NEW CANOE WILL RECEIVE BLESSING
THE Strand will play host to an ancient Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony to christen a new canoe, bringing a touch of Hawaii to North Queensland.
Magnetic Island Outrigger Canoe Club and surrounding local water-sport clubs will gather behind the Tobruk Pool today to participate in the outrigging tradition.
The club will host the ceremony to bless their new six-seater canoe as Malolo, named after a beloved member of the outrigger club who suddenly passed away. Malolo was designed and made by Hawaiian canoe builder Johnny Puakea and arrived in Australia four weeks ago after a delay due to COVID-19.
Magnetic Island Outrigger Canoe Club paddler, coach and secretary Kim Whiting said Malolo was a first in North Queensland.
“In outrigger culture, our canoes are a living entity and we pay respect to the canoes and they are females and are seen as grandmothers or elders,” she said. “The blessing is important as it brings a cleansing of the area, new beginnings and a protectiveness for many safe journeys.”
Blessing the canoe requires water from a koa (wood) bowl splashed onto the exterior of the new craft by a minister. It is a symbol of how the canoe’s wood and the water are one and are all aspects of living nature.
Ms Whiting said the two-and-a-half hour ceremony would be joined by elders of the Wulgurukaba people and feature a smoking ceremony, singers, hymns and a sausage sizzle.
It was important that people know that outrigger racing was part of Micronesia culture and the double outrigger canoe was from the Torres Strait.