63 Paul Leilena 64 Roger Sensy 65 Richard Teikatau 66 Reynol Teika 67 Reginald Diosi 68 Robin Tetule 69 Samson Valie 70 Silas Tamatahea 71 Stanley Mohano 72 Simon Handa 73 Stanley Tehiahua Tealala 74 Steven Teulu 75 Stanley Tehiahua 76 Selwyn Baneo 77 Simon Salopuka 78 Stanley Tehiahua (Hon & MPA) 79 Thompson Ramo 80 Timmy Likitai 81 Teniau 82 Walter Tenola 83 Wesley Kamolo 84 Wale Vaike 85 Willie Lohia 86 Wale Vaike 87 Walter Tenola.

FEMALE PARTICIPANTS TOTAL 45: 1 Grace Tewauwia 2 Joycelyn Tatara 3 Delight Tauisa 4 Ngaliki Poiliki 5 Alice Palei 6 Madlen Tekini 7 Julia Teluvei 8 Margaret Nowale 9 Mary Hugo 10 Lisa Vanosi 11 Nancy Nunupora 12 Lizzie Laigeu 13 Ida Teuna 14 Jaret Laukera 15 Hildah Leitolo 16 Susan Koveleai 17 Alice Veielu 18 Doren Temuka 19 Mary Longolua 20 Rose Keu 21 Elisabeth L 22 Emma Tehila 23 Guesi Maliki 24 Ethel Tamula 25 Alice Tenola 26 Joycelyn Palenga 27 Josika Wale 28 Doris Pailenga 29 Nancy Kareina 30 Helina Kamale 31 E Wetu 32 Nana Sendy 33 Betty Teilo 34 Harriet Laumana 35 Janet Longomaha 36 Damares Teffy 37 Mary Taisia 38 Diana Valie 39 Virginia 40 Catherine Kare 41 Veronica Kalumia 42 Elizabeth Laigeu 43 Elizabeth Hokia 44 Philomena 45 Nerish Natei.

STUDENTS (MALE & FEMALE) TOTAL 70: 1 Muriel Longolua (S) 2 Inny Taupea (S) 3 Elliot Kaupao (S) 4 Silas Painiu (S) 5 Dear Born Tennie S) 6 Daigi Junior (S) 7 Terry Brown (S) 8 Brendon Tavake (S) 9 Selwyn Nokali (S) 10 Peter Losa (S) 11 Robert Salopuka (S) 12 Nigella Toleha Salopuka (S) 13 Faithlyn Hinora (S) 14 Anna Kelia (S) 15 Joycylyn Tevio (S) 16 Kapiu (S) 17 Figily Sautina (S) 18 Poi Tovosia (S) 19 Tome Tetoa (S) 20 Teulu (S) 21 Daniel Vagi (S) 22 Robert Paolo (S) 23 Jason Nicky(S) 24 Aba Junior (S) 25 Tehio 26 Faithlyn Hinora 27 Sally 28 Keity 29 Lissie Judith 30 Motuona 31 Zady 32 Mangatea 33 Kosta 34 Enest Alai 35 Fox Boda Hulu 36 Figgy 37 Crylyn 38 Wendy Kavilongo 39 Piua 40 Romless Plangahuli 41 Patty Natei Peleulee 42 Doreen Starleen 43 Bright 44 Peter Tehua 45 Jeffry Teuka 46 Doren Stallin 47 Stephany M 48 Mirriam Nita 49 Moana 50 Mangatea'a 51 Elizabeth Lakui 52 Allen Mata 53 Jason Nicky 54 Hildah Kawahi 55 Mary Virginia 56 Spencer Taylor 57 Brunox Malepa 58 Supa Mumu 59 Peter Tehua 60 Adrian Lauwia 61 Rayton Loma 62 Stallon Takua 63 Gideon Teniu 64 Kahia Niuly 65 Timothy Tipak 66 Brian Sency 67 Kobo Lavaki 68 Princely Lakapau 69 Ningalo Junior 70 J Nihea.

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS OF TAUMAKO COMMUNITY UNDER VAKA VALO ASSOCIATION IS 202.

Summary: Our organization accepts members of the community on voluntarily basis to become potential members of our organization. We have kept records of both active and passive participants so that any long-term benefits from our organization can be shared without discrimination. Our Members from Veakau Islands are not included in this List and we will continue to extend our membership and partnership to other islands so that we can have potential partners who can accommodate the crew and care for the Vaka when we landed on other islands. In 2015 and 2016 our record showed a total of 123 participants and in year 2022 there was a cumulative increase of 202 participants Table I. There is an increase of 79 participants in the Tepuke construction in year 2022 representing 64 percent increment. This percent increase participation as the result indicated because of the increase interest of men, women and children in learning the voyaging culture of Taumako, confidence of the community in the leadership of the Executive Management, the open approach and mutual respect shown by the senior supervisors to her members and youths during the construction process, transparency and accountability at the senior management level in terms of fair allocation and disbursement of resources including finance to the members and community awareness and clear understanding of the goals of the project. The total population of Taumako is about 738 of which 533 people reside permanently on Taumako (Source head count Cyclone PAM Recovery Phase, Duff Islands report 2015). Therefore, 202 people whom so far participated in the Tepuke construction since 2015 and are now potential members of Vaka Valo Association represented 38 percent of the community who had acquired basic knowledge and skill in the Tepuke construction and voyaging. Therefore, these members would be able to adze, lash the Tepuke parts, name the parts of the Tepuke and know the different type of plants used for the different parts of the Vaka. Of the 202 participants, 71 (35%) are children (youths) who either attend primary or secondary schools, 43% male adults and 22% female adults (Table II). The 35% were the potential youths who would safeguard the voyaging knowledge and skills to the next generation and therefore need more investment and support to train them. There was an increase of youths’ participation in the Tepuke construction in year 2022 of 35% compared to the period 2015 and 2016 of 27% (Table II). The higher youths’ participation was due to increase interest in the voyaging culture, influenced exerted by public awareness and understanding of the importance of reviving ancient practices as the old ways of living are more sustainable and solution to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Table I: Participants in the construction of the Tepuke and Tealolili voyaging canoes in year 2015 and 2022.

The 202 people who participated in the Tepuke construction from 2015 to 2022 represented 38 % of the people who permanently reside in the community (533) including men, women, children and the disable. Participation of men, women and children including the disabled play important roles in the Tepuke construction. There were many revival voyaging groups on Taumako community including the 20-year-old Vaka Taumako Project of Pacific Tradition Society, Vaka Matatele, Vaka Parangaina and Holau Vaka Taumako Association and Vaka Valo Association. From all these groups only Vaka Valo Association is still active in building voyaging canoes and sail them using ancient navigational methods. Most of the members of Vaka Valo Association are senior people in the community who know how to adze and weave whom had built several Vakas’ including two Tepuke, one Tealolili, one Tealo Uwa Uwa Model and one Vasuki during the period 2012 to 2022. Our next goal is to build a Vaka Lua (a double hull Tepuke) voyaging canoe that has more capacity to carry more cargoes and passengers and would provide sustainable transportation in our remote outlying islands where shipping service is irregular and would take three to six months before the next ship arrives. Vaka Matalele had built one Tepuke but never sail it in the deep sea. Vaka Paragaina built one Model Tepuke in 1997 now at Tepapa Museum in New Zealand and one Tepuke voyaging canoe in 2012 but she was never sailed in the deep sea. Vaka Taumako Project of Pacific Tradition Society from the period 1996 to 2009 had built two Tepuke and one Tealolili voyaging canoes and only sail the Tepuke from Taumako to Nifiloli in 1998 and return trip in 2000. Holau Vaka Taumako Association had never built any voyaging canoes so far. Vaka Valo Association had sail the Tealolili voyaging canoe from Taumako to Matema, Nifiloli, Pileni and Nukapu and return to Nifiloli island in 2013 and 2014. In 2017 voyage from Taumako to Santa Cruz Island and to Vanikoro enroute to Sola Island of TORBA Province of Vanuatu in 2018. However, due to the weak Te Palapu wind in November the Tepuke as of 2022 now rotten on Usili village of Vanikoro Island.