An Pacific va'a (canoe) builder and ocean voyager has been commended by the Samoa Voyaging Society President for keeping the va'a building tradition alive.

Memea Lyvia Black told the Samoa Observer in an interview on Friday that former voyager John Misky has achieved a milestone in traditional va'a building in New Zealand. 

Early in December last year a rare Samoan soatau va'a sailed out of Porirua harbour, New Zealand for the first time, the conclusion of a project that Mr. Misky indicated was five-years in the making with him leading it.

"Le Aiga Folau o Samoa are delighted that in Aotearoa, we have our voyagers as John Misky making their own mark in reviving canoe building traditional knowledge," added Memea.

According to the S.V.S. President, the celebration was to highlight the Samoan soatau va'a sail out of Porirua harbour for the first time.  

"It was five years in the making, as we witness the coming together of a community to celebrate culture and heritage and the completion of one man's vision," she said.

A video of the launch was posted recently by the boat builder on his Facebook page and was titled "Le Ta Va'a". 

The YouTube video of the Samoan canoe's launching in New Zealand last December premiered on Wednesday.

Memea said Mr. Misky used to sail with the Gaualofa from 2009 onwards and she was elated to see the craft of canoe building returning. 

"It is an exciting stage to see our voyagers venturing into building or carving  their own dream canoes," she said. 

The S.V.S. President also said one of society's aims is to  encourage people of like mind and purpose to revive canoe building and ocean sailing using traditional navigational methods. 

The other goals are to encourage and sustain traditional Samoan canoe building, reintroduce the use of sails with traditional canoes, and encourage their use throughout Samoa as a means of transport and recreational or sporting activity.

Memea pointed out that while New Zealand is struggling to find boat builders, she is proud to know that there are many Samoans who still build their own canoes to go out fishing. 

"I was looking for someone to build a canoe, but found out that one of my staff does so he told me that he has built five canoes," she said. 

"Now he is working on building us a canoe." 

According to UNESCO the Pacific Region has a unique heritage of sea voyaging and navigation. 

"Human civilization flourished throughout the region due to the exceptional skills of different peoples to navigate the high seas and live sustainably on small islands. 

"The different civilizations that established themselves in the Pacific lead to tremendous linguistic diversity while maintaining a shared heritage of the ocean and inter-island communications, trade and belief systems."