COLLABORATION between the Tonga Voyaging Society and Fijian master builders has brought to life a unique fleet of hybrid canoes – merging the iconic Fijian Drua and Tongan Kalia.
This fusion of Indigenous craftsmanship, ancestral navigation knowledge, and modern materials was recently celebrated at the official launch of the Tongan Canoe Project in Suva, Fiji.
The initiative, supported by The University of the South Pacific component of the Pacific European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme, was delivered in partnership with the Uto Ni Yalo Trust (UNYT).
Funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden, the PEUMP project honours Pacific heritage and advances sustainable sea transport, demonstrating how tradition and innovation can navigate a shared ocean future.
The launch event served as a tribute to Pacific resilience and ocean stewardship, with the handcrafted canoes symbolising both cultural pride and a commitment to sustainable maritime solutions across the Pacific.
“In celebrating this partnership between USP’s Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership Programme and the Uto Ni Yalo Trust, we recognise a powerful effort to revive Pacific maritime knowledge,” said Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, the USP Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Regional Campuses and Global Engagement).
“This initiative bridges traditional wisdom with modern innovation, strengthens sustainable sea transport, and empowers our communities through vocational training. It is through such collaborations that we honour our heritage, build resilience, and shape a sustainable future for the Blue Pacific.”
By reconnecting communities with ancestral knowledge systems, such as navigation by stars, swells, and wind lore, the initiative fosters climate resilience and sustainable ocean stewardship.