FOUR paddlers from Hawaii, USA, are in Milne Bay province for a two-week long adventure expedition.
The four visitors arrived on Monday and flew to Alotau the next day.
The four men are Gaylord Wilcox (assistant treasurer of the International Va’a Federation), Mike Spalding, Rufus Kilmula and Kala’i Miller, They intend to paddle from Alotau to the Samarai Islands and then across to the East Cape and back to Alotau in 10 days.
The USA visitors will be accompanied by two PNG youngsters Kila Mala and Ronnie Hae from Port Moresby Canoeing Club.
The paddlers will be equipped with their paddles; camping gear; limited food rations and diving/fishing gear with the view to explore the underwater world and remote beauty in the province while at the same time catching their meals as they go along.
They have a vast experience in these types of adventures having done similar expeditions in Hawaii and other South Pacific nations such as Tahiti and Fiji so will not find the distance too much of an obstacle.
The only foreseeable challenge they believe will be the prospect of entering an unknown territory with its weather conditions and different currents.
Wilcox said that they are all very excited about being here in PNG and are eager to take on the 10-day Milne Bay challenge.
The Hawaiians are very interested in the type of canoe culture we have in PNG and have coincided their adventure with the Alotau Canoe Festival that will be staged this weekend.
They are very keen on finding out the different types of canoes and paddling methods in PNG and to learn about the culture/traditions of the Milne Bay people with a goal of taking back their experiences and sharing/promoting them in Hawaii.
PNG Canoeing Association president Jonathan Kassman said that this is a first for our sport and should be a great promotion of canoeing in PNG.
“We know the province of Milne Bay should get some great exposure for their annual event.
“This is the first initiative of the PNGCA to bring the sport of outrigger canoeing out of Port Moresby and to the rural areas.
“Hopefully we can entice the Milne Bay community to set up outrigger canoe clubs and really grow our sport.
“Our next target areas will be the Gogodala Canoe Festival and other similar events to spread our sport throughout PNG,” he said.