Today Room 7 and the other senior students from Glenbrae School walked to Point England Beach for a once in a lifetime experience. We were part of the welcoming of the Malama Honua waka that arrived from Hawai'i. There were all twelve Manaiakalani schools present and we sang to welcome the sailors ashore. Manaiakalani is a Hawaiian word which means 'hook from heaven'. The 'Children of the navigators' Russell Burt described us as because as Tongan, Māori, Samoan, Niuean, Fijian, Cook Islands, we are descendants of the navigators who first travelled here hundreds of years ago. This is why it was significant that we as Manaiakalani schools could be there to welcome the voyagers today. 
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| Waiting for the waka to arrive |
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| Welcoming the waka |
Hi Room 7
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful to see students from all the Manaiakalani Schools together to greet those on the Malama Honua voyage and I was very proud of all of you.