Tepuke Ready to Sail to Honiara for PIFLM Opening

by Georgina Maka’a

The Tepuke, a traditional voyaging canoe from Taumako (Duff Islands), is set to sail this week to Lata in Temotu Province before joining the opening ceremony of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

In Lata, the Tepuke will meet the Fijian voyaging canoe Uto ni Yalo, which left Suva last week carrying crew representatives from various Pacific voyaging societies and organisations.

Together, they will embark on the “Wansolwara Voyage” to Honiara for the opening of the PIFLM summit on 8 September 2025.

Dr Simon Salopuka, Executive Director of the Vaka Valo Association and coordinator of the Tepuke voyage, told In-depth Solomons that the Wansolwara Voyage was the outcome of recent meetings with the Pasifiki Voyagers Alliance in Suva, Fiji around July 2025.

“The purpose of the voyage is to deliver a unified message to the leaders attending the PIFLM,” Dr. Salopuka said.

The messages include;

A healthy ocean is essential for a healthy climate.
The Pacific Islands region is an ocean of peace.
Call for a fossil fuel-free Pacific and 100% renewable energy.
Call for 100% ocean management and 30% marine protected areas across Exclusive Economic Zones and the high seas.
Support for the ratification and implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement.

Dr Salopuka explained that the Tepuke measures 12 metres in length and will be crewed by 13 sailors, including one woman.

The *Tepuke* during its Commissioning before departing for Lata on 26th August 2025. CREDIT/**Taumako Indigenous Knowledge Institution- TIKI**

“The crew members are all from Taumako, with one from Nifiloli in Veakau District, Reef Islands.

“They know how to navigate the Tepuke because we have been practicing inter-island voyaging since 2012, reviving the old ways of trading within the Santa Cruz Group,” he said.

“They are well-versed in using ancient methods of navigation,” Dr Salopuka added.

Once the Tepuke reaches Lata, it will sail alongside the Uto ni Yalo to deliver their collective message to regional leaders at the PIFLM summit.

“We sail in support of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Motalava Treaty, which recognises traditional connections between the two countries, including intentions for marine protected and managed areas pending due process and consultations,” Dr Salopuka added.

He also noted that the Taumako and Veakau communities based in Honiara are preparing to welcome the Tepuke and Uto ni Yalo when they arrive.

Dr Salopuka also acknowledges the following groups and collaborative partners for supporting the Wansolwara (One Ocean) Initiative;