Announcing our prizes for the raffle! Don’t forget to please share with friends. It is this weekend, August 19th, 3pm PST

These unique handicrafts from our travels could be yours with one ticket for $20, or 3 for $50 (send money via Paypal.com or Wellsfargo.com ‘Surepay’ to greencoconutrun@gmail.com ). Contributions of $100 or $250 automatically get gifts, as a big thank you!

NOTE: The raffle is to support an amazing project, a school children’s network of marine reserve in Marquesas Archipelago, read below.

About the Kid’s Reserve:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/08/07/marine-reserves-start-with-kids-in-marquesas/

Why Funds are needed:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/08/08/the-kids-reserves-take-on-a-challenge/

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#1 Wooden Tiki Carving

Origin: Hiva Oa, the main island in the southern Marquesas archipelago.

Story: Our local friend Mu, who guided us around the island and helped a bunch while we were hauled out at the boatyard, introduced us to a wood carver, who made us this cool little Tiki from rosewood (5 inches tall)

EMMA: This island’s marine reserve for school children (the “EMMA”, or Educational Marine Managed Area) is in the north coast, in a bay called Hanaipa, which we visited with Pierre, Lianna, and Chris during our stay in Hiva Oa.

Blog: Read about our visit to Hanaipa here…
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/07/07/hanaipas-simple-good-living/

Aldebaran’s Route Map of Hiva Oa:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/07/04/route-map-of-hiva-oa/

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#2 Tapa of a Tiki

Origin: Fatu Hiva, southernmost island in Marquesas.

Story: This island has legendary status with sailors as having the most “beautiful bay in the world”, called Bay of Virgins (Hanavave). It is also famous as the home of Thor Heyerdahl and his fiancée for a year in a “back to nature” experiment, where he developed his theory of Polynesian migration which would eventually blossom into the Kon Tiki expedition. The Tapa is an ancient form of paper or clothing made from tree bark, which is pounded or “tapped” for many hours. This was given to us as a gift by Tahina and her family, who we met in the village of Omoa. It was our first landfall in the Marquesas islands, a seven day passage from the Gambier islands, along with our core crew Spencer and visiting crew Deena.

EMMA: The marine reserve for the school children is located in the bay of Hanaui, next to the village of Omoa.

Blog: Read about our visit to Fatu Hiva here…
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/06/11/approaching-fatu-hiva/

Aldebaran’s Route Map from Gambier to Fatu Hiva:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/06/06/map-of-marquesas-passage/

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#3 Red Marquesan Nut Necklace

Origin: Nuku Hiva, the main island in the northern Marquesas islands.

Story: We took an overland trip to the north coast of Nuku Hiva, which has magnificent bays with dramatic ridgelines, and powerful archeological sites. Our guide for the day was Josephine, who works with special ed kids on the island. We visited her family in the idyllic village of Hatiheu and she gave us this necklace as a gift at the end of a fantastic day with crew members Matt, Diyana, and Melanie.

EMMA: The marine reserve is in the bay of Anaho, next to the village of Hatiheu. It is famous with sailors as the “smoothest” anchorage in all the Marquesas.

Blog: We are yet to share our visit to Nuku Hiva island. Stay tuned!

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#4 Pandanus & Goatskin Hat

Origin: Ua Pou, the center for the revival of Marquesan culture.

Story: The village of Hakahetau is in an incredibly scenic location: at the base of a valley with vertical spires of rock jutting into the clouds. This is where we met Pascal, who has been representing the EMMA project in the United Nations, and in discussions to expand the model throughout French Polynesian and all French territories. Pascal told us about the challenges they suddenly experienced to fund their trip to a global conference in Chile, to share their project with scientists from around the world. Living up the valley is Yvonne, a fiery and vivacious woman who makes hats and mats from Pandanus and Goatskin. Our friend Diyana purchased this hat, but then subsequently donated it to the raffle. Thank you Di!

EMMA: The marine reserve is in the bay directly in front of the village of Hakahetau, which is one of the most photographed locations in the Marquesas.

Blog: We are yet to share our visit to Ua Pou island. Stay tuned!

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#5 Black Pearls

Origin: Gambier Islands, in the south-eastern corner of French Polynesia.

Story: After our three week passage across the Pacific (and a week-long visit to the Pitcairn Islands), Aldebaran’s first landfall in French Polynesia was Gambier. It might as well be Eden: it is an archipelago of 5 islands inside a large 10nm lagoon, with transparent turquoise water and lush hills with pine trees and other varieties. The lagoon is Gambier is ideally suited for black pearl farming, which is only found in Gambier, Tuamotos, and a few other select South Pacific atolls. We visited a pearl farm and purchased some of their pearls during our visit with Spencer and Deena.

EMMA: None yet.

Blog: Read about our visit to Gambier here…
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/06/02/the-splendid-island-of-taravai-part-1/

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#6 Shell Lei Necklace

Origin: Reao Atoll, Tuamotos.

Story: Reao is one of the most remote atolls in the Tuamotos, and is rarely visited by sailboats due to its lack of reef pass. It was a halfway mark between Gambier and Marquesas, so we paid a visit during our passage, without much expectation of success. The locals helped us anchor and we were blown away by their hospitality and the remarkable sights in the atolls (including a sunken sea plane in shallow water). Our host was the town nurse: Gautin, a French man married to Marguerite, a Reao local woman, who gave us this necklace that she made from local shells.

EMMA: None yet.

Blog: Read about our visit to Reao atoll here…
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/06/06/map-of-reao-atoll/

PARTICIPATE
— > Want to join the raffle? One ticket for $20, or 3 for $50. Send funds by Aug 19th via Paypal.com or Wellsfargo.com ‘Surepay’ to greencoconutrun@gmail.com . Contributions of $100 or $250 automatically get gifts, as a big thank you.

Money received after Aug 19 will go directly to the children’s reserve project (via the non profit organization “Motu Haka” in Marquesas).

About the Kid’s Reserve:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/08/07/marine-reserves-start-with-kids-in-marquesas/

Why Funds are needed:
https://greencoconutrun.com/2017/08/08/the-kids-reserves-take-on-a-challenge/