Ten years have passed since the club was founded, and a decade has passed with the same core philosophy driving Tumoana Hoe: to enable everyone to row, and perhaps even to take part in the Hawaiki Nui Va’a. This mindset, shared by co-founder Jean-François Chiu, known as “Pap’s,” has been passed on to all the rowers who joined the club.
“At Tumoana we were taught not to differentiate between the people who come to row,” notes Tihoni Bertrand, captain and coach. “No matter their age, their height, or their weight, if they want to row, if they want to enjoy themselves, we row together. We’ve always said that we were a club of friends who come to have fun. Even so, we try to compete in the major races, and it’s ‘Pap’s’ who has always pushed us to race in the Hawaiki Nui Va’a.”
“I started with work colleagues. We were a few friends who couldn’t manage to make it to the Hawaiki Nui Va’a. We gathered with this sole objective of going to the Hawaiki Nui Va’a,” explains “Pap’s.”
For this 73-year-old athlete, Va’a is more than a sport; it is a way of life. “I think I will continue for a long time to stay fit, to keep in shape. As they say, you have to move, to do sport. This may be one of my last years in a major competition like the Hawaiki Nui Va’a, but I will always be on the water.”
Tumoana Hoe, wearing his number 95, will line up once again on the starting line of the legendary Hawaiki Nui Va’a.
