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 The plan...
Chronology of the LAKA project
History begins:
Late in the fall of 1996 we were
approached by a group of individuals to assist them in realizing their childhood
dream. These Waikiki beach boys from the 50's shaped a vision, ultimately
leading to a project for our youth. It would provide an opportunity to realize a
young boy’s dream. This
dream would allow us all to capture, and hold, a piece of time when a distant South Seas paradise was
born. It would allow us to be able to actively participate in learning about the
various cultures of the people of Polynesia, along with their traditions, and customs. The people of
paradise, the people of "Aloha". It was an opportunity to actually help make
this vision come true. To be part of a project such as this would be a great
honor. To help preserve a time capsule of this Paradise would be
a life’s dream come true. We truly were honored that this man and his childhood
comrades would ask us to work on this project with them.
Their vision was of
preserving the culture of Hawaii and the traditions therein, and to bring them to
the shores of California and the mainland. For in this way, the Pacific Islander
Community could continue enjoying their traditions on the mainland and "Bring
together as one" the shores of time. The premise was simply to build a 65' voyaging
canoe and use it as the educational platform for youth and children of all ages
in order to learn and preserve the respect for life from the eyes of the
Polynesian Culture. To accomplish this enormous task, The
LAKA
Foundation
was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For the purposes of this
project, the meaning of
LAKA
is described as, " ‘the sum total of’, or, ‘to
bring together as one’ ". Today we remain a grassroots organization located in
our office at Moonlight Beach, California. The full-scale model of the
LAKA
canoe is on display at this location.
Because of its vastness in scope, we have moved slowly so that we could develop
time frames, build infrastructure, develop advisors, collect resources, etc. Our
requirements include media exposure, funding, asset development, logistics, as
well as fund raising programs. So many people have the talent to bring this
project to reality that we preferred to be postured appropriately prior to
launching the program publicly. The process will include locating an appropriate
log for the canoe hull. This we hope to have donated by the Department of
Forestry, Canadian Department of Forestry, Native Indians of the Alaskan
Territories. We will ask for space to be donated by Matson or another shipping
line and have this log sent to Hilo Hawaii where the Foundations Kahuna Kali
Wa’a, master canoe builder and carver Raymond Bumatay, is preparing the canoe
hale (grass shack) and site for construction. Mr. Bumatay, devout father, coach,
and revered canoe designer has over 43 years experience in canoe construction.
He will lead his team of builders and crew in the construction and sailing of
the vessel. When complete, it will be ceremoniously blessed and launched in
Hawaii for its maiden voyage to its new home in San Diego, California. Here it
will be home ported and travel to the marinas throughout the California coast
providing the educational platform for children of all ages and ethnicity to
participate in the culture of Aloha.
The foundation will apply for the
historical and cultural grants currently available for this purpose. Presently,
plans are underway to locate our log for this project. It will require Mr.
Bumatay to select the log to be harvested from the forest. The log will take
approximately two years to cure and become ready for its transformation through
the artistic and talented hands of Mr. Bumatay and his crew of carvers and
sailors. The maintenance of the vessel will be a joint effort by selected
members of the community. Due diligence and commitment will provide the premise
for selection of the honored position of curator and preserver of the
LAKA
Voyaging canoe. It will belong to the communities of Aloha and the people
within. Once ported in California the curriculum will include respect for our
natural gifts of land and sea, respect for our elders, and our fellow
man. Courses including celestial navigation; preservation of our oceans,
Polynesian traditions, crafts, food, music, dance, myths/legends, history and
birth of the Pacific Islander People, the Hawaiian Waterman and his contribution
to the development of this colorful culture will be preserved in education.
This
is our dream and vision now underway to reality. Interested people should
contact Art Pichierri @ 800-398-4313 for information regarding this magnificent
project.
Malama Kei Kai, (Cherish the Sea)
Mahalo,
Art Pichierri - Chairman of The LAKA Foundation
On the following pages you will find information we will release and update
to mark our steps forward. Feel free to follow our progress as we attempt to bring to life the incredible
engineering feats of the ancient Polynesian watermen.
 Recent Media Coverage of
The LAKA Foundation
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