Hiri Moale incomplete without sago on board

HIRI trade is the creation of Edai Siabo of Boera village.
He was dragged into an undersea cavern and was taught all about the Hiri trade by a sea god. He was told that for the Hiri trade to become a reality, he would have to obey and carry out every instruction to the last letter, which he did and the Hiri trade materialised.
Boera people can boldly claim ownership rights of the Hiri trade because they are custodians of the original and authentic traditional knowledge of the Hiri trade. All claimants fall into their user rights category.
Siabo was an industrious, adventurous, outgoing and outspoken young man.
His prowess as a hunter, fisherman, gardener and participant in village activities could not escape anybody’s attention. He was a complete young man.
However, nobody was prepared to buy into his account of being dragged into an undersea cavern where a sea god taught him all about the Hiri trade.
When he constructed a model lagatoi and sailed it in the lagoon above the village, he was taken for a fool and became a subject of mockery.
Similarly, Siabo did not buy into any of their stuff. He was immune.
When he made a fire in front of his house to declare he was going to contruct a lagatoi, people believed he had gone mad. He persevered, and other young men joined him.
A lagatoi named Bogebada was constructed. When completed, it was loaded with clay pots and Siabo and his crew sailed into oblivion.
Nobody except Siabo’s wife believed they would return. He had instructed his wife on what to do while he was away. After the passing of many moons, Siabo and his crew returned with sago, giving birth to the Hiri trade.
Boera is the birthplace of the Hiri trade. Boera is the oldest and most ancient of all Motuan villages.
Ancestors of the Boera people left their homes in the hinterlands of Gulf thousands of years ago and migrated eastward and settled where they are living now. Why? For fear of neighboring tribes obtaining their clay pot-making knowledge and to avoid continuous tribal fighting.
The Hiri Moale Festival was created for us to pay respect and homage to our forefathers and to welcome back home sago-loaded lagatois.
There has never been a complete Hiri Moale Festival because a very vital part is missing. Until and unless that part is included, the event is incomplete and will always be a failure.

Muri Henao
Boera