#waa'gey

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Historic Sail showcases Micronesian craftsmanship, navigation

UOG President Dr. Underwood stands with the traditional navigators from the Lamotrek, Yap State, Micronesia at a ceremony celebrating their voyage (link).

For centuries, the people of the central Caroline Islands have relied heavily on their voyaging canoes as their primary means of transport. They made voyages to islands near and afar to obtain necessities including food, tools, and other valuables. In some instances, following devastating natural calamities, their canoes are used to relocate to a different island as was the case for the “Carolinians” now residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI). 

Today, the art of canoe building and traditional celestial navigations, continues in these remote islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. Although at a smaller scale than what it used to be, the important knowledge of their ancestors is being passed on to younger generations. Waa’gey is a community-based organization that is working with their island communities to promote traditional skills and knowledge transfer.

Realizing the challenges brought to the shores of Micronesia by globalization and environmental issues—including climate change and rising sea levels—the people of Lamotrek Atoll in Yap State worked with Waa’gey’s Larry Reigetal and his crew to refurbish an outrigger canoe named The Lucky Star. Using only traditional seafaring methods and no modern navigation technology, the eight-man crew (Paul Haleyalpiy, Johnny Ratigulur, Noel Ukun, Iseah Yarofyan, Jackson Mailuw, Delson Twerital, Wilson Filmwai, and documentary film producer Douglas Varchol) led by Larry Reigetal braved storms and powerful ocean currents to travel over 500 miles to Guam over five days to participate and showcase their Micronesian culture in the Festival of Pacific Arts held in May 2016. After the festival, the crew sailed over 500 miles back to Lamotrek over a period of 10 days.

The crew brought along a traditional pandanus sail woven by the people of Lamotrek to use during Guam FestPac 2016, and to display the skills used to create it. The entire process of weaving the sail took more than six months, with over 30 people contributing to its construction.

Lucky Star's arrival on Guam

Due to modern seafaring technologies, the traditional weaving techniques in Lamotrek had not been in practice for over half a century.  However, through this project, Waa’gey was able to enlist the help of 95-year old Maria Labusheilam, the last master weaver in Lamotrek. She taught the skills to 20 women apprentices, led by her daughter Maria Ilourutog. The men of Lamotrek, led by Xavier Yarofaliyango, cut the pandanus leaves, and stretched and stitched the sail together. Labusheilam died two weeks after passing on the knowledge; she did not see the final outcome of her work. The sail is woven from the pandanus (or screw-pine) tree commonly grown on beaches of almost all tropical islands. 

The leaves are harvested, dried under the sun, and stripped into single fibers. They are then woven into longer strips of sheets, which are then strengthened by stretching and wrapping the sheets around coconut palm trees. The sheets are then sewn together with sennit twine ropes made from coconut fibers. The weaving of sails is not the same as weaving sleeping mats, as they need to be doubled and overlapped to ensure strength and durability.

Early post World War II canoe sail, outer islands of Yap, Micronesia.

The sail was previously displayed at the University of Guam and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and will be the main art display at the UN Headquarters during The Ocean Conference from June 5 – 9. 2017. It will then travel to Europe, Asia, and Australia before it makes its final voyage to the Federated States of Micronesia capital—Palikir—in time to sail the 2018 Micronesian Games torch to Yap next summer. It has been autographed by all the people from Lamotrek and the President of the FSM, His Excellency Peter Christian.

German anthropological drawing of Carolinian Sailing Canoes, circa 1890

In the center of the sail is the phrase “Falemwaiul Lamoireg?”, which means “Survival of Lamoireg’s Glory”. It highlights the community’s own struggle to combat the negative impacts of modernization—including environmental issues such as climate change and rising of sea levels. It is the hope of the Lamotrek people that this sail travels around the world to show their cultural heritage of the past—canoe building and voyaging—are not only applicable to our societies, but are indeed conducive to the environment in which we live.

Habele, a US-based nonprofit, is a proud partner of Waa'gey, providing targeted grants and equipping master and apprentice carvers with world class, culturally appropriate, tools.

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Micronesian canoe reassembly highlights interwoven FSM-US ties

Reprinted with permission from the Kaselehlie Press Micronesian citizens living in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, gathered in South Carolina in mid-May to reassemble a traditional paddling canoe. The boat was crafted in Yap and serves as a symbol of the interwoven history of the American and Micronesian Peoples.

Gift of this one-of-a-kind craft was prompted by support from private citizens across the United States –and in particular South Carolina– following Super Typhoon Maysak, a record-setting storm that ravaged the Micronesian States of Yap and Chuuk in 2015.

Canoe delivery was organized by “Habele,” a South Carolina headquartered charity serving students across Micronesia. Habele had solicited, coordinated, and delivered relief supplies to pupils and educators in the wake of the storm. “Waa’gey,” a Yap-based community preservation organization, crafted the canoe, also working with Habele to identify Micronesians in the United States who could reassemble the craft once it reached Edisto Island, south of Charleston.

"The canoe is the central object of Pacific Island cultures, and preserving the knowledge of its construction and use is essential to cultural preservation in the region,” explained Douglas Herman, Senior Geographer, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. “It is exciting to see this knowledge being shared and perpetuated.“

The westernmost state in Micronesia, the tiny islands of Yap are scattered across 500 miles of ocean, just south of the US Territory of Guam. An American protectorate following liberation in World War Two, Micronesia is now a sovereign nation in a special “Compact” with the US.  Through that status, many Micronesians come to study, work, and live, in the United States. Reassembly of the canoe offered some of these Islanders a chance to reconnect, and preserve their distinctive cultural skills.

“The practice of building and sailing canoes is an essential component of Micronesian culture,” says Barbara Wavell, an anthropologist and author of “Arts & Crafts of Micronesia.” “Canoe building requires many important skills including woodworking, lashing. These skills can also be applied to other cultural activities such as house construction and the making of bowls and tools. The Habele canoe project is a significant step in the promotion and preservation of this important cultural knowledge.”

Among the Micronesians who gathered to reassemble the canoe using distinctive and complex lashing techniques were Camilius Epoulipiy, John Salmai, Marino Yarogimal, Ralph Tawerilig, Richard Yangitelmes, and Troy Hasugulut. American born relatives of Island descent joined as well as American volunteers.

The canoe’s point of origin and its new berth share historical ties with the Spanish Empire. In 1686, the Islands of Yap were sighted and first claimed as Spanish colony. That same year -over 7,000 miles away- Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto was burned by Spanish raiders from Florida hoping to expel English colonists from present day South Carolina.

“This canoe is authentic enough for museum display, and functional enough to take shrimping in South Carolina’s tidal creeks,” explained Larry Raigetal of Waa’gey. “It’s made from local materials, with traditional tools, and we are excited about our friends at Point of Pines putting it to good use.”

“I join our elders and young men of Waa'gey in extending our heart felt appreciation and congratulations to our partner, Habele and those who have helped to assemble the canoe,” continued Raigetal, the "Senap," or master carver. He was supervised by his late father and master canoe carver Peter Pakemai  “This is a proud moment for us and we are humbled with the opportunity to play a small part of this achievement.” Organizers hope to formally commission the canoe in mid-June.

“I was grateful to be a part of this,” said Cam Epoulipiy, who drove more than seven hours to attend. “To reconnect with Islanders living in the States, to practice and preserve important skills, and to see that others outside our Islands also value these things of such importance to us.” Share

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Condition Assessment of Micronesian Canoe

To: Habele Outer Island Education Fund From: Geoffrey Chambers Date of Assessment: Friday, April 7, 2017 at 4:00 PM Location of Assessment: Edisto Island, South Carolina

Abstract and Summary of Conclusions: This is a condition assessment of a donated 11.5 foot long outrigger canoe built by Larry Raigetal and the Waa'gey Organization of Lamotrek Atoll. The canoe is a solid and well-made vessel of tropical hardwood construction. The canoe is currently in good condition and stored disassembled in a shipping crate. Minor repair of cosmetic outrigger grain separation should be considered prior to assembly. All parts are present for assembly and are structurally sound. The canoe and parts show no evidence of rot or significant deterioration and the paint is in good condition. Authentic coconut hair line was provided for lashing in the assembly of the canoe. Expert assistance is needed for assembly with the coconut hair line because there is insufficient coconut hair line to make mistakes in assembly and / or lashing. Background and Objectives: Habele is a non-profit organization benefiting education and cultural preservation in the outer islands of Micronesia. Habele and Burnie Maybank organized the importation of a Micronesian paddling canoe to the United States. The canoe is currently in a shipping container on Edisto Island.

The Habele canoe was shipped to Edisto Island in the fall of 2015 and has been stored in a plywood shipping container at Edisto Island for approximately 18 months. The objective of this assessment is to determine the current condition of the canoe and assets, expertise and materials necessary to assemble the canoe. Basic Canoe description:  This is a small paddling canoe with an outrigger. It does not have a sail rig. The canoe was built by Larry Raigetal of Lamotrek Atoll. The main hull of the canoe is approximately 11.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1.5 feet from keel to gunnel. The canoe has a single outrigger. The terms familiar to the author of this report regarding parts of an outrigger canoe are vaca (main hull), ama (outrigger float or outrigger hull) and aka (the cross beam connecting the main hull to the outrigger hull). The terms vaca, ama and aka may not be correct terms for a Micronesian canoe. The author requests correction should different terms be appropriate for a vessel from Micronesia. Construction of the canoe is very high quality and utilized mahogany and other tropical hardwoods. This particular canoe design has two akas connecting the ama to the main hull of the canoe. The akas are spaced approximately 1.5 feet apart and attach to the ama using lashing and forked wood fittings.   Overall Condition of Canoe: The overall condition of the canoe was very good. It was stored in a shipping container with all parts needed for assembly of the canoe in the main hull of the canoe. The canoe was secure in the shipping container and there was no visible sign of damage to the hull of the canoe. The shipping container was open on one side, but the top, bottom, back side and ends of the container were intact. The container protected the canoe and its parts from sun and shielded the canoe from most weather. The canoe is painted and the paint appears in excellent condition.

Some rainwater collected in the main hull of the canoe and some of the canoe parts were wet when inspected. Live oak leaves and pine straw had also collected in the main hull of the canoe. Evidence of a water level about three inches deep was observed as a stain line on the inside of the canoe. There was minimal water in the canoe when inspected for this report and the water and leaves were removed from the canoe. It is likely the standing water / tannin stains can be cleaned from the canoe.

The shipping crate contained the following items: 1. Main hull of the canoe or vaca 2. Outrigger hull or ama 3. Two akas 4. Four forked pieces of wood for attaching the akas to the ama. 5. One bundle of coconut hair rope for lashing connections in assembly of the outrigger. 6. One hand carved bailer 7. One hand carved paddle 8. Approximately 100 feet of coconut hair line for lashing parts of the canoe together during assembly. Condition of Individual Parts:

The water collecting in the canoe caused one of the akas and one of the forks to discolor. The discoloration was a paper thin layer and there was no structural rot. When tested with a knife blade, the discolored wood was as hard as wood without the water stains. The discoloration can be sanded off of the wood and is paper thin.

The bailer is very unique and in excellent condition. It fits the profile of the bottom of the canoe to scoop water out of the vessel. The bailer is hand carved, stunningly beautiful as well as functional. The paddle and the ama have minor cracks where the wood grain has split. This type of grain splitting is usually caused from drying of the wood. The splits can be repaired in the paddle and ama. The splitting in the ama does not appear to be structural. The splitting in the paddle is likely a structural issue because it is on the blade where the wood is thin. The canoe builder and an expert in marine wood repair can be consulted on options for repair of the wood grain in the paddle and ama. Two such experts are known to the author. One is a wooden boat builder in St. Augustine and the other is a retired marine carpenter and cabinet maker from Rhode Island who now resides in Beaufort, SC.  

All other parts of the boat were inspected for cracking, rot or other issues. No other issues were found during the inspection. The hull of the boat, akas, ama-aka connection forks, bailer and lashing line showed no signs of deterioration and appeared structurally sound. No cosmetic blemishes were observed other than the above listed water stains and minor grain splitting on the ama. Re-packaging the Canoe in the crate:

The small parts for this canoe were placed inside the main hull of the canoe for shipping and storage. Water collection in the main hull likely caused the minor cosmetic issues observed. To avoid future wetting of the canoe parts, the parts were packed above the main hull of the canoe. This will prevent soaking of the parts in the event of a rain event. The disadvantage to the repackaging is parts are more likely to fall out of the shipping container. Care should be taken if the shipping container is moved. Assembly of the Canoe: The canoe is in structurally sound condition and could be assembled with the parts supplied. All parts for assembly are present. As stated earlier, the cosmetic grain separation in the ama should be addressed prior to assembly. This cosmetic repair will be more difficult to access following assembly because grain splitting is near the location where an aka attaches to the ama.

Photos provided by the builder, Larry Raigetal, of similar vessels would be helpful in guiding assembly of this canoe. Likewise, video and / or photographic instruction in the lashing techniques used in assembly would be very beneficial. A very similar canoe with the ama and akas attached to the canoe is depicted in the photo by Arde Pedersen on the following page. The akas are attached to the main hull of the canoe by lashing. Likewise the ama is attached to the akas by lashing and four forked pieces of wood. The lashing is a very technical procedure and requires specialized knowledge and skill. We have sufficient coconut hair line to accomplish the lashing, but we do not have enough coconut hair line to practice and learn the lashing techniques. Because coconut hair line is both difficult to obtain and very labor intensive to manufacture, it is recommended that expert assistance be obtained for lashing with the coconut line. It is further recommended that video documentation of the lashing techniques be used to preserve the knowledge. Video documentation can be used as a tool to teach the lashing techniques to both Habele volunteers and future generations interested in learning the arts associated with building and assembling authentic Micronesian canoes. A modern production 3/32” synthetic fiber line should be used for learning and practicing the lashing techniques. There are several synthetic line products on the market that have a similar brown color to the authentic coconut hair line.  Temporary assembly of the canoe prior to obtaining expert lashing assistance can be done with synthetic line. The author does not recommend using synthetic line for final and permanent assembly of this canoe. The coconut hair line is the traditional and authentic lashing material for these craft. The coconut hair line should be used in permanent assembly to preserve and maintain the beauty and authenticity of this canoe. Conclusions: The canoe is in very good condition. The canoe can be assembled and used in its current condition. Repair of cosmetic grain splitting on the ama is recommended prior to assembly of the canoe. Repair of structural grain splitting on the paddle is necessary prior to use. Water stains can be removed from the akas and aka-ama connecting fork with light sanding or scraping. The water stains on the interior of the canoe can likely be cleaned with a soft sponge and water. Care should be used if using a detergent because this is a painted surface. Expert assistance is necessary for lashing with the rare and difficult to manufacture authentic coconut hair line supplied. The coconut hair line is difficult to manufacture and a precious resource. Practice lashing should not utilize the coconut hair line. Practice lashing or non-skilled assembly of the canoe can be accomplished by lashing with 3/32” or 1/8” synthetic fiber line. Synthetic fiber line is made in a brown color that resembles the authentic coconut hair line used for lashing in these canoes.

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From Stone Money to STEM Olympians: Micronesian students head to International Robotics Competition

The famously traditional Island of Stone Money is sending top students to a high tech global robotics competition. Students from 153 nations will gather in Washington DC this summer for the international high school robotics Olympics. Few will have traveled as far –geographically or culturally– as the Robo League team from Yap. The FIRST Global Challenge is a worldwide robotics competition. Small student teams design, build, and compete complex robots from simple parts. The work demands hands-on mastery of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills. Featuring teams from across the planet, it also serves as a forum for students to meet and partner with diverse international peers. Students in Yap –a remote Micronesian Island most famous for its Stone Money– established their own Robotics League in 2011, holding Micronesia’s first public exhibition in summer of 2012. Organized by US-based NGO “Habele,” the Yap Robo League remains the only coordinated multi-year robotics program in the Central or Western Pacific. It has grown and thrived through a defining partnership with a robotics team at Chaminade College Preparatory School, in Los Angeles, California. In-kind gifts of time and talent, as well as private donations and local fundraisers entirely finance the league.

The all-star team headed to the FIRST Global Challenge is comprised of three high school seniors from Yap Catholic High School, winners of the 2016 Habele Robo League Championship.  They will spend nearly a week in the US Capital, participating in a lavish international opening ceremony, a series of robotics exhibitions, competitions, and eliminations, as well as tours and team building exercises with students from around the world. “Since 2011, hardworking students, educators, and community members have grown and sustained one the Pacific’s most exceptional –and most popular– educational programs,” observed Alex Sidles, a Habele Director. “Invitation to the Global Challenge is just the latest testimony to the accomplishments and ambitions of the Yap Robo League, and its innovative focus on competition, incentives, and accountability.” The many tiny islands of Micronesia are home to a semi cash economy, primarily comprised of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Their remoteness and relative lack of resources limits formal economic growth and opportunities. However, they place great emphasis on preserving cultural practices while learning modern technology. Widely studied in the West, Yapese stone money, or "Rai," are an example. The large, circular stone disks have been used for centuries as currency. The system relies on oral histories of ownership because the carved stones are too large to move. One project to sustain traditional practices is “Waa’gey,” an after school cultural skills program. Many Yap Robo League students participate, receiving instruction on-campus and after-school from Waa’gey mentors in centuries old Carolinian carving and sailing techniques. “There are many connections between the techniques of canoe building and celestial navigation and the skills students develop with these robots,” explained Master Navigator Larry Raigetal. “The outside world’s increasing focus on so-called STEM instruction is, for us, something of a return to the way we’ve always understand knowledge and building. I hope our young people take that insight with them to Washington.” Share

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Adze Blades for Moch, Chuuk Canoe Carvers

Waa'gey sending adze blades to their fellow carvers on Moch, in Chuuk, Micronesia. Special thanks to Peace Corps Kaylin Dilbeck for cordinating!

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Historic Micronesian Canoes Make Landfall on Guam

(Hagåtña Harbor, Guam) This week, three hand-carved sailing canoes landed on Guam, completing a five-day voyage across the open ocean from Yap State. This arduous five day trek highlights the ongoing success of Waa’gey, a Yap-based mentorship program that trains island youth in traditional canoe carving and navigation. The voyage between Yap State and Guam served to bridge both time and cultures. “Waa’gey students are trained to see the value in the traditions of our ancestors,” said Larry Raigetal of Lamotrek Atoll, the group’s Program Director. “They learned to build a large sailing canoe with their own two hands, and put traditional navigation into practice on a real voyage. The old ways still work.” The canoes used were “Carolina Proas,” complex all wood outriggers designed, perfected, and made famous by Micronesians over centuries. Larry oversaw the project, captaining one of the sleek vessels that early Spanish missionaries called, “flying proas.” Designing, building and navigating traditional canoes requires tremendous expertise. The Lucky Star, one of the three canoes from Lamotrek, used a completely hand woven pandanus sail. This is the only fully traditional sail employed by any canoe on the voyage, or even attending the  Festival of Pacific Arts, the Pacific-wide event which drew the sailors to Guam. Historically, Outer Islanders traded woven skirts and mats for canoes built on Yap Proper. This was part of a complex trade network spanning hundreds of miles across the Caroline Islands, Guam, and even the Marianas. Today, the promise of healthcare, education and employment has drawn Outer Islanders to the larger, more developed islands in Micronesia. Many Micronesians have taken the further step of migrating to Guam or Hawaii, an option afforded them through the Compact of Free Association between the US and Micronesia.

For a decade now, Waa’gey has used mentored canoe building to help tackle contemporary social and environmental challenges across Yap State. This mission is driven by the belief that traditional values and skills have an ongoing role in teaching young people to confront modern challenges. The young men who arrived in Hagåtña are a testament to Waa’gey’s success. "For thousands of years, our people have been healthy and happy on tiny island atolls,” explained Raigetal. “Traditional practices taught us to use natural resources, and also protect them. Our cultures have withstood a lot of change over the centuries, but we’re dealing with more outside influences than ever. We’re also aware of the threat rising sea levels pose to low-lying islands. It’s not a theory. It’s real to us. This voyage to Guam is something the boys are quite proud of, but it’s just one symbol of the hard work and challenges they face in navigating Micronesia's -and their own- future.” Share

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Small Cost, Big Impact: DONATE NOW!

For a decade, we've served ambitious students from the most remote Micronesian Islands. This past year presented new challenges to Habele. Super Typhoon Maysak uprooted many of the communities and schools we support. A new category of educationally-displaced students emerged. Outer Island schools remain in disarray. Most families lack the resources for alternatives. Habele continues to receive scholarship applications from these displaced students, as well as families across Micronesia seeking the best classroom for their child. As in years past, demand greatly exceeds our limited resources. For under $600, Habele can place ambitious students in top schools in the state capitals for an entire school year. Our goal is to award twenty, K12 student scholarships in 2016. With your help we can make it happen. In addition to funding scholarships, money raised now sustains the only high school robotics league in the Central Pacific, a vibrant traditional skills mentorship program, and direct-to-schools library donations. This yearly plea is the only time Habele raises money. As an all-volunteer nonprofit, we channel contributions to our locally-defined programs, not aggressive fundraising efforts. By contributing, and urging friends and family to get involved, you empower ambitious Micronesian students to define and pursue their own futures. Please make a donation to Habele today. We are an IRS-recognized nonprofit, so you may be eligible for a tax deduction. Thank you for your continued support!

or send check or money order to  Habele, 701 Gervais St, STE 150-244, Columbia, SC 29201. Share

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Habele Partner Prepares for Historic Canoe Voyage

Larry Raigetal - www.waagey.org from Douglas on Vimeo.

Larry Raigetal is preparing for a voyage that few living people have accomplished. Using navigation techniques passed down by generations of traditional navigators, Larry will lead a fleet of four, hand-carved Micronesian canoes across 500 miles of open ocean. On May 10, the canoes will embark from the tiny island of Yap, with the intent of landfall on Guam in time for the Pacific Festival, which begins on May 22nd. 

Larry serves as Project Director for Waa’gey, a cultural mentorship program teaching traditional skills to young people on Micronesia’s remote islands. Instruction in canoe carving and traditional navigation are a central component of Waa’gey’s work. Some of the young people who have spent years honing these practices will have the unique opportunity to put them to the test on this historic voyage. Over the years, Habele has been proud to partner with Waa’gey’s efforts to train local students. In fact, the custom adze blades used in carving voyaging canoes and traditional paddles were provided by Habele!

The voyage from Yap to Guam in a carved canoe is - fortunately - being documented from start to finish. You can go here and watch footage of Larry and the Waa’gey team carving canoes, fashioning paddles, and even discussing the impact of climate change on traditional navigation. You may not have a seat in a canoe, but these videos provide a rare look into techniques and skills that have been passed down for generations on islands at the end of the world. 

or send check or money order to  Habele, 701 Gervais St, STE 150-244, Columbia, SC 29201.

Habele is a tax exempt, all-volunteer, US based nonprofit with a proud history of high impact support for our partners in Micronesia.

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