In Huahine, a buzz is sweeping through the offices of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a organizing committee. With just a few hours to go before the start of the competition, the teams are busy finalising the last preparations. Among the priorities: distributing the official outfits to the crews, delayed by the strike movements.
Inside the committee’s premises, boxes pile up. Each batch must be carefully prepared, the outfits sorted, checked and allocated before being handed to the paddlers. A meticulous task that takes time, as the deadline approaches rapidly.
“We had to ensure the distribution to the paddlers today and tomorrow, before departure. We have already repatriated all those from Raiatea for the Vahine Taurea, it’s headed for the Apatehi. A supervisor will receive it and the distribution will take place on Tuesday.”, says Elise Maamaatuaiahutapu, president of the organizing committee of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a.
To meet the deadlines, volunteers and committee members do not count their hours. Some continued preparations late into the night to assemble as many batches as possible.
“There are quite a few bundles because we have to do it for each stage. We finished at midnight yesterday.”, testifies Manina Teihoarii, a member of the organizing committee.
Despite these setbacks, the first distributions could begin. The Mato Ura crew, from Arue, was among the first to collect their official outfits. One more formality completed before focusing on the competition.
The countdown is now on. The organizing committee continues its preparations so that everything is ready on Wednesday, at the start of the first stage of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a, in Huahine.
