Samoa Voyaging Society - Aiga Folau o Samoa will have their crew sail to Savai'i on the traditional voyaging canoe "Paikea" early Sunday morning.

The Paikea, which will head for Salelologa, will carry a crew of 12 including Captain Greg Gallop, who flew in especially to skipper the Paikea to Savai'i.  The vaa folau will do the Conservation International-led Guardians educational outreach in Savai'i that will start coming Monday. 

The environment-focused awareness program will target Year 7 students of the Asaga, Faasaleleaga area from 12-16 June 2023 with Vaitoomuli in the Palauli area from 26-30 June 2023 and get the students immersed in an experiential learning environment.

SVS Aiga Folau hopes to share and inspire more young people to treasure and appreciate the value of retaining "ancestral traditional voyaging navigation knowledge and skills". 

Samoa Voyaging Society said it is pleased to acknowledge the lead by Conservation International in the program as well as their multi-sector partnership with the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture (MESC), Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) in delivering the Manaaki Project through this Guardians program in Savai'i. The Manaaki Project is funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Samoa Voyaging Society crew who are sailing on the voyaging canoe "Paikea" to Savai'i are Captain Greg Gallop, Steve Daniels, Zebadiah Tetonga, Tuainekore Katu Teiti, Karl Steffany, Mao Onesemo, Sa'oleititi Carol Duffy, Mika Mulivai Paitusi, Pitapola Ioane, Leota Donna Ioane, Aloma Black, and Lyvia Black.