Building a Pacific house

ALoha -

long time no blog, I know.  It's been exceptionally hectic here in the Solomons, with our commitments to the Festival of Pacific Arts.  I have to say the Festival is fabulous...people of all Pacific cultures come together to share crafts, dance, song, stories, tattoo and culture.  It is wonderful to wander through the booths and talk to the various islanders.  Everyone on the festival grounds feels free to smile and chat with each other.  It is a fitting culmination to our journey - one that was designed to bring Pacific Islanders together.  As we have developed into a large voyaging family, so, too, has this festival helped to bring Pacofc peoples to a better understanding of each other.  We have had assigned shifts at our Pacific VOyagers space to share our journey and kuleana with others, but I have spent entire days here, even when the rain was pouring down, just soaking up the atmosphere and the music.  The delegations that really stand out are GUam and of course Rapa Nui...the feathers are so cool, and we've all agreed that the Rapa Nui people are exceptionally beautiful.  One of the projects in conjunction with the Pacific Voyagers has been a Maori whare complete with carvings in part designed and carved by crew members.  Somehow we all got involved in the actual work, and it became a mission for us to have as many as possible get their hands on it.  I have been digging post holes in the ground, lugging and drilling timber, measuring and constructing a house with the help of a dedicated group of Solomon Islanders, as well as with Brendan and Murray from the Haunui crew.  It has been nice to get some real work done, and to feel like I"ve done something physical.  ALthough the majority of the HOniara population is friendly and helpful, it is not advisable for anyone to wander alone, especially off the main streets.  SO - no running as I was doing on other islands.  We're off to Noumea in New Caledonia next, so I'm hoping that the opportunity will exist for a little exercise.  It will be too cold in New Zealand, I'm sure, for anything outdoorsy.  We have our final performance in an hour...somehow the VOyagers became an entertainment group...it started with the wish for each waka to share their "mission" an of course, song is an easy and catchy medium.  SO now we have evolved into performers with our hakas, songs and dances.  This is the end, however, of our performing days.  Tomorrow, we all sail off to another island, not sure which one, for a day together before the canoes go their separate ways.  Faafaite, Marumaru Atua, Haunui and Te Matau A Maui will continue to Noumea and New Zealand.  Uto NI Yalo, Hine MOana and Gaualofa will sail off on their own agendas.  ANd so we've built a Pacific house, and we set out now from it's shelter to find ourselves...