Te Au o Tonga

Te Au o Tonga ("the mist of the South")^[1] is a reconstruction of a vaka moana, a double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe. It was built in 1994 by former Cook Islands Prime Minister Thomas Davis and the Cook Islands Voyaging Society.^[2] It was used to teach polynesian navigation.

The vaka is made of laminated wood, 72 feet long, with a displacement of 10 to 12 tons, and a crew of 18.^[1] It has inspired other designs,^[3] being used by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea as a model for a group of fibreglass-hulled replicas, including Marumaru Atua,^[4] and later by the Te Aurere Voyaging Society in New Zealand as a model for their kauri-hulled Te Aurere.^[5] It has also featured in the filmThe Legend of Johnny Lingo.^[4]

Since 2002 the vaka has been based in Aitutaki.^[4] In 2012 it completed a refit, with repairs to the hull and crossbeams.^[3] In 2014 it completed a further refit, which replaced the hull, decks, and spars.^[6] It is currently used for training and tourism trips in the Aitutaki lagoon.^[6]

Voyages

• In 1995 Te Au o Tonga made an inaugural voyage to Raiatea, Tahiti, Nuku Hiva, Hawaii, Molokai and Oahu.^[4]
• In August 1995 it sailed as part of a protest fleet against a resumption of French nuclear testing at Moruroa.^[7][8]
• In 1996 it sailed to Samoa for the VII Pacific Arts Festival, and then to Tonga and New Zealand.^[4]
• In 1999 it sailed to Auckland, New Zealand, for the opening of the Americas's Cup challenge,^[9] and then on to Gisborne for the Millennium celebrations.^[4] It later returned to Auckland for the America's Cup regatta.^[10]
• In 2002 it sailed to Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Borabora, and Mitiaro.^[4]
• In July 2008 it sailed to American Samoa for the Festival of Pacific Arts.^[11]