Team Leaders

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Senior Female supervisor Lizzie Laigeu supervising female youths in sewing the sail panel.

Simon Salopuka, MD & Executive Director,

Vaka Taumako Project Solomon Islands and Vaka Valo Association Incorporated.

First Indigenous Taumakoan who attended University and attained a Bachelor in Medicine and surgery, a postgarduate diploma in ChildHealth and Masters Part I in Medicine at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea. He joined the Vaka Taumako Project as advisor and consultant as requested by the late Te Aliki Koloso Kahia Kaveia in 2005 when the Vaka Taumako Project he founded was suspended by the Temotu Provincial Government. The founder of Vaka Taumako Project Solomon Islands and Vaka Valo Association Incorporated and a permanent Executive member. He loves soccer, fishing, traditional story telling, raising children and voyaging.

Master Navigator and TeAliki Jonas Kollanu.

Tepuke and Tealolili voyaging canoe Captain and traditional navigator and voyaging canoe builder, Ambrose Miki.

Jonathan Mengo

Hon. Stanley Tehiahua

Jackson Motulau, Chairman working Committee and senior adzeman.

Fox Boda expert builder and voyager of the Tepuke voyaging canoe

Fox Boda and James Mapua, expert builders and voyagers supervising the Tepuke construction. Standing Fox Boda and sitting on the Tepuke cross beam James Mapua.

Dixion Wia, our local train cameran and Journalist, bailing water outside the Tepuke

Dixion Wia, locally trained cameraman and videographer, bailing water outside the Tepuke voyaging canoe.

Harry Vanosi, youngest crew and Tepuke builder of the Tepuke voyaging canoe. Harry is applying local made sealant to seal the Tepuke cover board.

Late senior supervisors of Tepuke construction, Ambraham Maone and Nathaniel Leiau standing at the far end supervising the assemble of the laula ( Pandanus) sail and sewing of the panels.