My Taua e moana trip na pu toru started a little different than my trip to the northern group. I didn’t jump on Marumaru Atua in Rarotonga, I flew into Mitiaro to meet the Vaka. When I woke up early morning I was all excited to see the crew that came in late last night. I had one more night in a nice bed and a hot shower. Big meitaki maata to my hosts Cindy and Junior.

 

Everything was set up and ready to welcome the crew when I got to the wharf. Six canoes were ready and went over to pick the crew up on the vaka. They came back one by one and were welcomed with a kiriti maro tai. They lit up a fire and we had to cross it to leave the sea behind and come to land. We then sat down, had a pure and kaikai.

Once the official part was done had we some free time on the beautiful island of Mitiaro. It is one of our crew members, Ant’s, home and he took us koka (sight seeing) around the island. We went to the caves Vai marere and Vai nauri. We had an absolute blast, jumped off the cliff’s and had a cool down in the fresh water.

 

He also showed us the freshwater lake in the middle of the island where they get their local dish, itiki, freshwater eel. This evening there is a kai manga and the first presentation from Korero and TIS. The rest of the crew is back on the vaka and gets set up for the night with the different watches that makes sure the vaka is safe, because we can’t moor up around the island.

 

Ka kite

Sandra