Archbishop Sione blessed the crew of the Uti Ni Yalo twin-hulled vaka as it set off from Suva this week, with Polynesian Anglican Kakala Tevi on the voyaging crew. The expedition, which is scheduled to arrive on 8 September, seeks to amplify the voices of Pacific youth by calling on leaders to guard the ocean and take this message beyond their region to the world.

The Uto ni Yalo will sail in solidarity with the Taumako Te Puke canoe upon reaching Temotu, honouring Solomon Islands’ navigation heritage and supporting the Motalava Treaty. The voyage carries key Pacific messages for Forum Leaders: the call for a fossil fuel free Pacific, the recognition of the Pacific as an 'Ocean of Peace', and the affirmation of Indigenous guardianship and traditional knowledge in addressing today’s environmental challenges.

The Pacific Islands Forum's 18 members Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu gather regularly to foster 'a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives.'

20-year-old Anglican crew member Kakala Tevi, comes from from Tonga and Fiji and joins other young sailors on the voyage,

“As one of the young crew onboard, I’m eager to learn from all of the older and more mature sailors…I can’t wait to be out at sea.” she said.

Kakala's presence and Archbishop Sione's blessing both affirm the Diocese’s commitment to raising young voices in advocacy for climate justice, peace, and the protection of creation.

This is the second year that Pacific voyagers have undertaken this journey to the Forum by traditional canoe as a symbol of Pacific prosperity and unity, embracing their ancestral marine wayfaring roots and traditional knowledge to address today's pressing environmental challenges.

As the voyage prepared to set sail, the Most Revd Sione Uluilakepa, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, led a blessing ceremony, invoking God’s protection and guidance upon the vaka and crew.

“This vaka carries with it not only the hopes of its crew but also the prayers of our Pacific peoples." said Archbishop Sione as he blessed the voyage.

"We are reminded by the psalmist that those who sail the seas witness the wonders of God’s creation, and they are called to give thanks for His steadfast love. May this voyage be a testimony of faith, of unity across our ocean, and of our shared responsibility to safeguard creation.”

Climate Change Commissioner for the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia, Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi, spoke on the significance of the voyage,

 ‘As we prepare to set sail on the Wansolwara Voyage, we are reminded that the ocean is not just our highway or our source of food—it is the heart of our identity and our survival. This voyage is a moving prayer, carrying the hopes of a generation who refuse to accept a polluted, dying ocean as their inheritance. Our message is clear: we must end plastic pollution, reject destructive practices like deep-sea mining, and act with courage to protect the blue Pacific for generations to come.’

The Diocese of Polynesia is a proud partner of the Pasifiki Voyaging Alliance and joins with communities across Oceania in prayer for the safe passage of the crew, the strength of their testimony, and the success of the Wansolwara Voyage.

Find out more about the voyage on the Diocese of Polynesia Facebook Page or the Uto ni Yalo Trust Facebook page.