The Pacific Arts Festival Opening Cermonies
In blanketing but stirring darkness, the opening ceremony for the Pacific Arts Festival began. It was as though the time of transition between night and dawn reflected upon itself to embrace the space between spirit and the world of the physical. In those moments between light and dark, spirit and material, quiet anticipation and splendid energy… magic appeared like images in a darkroom. It was 4:30 in the morning, that time of possibility and potential when the night is still dark enough to see beyond the stars, but the sun is soon to rise and radically alter the fabric of the world. The constellation of makali’i remains engrained in my memory, alongside planets so vibrant you could almost trick your eyes into seeing the rings of Jupiter. A small fire on the beach gently illuminated a group of people from Papua New Guinea, and spears stood tall above the crowds as some of the few shapes decipherable.
Crowds numbered in the hundreds, perhaps even the thousands, vibrantly colored in their indigenous dress but in the darkness of the early morning, they all appeared only as people…as breath, as heart, as the fabric that unites us all regardless of the visible diversity that unfolded when the sun rose above the horizon to shine upon the earth.
Pacific Islanders shared the splendor of what defines and unites…. haka, song, dance, and music. Delegates of each nation accepted intricate shell necklaces in formal ceremony and raindrops fell, universally recognized as a blessing. Then we were told to expect something amazing, which I expected to be the fleet of vaka, visible only as single navigation lights upon the masts.
Instead, the sky erupted in a wild fireworks show with unlikely music absolutely blaring from the speakers (including, strangely, the theme song to the television show “friends”). It was quite a sight really, particularly given the soundtrack….
Then came something far more remarkable than the most sophisticated of fireworks shows, moments I cannot imagine ever witnessing again, even if I was to live a thousand lifetimes.
A fleet of traditional canoes from the Western Province of the Solomon Islands emerged as long silouhettes on the horizon, each paddled by at least fifteen people, moving at lightening speed and stunningly beautiful against the fleet of vaka moana.
These long dugout canoes are called tomoko, from the Western Province of the Solomons and traditionally used for head hunting. The sunrise became deeper as colors emerged.
Clouds rested softly over mountain tops, disappearing into contours of rock, and two different traditions of voyaging merged, sailing side by side.
As the morning’s first light began to illuminate the shoreline, the intricacy of these canoes and their crews emerged, along with the details of each vaka sail beyond. The tomoko moved stealthily around the vaka moana and then took turns racing to the beach, beaching themselves abruptly and scaring the life out of the crowds along the shoreline!
It was truly beautiful to watch all of the faces on land and at sea, an energy coursing through their expression that is difficult to convey with written word.
Warriors and goddesses welcomed the Pacific Voyagers to shore as the the light grew golden….
Hine Moana sailed proudly with lauhala sails…
Inter-island canoe Okeanos sailed with all the potential that sustainable solar-powered transportation carries to empower communities across the Pacific…
Traditional tomoko moved beautifully amongst the vaka moana…
Moments unforgettable, the air itself was alive, and if there is one aspect I will never forget it is the faces of humanity, shared hearts shining through their eyes, and the realization that in our diversity truly lies a truth so precious and timely…. that we are all one.
by Karen Holman, Pacific Voyagers
15 Responses to The Pacific Arts Festival Opening Cermonies
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Aloha e Karen,
One word…beautiful.
Your description of everything, everyone and every word puts into perspective what you were seeing helps us to see the true essence of what Akua has created for the world to see and to connect…have fun on your journey on the ocean before coming home, do me a favor and look up into the sky tonight at around 3:30-4:45 a.m. for our brothers and sisters in their waka in the heavens and take pictures of them. Love to see those pictures as well…aloha sister. -
makere aroha says:
Tena koe e Karen
Thank you for such a beautiful interpretation of this event. And you have captured the true spirit of such a magnificent event celebrating who we are and where we are from and yes above all the fact that we are all one family. Aroha mai aroha atu tatou tatou e. ….. and our ancestors sing with joy ….
Makere Aroha -
That looks amazing. I wish I could see this, maybe the next one. Tell Kim Ali’itasi McGuire I said Hi! And Have amazing fun!
P.S The writer of the Friends Song “I’ll Be there for you” Grammy Award winning song writer Alliee Willis is an awesome person and would be Elated to know her song was played during the Fire works of this Very Special event!
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vakavehine says:
WOW ~~ thanks Karen for such an amazing description of an amazing event. I wish I could have followed the vakas from Fiji to welcome them in the Solomons, but it was not to be. I have experienced the incredible feelings of seeing the vakas arrive in Fiji, both in Lavuka and Suva….moments I will never forget. This arrival ceremony in the Solomons was truly an epic event to mark the end of an epic voyage.
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tina daehler says:
Karen~ Your words and photographs are so vivid and colorful. Mahalo. Have a safe trip home.
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Gaylene Sciascia says:
Kia ora karen, the heart beat quickens, and mind expands, this is all so special, spiritual and empowering
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Ulalena says:
Deeply moving to see those awesome pictures and read the soulful commentary….profound Mahalo to Pua for sharing this event, to Karen for writing and the photographers for the visionary part….and AO to the One Spirit that connects us all in such enormous detail …. as ONE family of Aloha…..
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Really appreciated being able to see these photos and read your descriptive account of this unique experience! Thank you. Hope there will be more to come on the Pacific Arts Festival…
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Darriel & Iris Woodward says:
WOW, what a magnificent event you all got to share and enjoy. Thank you for sharing this wonderful event for all to enjoy…
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Karen!
Thanks for your blogh which enlightens the World with heart breaking and sometimes breath taking moments of truth as they unfold from the 11th Pacific Art Festival – through your camera eyes and words, you are just fantastic Journor. Please open up our eyes with more, so that in the end,we can summed it up, “Now I understand” As a Solomon Islander I salute you for your fine reporting. Ta – Smile Tan -
Lorain Webb says:
Thank you Voyagers All for your deep service to our dear Mother Pacific, to the ancestors, and to the Great Good Thing. And thank you, Karen, and other writers throughout the Pacific Voyagers’ Journey, for the telling that shares the being of it.. truly a gift for we land-locked sea-farers. May you all continue to sail in balance and beauty! Arohanui!
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Kristen deCL says:
Absolutely stunning photos! Thank you for such a heartfelt account of the experience. I am grateful to Pacific Voyagers for allowing us to share in this.
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Ambrose Pereira sdb says:
It has indeed been a time of interaction and sharing that has brought joy, happiness, laughter and peace to us all. This is something that we shall treasure for many years to come. Thanks so very much to you Karen, Rui and the many others who have made it possible to catch a glimpse of the richness of colour, shape and form. Wishing you all success in the journey of Life.
Karen a beautiful description of the Solomon festivities, made me feel like I was there…