Cook Islands Vaka Eiva Festival
An outrigger canoeing celebration and competition on Rarotonga
The Vaka Eiva festival of canoeing is a blend of exciting canoe races, cultural exchange and a traditional celebration of the canoeing heritage of the South Pacific.
The Vaka Eiva Festival of Canoeing was started by Cook Islands Canoeing Association in 2004 and is hosted on the picturesque island of Rarotonga. This exciting annual festival celebrates the South Pacific heritage of canoeing with races and a host of other activities. The Vaka Eiva does not just offer an exciting and memorable sporting event for spectators, but also a time to see the traditional culture of the Cook Islands and other nations on display.
On the first day of the festival there is a welcome by village leaders, dancing and singing performances and a blessing of all the canoes taking part and on the last day of competition each country attending the festival is obliged to present a brief cultural show for the participants and spectators.
If you wish to time your holiday to the Cook Islands with the Vaka Eiva festival of canoeing this years dates can be found at
http://oceania-island-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/whats_on_in_the_cook_islands_2007
The Vaka Eiva has been described by competitors as the most friendly and fun event for outrigger canoes in the world, and well worth attending as a competitor or as an interested spectator. Canoeing clubs from Hawaii, Fiji, Niue, Australia and New Zealand join the Cook Island clubs in serious competition. In 2005 over 200 paddlers took part. It has become the largest annual sporting event in the Cook Islands.
The many sprint races take place on the beautiful Muri Lagoon, the V6 iron-man event outside the reef and the Pacific Cup V6 relay race circumnavigates the island on the final day of racing. There are also several novelty events including the world famous “pop the ama” competition.
The events are conducted in all kinds of conditions, from smooth and glassy waters to the tougher conditions of surf and gusty winds. Races include sections for men, women and mixed crews. Individual races and crew competitions are highlighted.
The Vaka Eiva competition is a time when the significance of canoes in the Pacific is fully embraced.
