After years of sailing through the Pacific, I arrived at Lamotrek atoll on February 2nd, 2026. Lamotrek is a small island of 230 villagers within The Federated States of Micronesia. I arrived here physically exhausted after a difficult two-week sail, and spiritually depleted after two and a half years of wrestling the Pacific aboard my modern 27ft sailboat, Songbird.

What I found here on Lamotrek Atoll is something I had unknowingly been yearning for. Here is an interconnected, Indigenous community where families work together for their collective gain. Despite a lack of financial resources, the people of Lamotrek reap a rich, sustainable bounty from their ocean environment. There is no refrigeration on the island, and a cargo ship may visit once a month to deliver rice, fuel, and other basic necessities. To thrive here, Lamotrekese rely entirely on one another. There are weekly construction projects to replace community members’ thatched roofs. Fishing, hunting, and gathering is coordinated so no one goes hungry. The communal values of care, safety, and family were immediately extended to me upon arrival. Children play and laugh throughout the village. It is a joyful place.

As a voyager myself, I was immediately astounded by the four massive voyaging canoes I saw on my first exploration of Lamotrek. Throughout all of my time in the Pacific, never before had I beheld such incredible craftsmanship and generational wisdom in the form of an Indigenous people's living heritage. The sheer magnificence of these canoes would immediately earn them a place in a prestigious Western museum, and yet here they are: in the sand, under thatched roofs, still being used and cherished by this Indigenous community.

After a month of living in Lamotrek, I sat in the sand with thirty village men, enjoying the daily cups of fermented coconut nectar. Two voyaging canoes were close by, and I was admiring them. I leaned in to ask my friend, a Master Carver, Diano: “How long does it take to build one?” Five months. “When was the last boat built?” The last canoe built was in 2016, as a new canoe build is a massive undertaking that the whole community, and particularly the local primary school, is a part of. A crazy idea was beginning to form. “Has any of the necessary knowledge on how to build a canoe been lost?” No. Then, with quiet reverence, I asked Diano: “What if we built a new canoe and went voyaging?” He smiled.

I consulted with the Chief, the Master Carvers, the elders, and the community. They enthusiastically agreed to accept the commission of a new voyaging canoe that I will captain with a crew of eight or nine local men. We will voyage to Hawaii and around the Pacific, showcasing the artful craftmanship of Lamotrekese and Micronesian canoe carvers, builders, and navigators.

With a full community effort, this build is estimated to take five to six months with modern tools that I will bring from SE Asia. My vision is this canoe be built entirely with traditional materials, which includes over a mile of coconut fiber rope. The canoe will be built from the wood of two breadfruit trees the villagers have raised for over 35 years, reserved specifically for a voyaging canoe build.

The photos I've attached to this campaign show the exact trees we will use. I have also attached photos of a small model built of a proper voyaging canoe, so you can get an idea of what the finished craft will look like. The length of the canoe will be around 30 feet.

To celebrate this Indigenous ingenuity, I need your help. The Lamotrek community has given me so much. Supporting this community through the commission of a canoe is a way for the people of the island of Lamotrek to maintain financial security, while nurturing their ancestral heritage. The young children on the island will be involved in the build, beginning their own journey to becoming master carvers, and keeping their heritage alive and thriving.

Below is a breakdown of costs for this commission:

Master Carver and Laborers Fee: $12,000

Breadfruit Tree Fee: $100 per tree

Coconut Fiber Rope Fee: $5,000

Tools cost: $3,000

Traditional Pandanus Leaf Sail: $5,000

I will create a comprehensive YouTube series detailing all the steps we take to bring this canoe to life. I will additionally continue filming and posting reels on Instagram and TikTok of the build process. For the voyage, I will have a Starlink Mini dish so I can give daily updates.

Thank you for donating to this campaign to support this spectacular Indigenous community. Your support gives them the opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship to the over two million people who are a part of the sailing_songbird audience, and beyond. In my heart, I know this is the most important project I will ever embark on. I cannot make it happen alone.

Luke… Or as they call me here, Lukasi

Note: ALL funds raised will go directly towards the people of Lamotrek Atoll