Malama Honua Waka Story!

At Pt England beach, Panmure, Auckland, NZ.. Manaiakalani Schools - Glenbrae Room 7, 9, 10 and 8, Pt England, Ruapotaka, Tamaki College, Tamaki Primary, Stonefields, Glen Innes, Panmure Bridge, St Pius X, St Patricks and Kura Kaupapa - 2000 students!

Wednesday 25 March 2015 we walked to Pt England beach to welcome the visitors that sailed on a Waka, all the way from Hawaii to NZ! We and other schools welcomed the visitors by singing Maori songs, E Oho, He Honore and Nga Waka. He Honore and E Oho was just singing. While we’re singing the Nga Waka song there is kind of Haka to it. In the song “E Oho” a rangatira (important person) sang the first parts in the song then we sing the rest of the song. He Honore was just a normal song.

The Hawaiian voyagers came to NZ so they could learn navigation skills. A lot of people were filming this once in a lifetime moment.. The Malama Honua Waka was also going to be on television.

When the waka welcoming was finished we came down to high-five the voyagers and some students from other schools, there were a lot of people we had to high-five. I was trying to run and high-five the voyagers but it was really hard to run in the sand with shoes on. When we were finally done high-fiving the voyagers Glenbrae School and the other schools went up onto the bridge and sat on the grass next to Pt England School.

At last we were on our way back to school we were all so hungry, tired and thirsty! Instead of going back the longer way, we went through a short cut it was like a bush walk. I felt really tired but it was a lot of fun welcoming the Hawaiian voyagers and getting to have a chance on television and maybe newspapers.