Fund Hinemoana II: Women Leading Ocean Stewardship

Hinemoana II is a team of women led by Aunofo Havea Funaki and Fealofani Bruun. Hinemoana is the mother of the oceans, the guardian of the seas and the wife of Kiwa, the great chief of the waters. She protects those who traverse the oceans.

Although this canoe is registered and managed by the Tonga Voyaging Society, the crew are all women from the different islands of the Pacific Ocean including Samoa, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Hawai'i. Captain Aunfo and Captain Fealofani are few of the female Polynesian captains. They are dedicated to empowering other women to take leadership and become captains and seafarers in their communities.

Here is some insight into the purpose of Hinemoana II:

The all-female crew will conduct critical marine research, including whale population monitoring and eDNA mapping;

Hinemoana II holds great cultural significance as a traditional voyaging canoe and will continue to sail the routes of our ancestors between Tonga and Aotearoa.

Hinemoana II is a floating classroom doing education on culture and environment with local communities, schools and visitors.

She is Tonga Voyaging Society’s first voyaging canoe embodying the rich voyaging heritage of the Pacific while also highlighting the integral role of traditional voyaging in supporting ocean stewardship and management;

The project is a collaboration between the Tonga Voyaging Society, the Māori Iwi Te Whanau Apanui and Conservation International Pacific Islands.

In order to keep Hinemoana II going as a floating classroom, an education vessel for indigenous knowledge and an advocate for environmental health for our oceans, our whales, and our islands, funding is needed for continued maintenance and provisions to take care of the crew. Please help Captain Aunofo and Captain Fani with their mission to empower the women, protecting our oceans, and perpetuating our indigenous knowledge.