A month-long 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.”
The project underscored the importance of revitalising traditional canoe building and wayfinding as a means to strengthen Pacific identity, cultural pride, and regional solidarity.
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.
Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific, delivered the keynote address at the project launch.
“We are proud to support this initiative, which lies at the intersection of sustainable development and the preservation of the Pacific way of life. The European Union has long partnered with the Pacific to protect the ocean and support its communities,” she highlighted.
“Importantly, PEUMP goes beyond policy and technical support by valuing traditional knowledge and community leadership. It invests in training local experts, promotes gender-inclusive approaches, and fosters cultural engagement; supporting ocean governance that respects both ecology and identity.”
The launch event brought together voyaging societies, government representatives, regional institutions, and cultural advocates, reaffirming a shared commitment to preserving Pacific maritime heritage while equipping future generations with the skills and knowledge to navigate both ocean and change.
USP is one of four key implementing partners of the PEUMP Programme, a EUR 45 million programme that promotes sustainable management and sound ocean governance for food security and economic growth while addressing climate change resilience and conservation of marine biodiversity.
It follows a comprehensive approach, integrating issues related to ocean fisheries, coastal fisheries, community development, marine conservation, and capacity building under one single regional action.
The PEUMP programme is housed within the USP Centre for Sustainable Future (CSF).
