Youngest waka crew steps up

Only traditional navigation techniques such as the stars, moon and sun were used to guide the waka.

The Cook Islands know how to put on a celebration, so to mark its 50th year of self-governance, they're doing it big - a celebration that goes all year long.

A waka voyage got festivities under way, with five waka from across the Pacific, including our own Te Matau a Maui, accepting the invitation to head to Rarotonga.

It is the youngest crew Te Matau a Maui has had for a journey like this which also made them the youngest of the five waka fleet.

Of the 16 crew members, there are the core group of experienced sailors but the majority are under 20 years old, which is unheard of, says Te Matau a Maui navigator Piripi Smith.

Half-way into the journey, the crew were battered with a freak lightning storm a few hundred miles off the East Cape of New Zealand.

"One of our sails got ripped, it just came out of nowhere and it hit us hard, but our experienced crew on board were able to handle such an intense squall, everyone on deck stepped up at that time," said Smith.

That leg of the journey fell into the hands of the youngest and only female skipper onboard, Hana-Lee Wainohu, 24, who had control of the waka during the lightning and torrential rain.

"She was really organised and really calm, giving the new crew clear instructions so the waka didn't get out of hand," says Smith.

Only traditional navigation techniques were used to guide the waka, using the stars, moon and sun as well as reading the ocean currents and swells plus "lots of karakia".

But more than 2000 nautical miles, two storms and 15 days later, the crew arrived safely in Rarotonga to meet up with the other four waka.

Special events will be held in the lead-up to Te Maeva Nui, which translates into the big celebration, where the Cook Islands will come to life with excitement to celebrate its independence.

August 4, 1965, is when the Cook Islands separated from New Zealand to become a self-governing nation.

The Cooks are still officially under New Zealand sovereignty and the Queen, which makes them still entitled to New Zealand citizenship.

Smith says it is a huge honour to be part of the celebrations and it is good to have the fleet back together - Haunui (Pan-Pacific), Marumaru Atua (Cook Island), Gaualofa (Samoa) and Faafaite (Tahiti).

Te Matau a Maui will spend a day in Aitutaki then sail to each of the surrounding islands before heading back to Napier, aiming to be home by the end of June.