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Home , Canoe sailing, Cook Islands, Walap

Journal Friday, 27, 2007 18 Friday, July 27, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, July 27, 2007 19 CanoeCanoe reincarnation Part one of a three-part series said. At the time, Leon was somewhat of an anomaly, since very few were being by GIFF JOHNSON Vessels of Ujelang and Wotho built in the late 1980s and the keepers of the knowledge were generally not sharing It’s hard to think about outrig- the information with the next generation ger canoes in the Marshall Islands — a reflection of how modernization and without Dennis Alessio’s name urbanization were shaping island attitudes. popping into mind. For nearly 20 “All the information was in people’s heads, years, Alessio has been at the heart but it was not being passed along.” of a revival of interest in Among the things Alessio learned from building, and navigation. Leon is that there are five main canoe Alessio left the Marshall Islands designs in the Marshall Islands, with three last week but his legacy in canoe styles. building continues to reverberate Alessio wrapped up the work with Leon through the Waan Aelon in Majel by producing a report with detailed diagrams (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) to help future canoe builders. But why stop program, now ably run by Alson at one canoe? The idea was hatched to con- Kelen. tinue the documentation program for the You might call his move to the other designs. Big Island of the end of an Alfred Capelle, the curator of the mu- era, but thankfully not the end of seum, was very supportive of the idea, and a program. introduced Alessio to Chief Secretary Oscar As so many things in life are, deBrum, who was equally enthusiastic, tell- Alessio’s arrival here was quite ing Alessio, “canoes are in the heart of all by accident, despite his interest in Dennis Aliesio Marshallese.” These discussions sparked Pacific canoes. encouragement from President Amata Ka- A skilled wooden boat builder, bua, Senator Tony deBrum, local business- he was occupied in the late 1980s man Dennis Momotaro and others, Alessio with teaching the art of boat build- New course recalled. ing to students in the state of But there wasn’t any money for the work, Washington when he was asked and it was a shoestring existence for Alessio A former American volunteer who worked on Ujelang in to bring a team of carpenters and for Dennis for a while. He lived for a bit at the MariMed supervise all the woodworking on the mid-1970s snapped these fine photos of canoes. Above, Dennis Alessio came out to Marshall office in Uliga, and then was given a small the Tole Mour that was be- Ujelang islanders out on a fishing trip; right, a canoe on Wotho Islands aboard MariMed Foundation’s tall office at Alele. “I kept a mat there and often ing built in Seattle by the MariMed ; and below, on Ujelang, Luta planes a wood plank that he used ship Tole Mour in 1988. Twenty years on, slept on the floor next to my desk,” Alessio Foundation for health service in the to repair the canoe in the background. By the 1980s, fewer and fewer he’s packed his bags, heading for new chal- recalled with a laugh. Marshall Islands. Tole Mour was canoes were being built and sailed both on the remote outer islands, lenges. The Jaluit canoe sent to the Field Museum modeled on the three-masted tall and especially in . Photos by David Anderson. Although Alessio in his modest way would had been done under a project known as ships that once plied the Pacific downplay the contributions he made to the Waan Aelon Kein (canoes of these islands), carrying trade goods between revival of outrigger canoe culture in the Mar- and the documentation project kept the and the . shall Islands, he has had as much — or more name. As he and the team got going — to do with it than any other individual. Alessio soon headed for Likiep to work on on installing the decks and all the But beyond the huge role in canoe work in a canoe with local master builders. cabinetry on the 156-foot vessel, the RMI, Alessio has had a big behind-the- “When I first arrived at Likiep, there was Alessio began researching the Mar- scenes impact on the development of the one canoe being used on Jebel or Melan” shall Islands and Pacific canoes. “I non-government organization sector. (small islands in Likiep’s lagoon), he said. didn’t see much information about His work promoting NGOs included found- “Other canoes were laying unused on the canoes generally, and none about ing Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM) program, beach, old and rotting.” how to build them,” he said. His helping establish the Marshall Islands Coun- Alessio proposed a canoe race with prizes interest in canoes dated back a few cil of NGOs four years ago, and elevating to get people excited about canoes, and years earlier to when he was in the profile of the NGO Council and other enlisted support from Carmen Bigler, the and involved in an international affiliated NGOs in the international donor Internal Affairs secretary. boat building training program. “I community. “We got 13 canoes fixed for the race all was in Fiji and I wanted to start He left Majuro last week for a new home the while we were working on building a a business of building Food and on the Big Island of Hawaii. new 18-foot canoe from a breadfruit log,” he Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, adding that each step was documented designed canoes for local fishing,” with photos and videotape. Alessio said. “But I had no money.” While on Majuro, he bumped into Gerry they’ve been building boats. Konou Smith, a “We involved Likiep students in the build- His work on Tole Mour segued into Knight, who was running Alele Museum at ‘To get around this “problem” in dealing with Alessio, high school student at the time, was involved ing project,” he said. “It was fantastic, living becoming a crew member. “The US Coast the time. Knight tried to sign up Alessio to an American, Leon did an island-style adoption of in the building project, Alessio recalls. outer islands life.” Guard required us to sail the vessel with work on an outrigger canoe documentation “I did the hull and Gennade built the other Race day brought out virtually every per- only six crew to show that Tole Mour was project that he was developing. But Alessio Alessio. “He called me ‘neju’ (my son) because he parts,” Alessio said. son on Likiep, and infused the community seaworthy,” Alessio told the Journal. had other fish in the frying pan after deliver- needed to do this to pass the information on to me.”’ This was not as simple as it sounds. A very with excitement for canoes. “It was quite a deal — six of us running ing Tole Mour. Though he was interested in few people in the country are considered The race and student participation at up to the top of the masts to open the Knight’s offer, he had already committed to master builders and traditional navigators. Likiep convinced Alessio that this was a — but we were so intimate with the ship a job in the Netherlands to finish a similar said. “The Field Museum provided money at Matt Holly’s place in Uliga. “Gennade Historically, this knowledge was not widely great formula for future canoe work in the (from building it), it worked well.” The tall ship. to buy him an outboard motorboat, but Gen- taught me how to build a canoe from a log, shared, but only passed along to carefully RMI. Coast Guard declared it seaworthy and a The following year, Alessio returned to nade didn’t want one. He wanted an outrig- using traditional measuring techniques.” selected sons or close relatives who proved few months later, in late 1988, the vessel the Marshalls to work with Alele Museum, ger built with a plywood hull.” Understanding the traditional canoe design worthy of carrying on the skills to the next was sailed from the US to Majuro. which was sending a Jaluit outrigger to the Next week: Canoe building were virtually always built from breadfruit allowed Alessio to produce a “loft” — three generation. “When we delivered the ship to Majuro, I Field Museum to become part of a perma- involving Namdrik, Ailuk , logs, so Leon’s idea was a big departure views of the canoe, from the top down, from To get around this “problem” in dealing didn’t see any canoes in the lagoon,” Alessio nent exhibit on the Pacific islands at the from tradition, but one that would prove the side and up from the bottom — from with Alessio, an American, Leon did an Enewetak and Ujae master said. Later on, he saw one. “The one I saw famed Chicago museum. far more sustainable in the future, when which to build the canoe from plywood. island-style adoption of Alessio. “He called builders, the 1992 Pacific Festival was over by MJCC, owned by an older guy “Gennade Leon from Jaluit donated a breadfruit logs became more scarce. Wooden boat builders have used the “loft” me ‘neju’ (my son) because he needed to do of Arts, and the birth of Waan who used to go out fishing in it.” canoe of his for the Field Museum,” Alessio Alessio and Leon worked on a canoe design method for just about as long as this to pass the information on to me,” he Aelon in Majel. 22 Friday, 3, 2007 — The Marshall IslandsMarshall Journal Islands Journal Friday, August 3, 2007The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, August 3, 2007 23 Dennis’Dennis’ decades decades of of canoe canoe discovery discovery

Second in a three-part series on the floor,” he said. A traditional wooden boats are built. for the canoes to navigate to open ocean. by GIFF JOHNSON ‘The The Enewetak sailors hoisted the sail and “loft” is a wooden boat Next stop for Alessio was Ailuk, where Ailuk youth enjoy a great builder’s visual design he worked with master builder Killon organized the as the canoe slowly Marshalls ride on their canoe. Having documented the construction of that shows three views to document two canoe styles, working on moved toward the pass. Photo: Jerry Hickson Jaluit and Likiep-style canoes, wooden boat canoe was of the vessel — from existing outriggers. “Then they pulled the sail in tight, ma- builder Dennis Alessio was ready for his so fast, the the top looking down, After the Ailuk work, the US-funded Job neuvered to catch the wind and shot out the next assignment at Namdrik Atoll. from the side and up Training Partnership Act (JTPA) provided channel,” Alessio said. “It was a precision Although the outrigger building documen- crew had from the bottom — and money to bring Jaluit master builder Gen- move and the crowd went wild screaming tation projects got everyone jazzed up while to stop and serves as a blueprint nade Leon’s 30-year-old canoe to Majuro, and shouting as the canoe went sailing the work was going on, this didn’t always for building the boat. where it was rebuilt as both a training op- out.” translate into funding for the next project. wait for other “In the United portunity for several Ailuk builders and a The Marshalls canoe was so fast, the crew Funding constraints would frequently slow canoes to States, I trained ‘pro- documentation project. had to stop and wait for other canoes to catch the Waan Aelon Kein (WAK) canoe docu- fessionals’ in lofting,” By late 1991, excitement was building up on the overnight voyage to . mentation project, but rarely diminished catch up on Alessio said. for the , which was Finally, the crew got tired of waiting, and Alessio’s enthusiasm for the work. the “My students were being organized in the with zoomed along. The Alele was able to raise only a small MBAs and college canoes as the centerpiece. The RMI’s orga- But as dawn broke, they hit a patch of amount of funding so the project at Namdrik overnight graduates and it took nizing committee wanted to build a canoe. heavy weather, with big waves and suddenly focused on building just a six-foot canoe, voyage to them weeks to see (and “I put word out about building a voyaging the mast snapped in two. It sounds almost using a small grant from the Australian understand) the three canoe,” Alessio said. This was a big jump too simple, but the crew simply fixed it and government. This one mainly focused on Rarotonga.’ dimensions of the boat for the Waan Aelon Kein program, since its sailed on, still arriving at Rarotonga before the other Polynesian canoes. Marshallese techniques for lashings used on a two dimensional biggest canoe had been less than 25 feet, Next week: Making the jump from documentation to training to build canoes. surface.” Alessio said and a voyaging canoe would nearly double In Rarotonga the Marshalls canoe — While the project struggled for funding, he know at the time that his work on the he was amazed at the response from the that length. young Marshallese men and women to build and sail canoes. famed Hokule’a double-hulled canoe from which later would go on display at the New canoe building in the RMI generally was small canoe had generated much interest, canoe builders on Namdrik to his prepar- “Enewetak Senator Ismael John came in Hawaii (which visited Majuro in Zealand Maritime Museum after the Festival on the decline in the face of an onslaught and would see his return to Namdrik a short ing the loft. “They were telling me how to and told me ‘we can do it,’” Alessio recalls. came a UN member (earlier that year).” Islands in 50 or more years. “The Enewetak this year), and canoes from the Cook Islands of Arts — continued to stand out for its of bumbums and outboard motorboats that time later. Namdrik Senator Andrew Hisa- do it,” he said. “They’d never done a loft But initially, some organizing committee The committee members really liked the crew was a joy (to work with),” Alessio said. and elsewhere in the south. “ speed and design, as well as its single hull were much in demand, not only in Majuro iah, who was the vice speaker of the Nitijela, before, but they knew how to build canoes. members objected, saying an Enewetak design of this canoe, and voted to have the They built the nearly 50-foot canoe in an old had never seen a canoe like this,” Alessio construction. and Ebeye but also on many outer islands. asked Alessio if he’d teach Namdrik men It was in their brains. It was totally visual, canoe wasn’t a Marshallese design. voyaging canoe built based on the model. Trust era quonset hut that was in recalled. Back home in Majuro, there was a new While on Namdrik building the small ca- how to build a canoe out of plywood. “He so when I put the view from bow to stern, A few days later, Alessio found the - Alessio then explained that the model was the now occupied by Cost Price. A big crowd gathered on the beach at development that would shape the canoe noe, Alessio and local fishermen organized put the money together for me to return to they designed it and explained how they tion to this knotty problem. “I borrowed a of an Enewetak canoe. Lots of local residents stopped by to watch Atoll to see the canoes off on their program in the years ahead. Now well a fishing tournament for canoes. “We had Namdrik to build a plywood canoe,” Alessio wanted it built.” table sized outrigger model and took it to And so a big crew of Enewetak islanders, the canoe building. “They’d say, ‘it’ll never 140-mile voyage to Rarotonga, the center known as the canoe program manager, then lots of prizes (for the winners),” Alessio said. On arriving at Namdrik, “the first thing From the experience at Namdrik, Alessio show to the committee,” Alessio said. “It led by master builders Lombwe Mark and sail. It’s going to sink.’” where the Festival was to open shortly. Alson Kelen was a new hire, a “rookie” too recalled. “It was fun to do it.” we did was paint the floor of the community learned that the way Marshallese set up for (the model) had been at the Hertes John descended on Majuro to build But not only did it sail, it caused a sensa- Alessio recalled that the pass out of the new to qualify for participation in the Cook Alessio returned to Majuro, but little did center white and then I designed the ‘loft’ building an outrigger canoe mirrors the way on display when the Marshall Islands be- the first voyaging canoe built in the Marshall tion in the Cook Islands. It joined with the atoll was very narrow, making it a challenge Islands Festival. AleleAlele idea idea grows grows into into key key program program to do project. sailing and maintenance program. 24-foot fiberglass for Ailuk Atoll lese language versions of a Trainer’s Alessio goes to Namdrik to work with Highlights of two decades Approximately 50-foot voyaging canoe Outrigger Marshall Islands Resorts is the Local Government. Guide and Trainee Workbooks for a six- local builders on small canoe; lack of built in Uliga, Majuro by Enewetak crew major sponsor for the first National Cup WAM training program builds four fiber- month canoe-based skills and life-skills of activity budget prevents building bigger canoe. under direction of Lombwe Mark and race organized by WAM in glass canoes. training program. 1989: Alele Museum collaborates with Focus of project is on lashing techniques Hertes John. Majuro Atoll. Traditional leaders from Ralik Chain WAM works with traditional naviga- Field Museum in Chicago to provide for the hull and outrigger. 1992: Voyaging canoe transported Outrigger general manager Laverne sponsor Jebro’s Race at Ailinglaplap, tors and students from the University traditional sailing canoe for permanent Namdrik Senator Andrew Hisaiah from Marshall Islands to Cook Islands Salvador supports WAM with an office in bringing canoe competitors from around of Hawaii to document the traditional display on the Pacific. Museum provides provides funding for Alessio to return to to join Hokule’a from Hawaii and canoes the hotel. the Marshall Islands to compete for large knowledge of navigation and weather in funding to build replacement outrigger Namdrik to build demonstration outrigger from many other islands. On 140-mile 1998: WAM builds thatched roof canoe cash prizes. WAM helps coordinate race. the Marshall Islands. from plywood. from plywood. 18-foot canoe built. sail from Aitutaki Atoll to Rarotonga, house next to Marshall Islands Resort. WAM and CMI staff members develop WAM partners with the College of the “Waan Aelon Kein” (Canoes of These Fishing survey conducted on Nam- Marshall Islands canoe causes sensa- 1999: Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM) of- boat building and fiberglass technology Marshall Islands Upward Bound summer Islands) project officially established drik comparing catches and costs of tion for its speed and different style ficially incorporates as a chartered, non- curriculum. program to offer two five-week elective by Alele as a result of Field Museum fishermen using outrigger canoes and from traditional double-hull governmental organization. 2004: Eleven trainees graduate from courses for the high school students. project. outboard motorboats. Survey demon- canoes. Polynesian Voyaging Society from Ha- a two-year WAM canoe building training WAM staff members complete first Alele director Gerry Knight enlists strated viability of canoes for fishing, and wooden boat building specialist Dennis Alson Kelen hired as assistant man- waii builds Makali’i voyaging canoe as a program. strategic plan to guide the work of the at virtually no cost compared to more Alessio to work with Gennade Leon of ager/translator for WAK. gift to recognize Satawal navigator Mau WAM staff members complete cur- program. costly engine boats. Jaluit to build 18-foot canoe in Majuro 1993: Alson and Dennis write about Piailug for reviving the art of canoe building riculum for cabinet and furniture making 2006: WAM staff members complete 1991: Alessio goes to Ailuk to work — the first outrigger canoe construction the Enewetak canoe construction. and traditional navigation among Hawai- training programs, as well as integrated an English and with master builder Killon Takia, who to be documented under Alele project. 1994: WAK staff members Alessio and ians. Mau navigates Makali’i to Majuro. carpentry and woodworking. workbook for a Canoe/Canoe Model shows construction techniques of two 1990: Plan to document all five outrig- Kelen work with Iroij Mike Kabua who WAM’s Kelen travels with Makali’i from WAM represented at Tourism Building Training Program. styles of outriggers for WAK to docu- ger canoe designs developed by Alessio helps them go to Ujae Atoll to document Hawaii to Majuro. Trade program. WAM continues work with University ment. Alessio and Takia work from exist- with support by Alele Museum officials. building of voyaging canoe () by Kelen becomes program manager of WAM masterbuilders and trainees rep- of Hawaii to document traditional knowl- Alele curator Alfred Capelle gets support ing canoes to document designs. masterbuilders Thomas and Atbi Bokin. WAM; Alessio becomes director of the resent RMI at the International Festival of edge of navigation and weather in the from President Amata Kabua, Chief Sec- US-funded program Job Training This will be the last canoe documented program. Canoes in Maui, building an 18-foot sailing Marshall Islands. retary Oscar deBrum and other leaders Partnership Act (JTPA) provides money under the WAK project. After canoe is 2000: WAM masterbuilders and train- canoe in three weeks. 2007: RMI marks 10th anniversary for plan. to bring in Ailuk canoe built by master finished, this walap, named “Laninmen- ees build a 23-foot midsize sailing canoe WAM masterbuilders and staff members of National Cup outrigger canoe race Alele’s Waan Aelon Kein (WAK) man- builder Killon Takia and a 30-year old tol,” is used in Majuro and elsewhere as (“tipnol”). represent RMI canoe culture at the Festival in Majuro. ager Alessio goes to Likiep to document canoe from Ailuk to Majuro to rebuild. a training canoe. WAM staff members build program office of Pacific Arts in . WAM represents RMI in the Interna- building of 18-foot canoe from a bread- Boat builders from Ailuk work on canoe 1996: As the program switches from next to canoe house. 2005: WAM masterbuilders and trainees tional Festival of Canoes in Maui, this fruit log in second phase of WAK project. project. a documentation to a youth training 2001: WAM training program builds an again represent the RMI at the Interna- time building a 20-foot canoe in only At the time, only one canoe is in use on Late in the year, planning begins for program, it becomes an independent 18-foot racing canoe and a 14-foot pad- tional Festival of Canoes in Maui, building two weeks. the atoll. Likiep elementary students get Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in the non-governmental organization using dling canoe. a 20-foot canoe in three weeks. WAM, in WAM begins full time training with 11 involved in the canoe building work. Cook Islands in 1992 with a focus on the name Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes 2002: WAM training program builds its second year, is the only group from young men and three young women in WAK, in collaboration with Internal outrigger canoes. To accomplish docu- of the Marshall Islands or WAM). a 30-foot sailing canoe (tipnol) and two the Micronesian area represented at the a six-month canoe and woodworking Affairs, sponsors outrigger canoe race mentation and Festival goals, plan is 1997: WAM begins collaboration with eight-foot fiberglass dingies. festival. training program partially funded by the at Likiep, sparking Likiep residents to set to build a large voyaging (“walap”) Youth to Youth in Health in its canoe 2003: WAM training program builds a WAM completes English and Marshal- National Training Council. repair 13 canoes for the competition. canoe. Enewetak Atoll builders chosen Marshall Islands Journal Friday,

AugustThe Marshall24, Islands 2007 Journal — Friday, August 24, 2007 25 The Marshall Islands’ canoe program comes of age

Third in a three-part series by GIFF JOHNSON

The building of a 40-foot voyag- ing canoe at Ujae Atoll was both The birth of Waan the last and most difficult project undertaken by Waan Aelon Kein (Canoes of these islands) in its approximately 10 years of opera- tion. Aelon in Majel It followed completion of a nearly 50-foot canoe by Enewetak builders in Majuro that represented the RMI at the 1992 Festival of Alson: We need Pacific Arts in the Cook Islands. The Enewetak project involved for the first time new hire Alson government Kelen, who translated the canoe building documentation manual into Marshallese. support of NGOs Waan Aelon Kein program manager Dennis Alessio and Seeing a former youth gang member change to become a pro- assistant Kelen during the 1994- ductive, contributing member of the community is like a huge 1995 period spent many months “vitamin” for Alson Kelen. on Ujae documenting another “I love what I’m doing and I love to see the results (from work- large walap. That vessel — named ing in a non-government organization),” Kelen told the Journal “Laninmentol” — was produced about his work at the Canoes of the Marshall Islands program. under the guidance of Ujae master “It’s a great feeling to see a life change in the youth involved builders Thomas and Atbi Bokin. in the program.” Although it took much longer than Kelen said some of the kids who come into the program have planned to complete this large been in and out of jail — looked on as “bad people” by others in the community — but get active in building and sailing canoes vessel, complete it they did. And Pictured in the late 1990s, WAM trainees work on in the late 1990s, it was sailed to lashing intricate parts of a canoe together. Below, and become role models for other youth. And sometimes it is Majuro, where it was the focus of trainees are taught how to create a thatched roof on the the parents who are most impressed with the changes they see canoe training programs. new Waan Aelon in Majel building next to the Marshall in their children. With Laninmentol built, Alessio Islands Resort. “The changes took hard work and commitment,” Kelen said. and Kelen were keen to move the “That’s why I love doing it.” project from documenting canoes For Kelen, who also doubles as the President of the Marshall to training young people to build Islands Council of NGOs, NGOs are the wave of the future for and sail canoes. this country. Having the program under the “NGOs are for the betterment of the country,” he said. “They Alele Museum while it was in are what will change the Marshall Islands.” Working at the grassroots level the “challenges are hard but the documentation phase made at the end you see a lot of smiling faces,” he said. “You see the sense. The Alele “was the perfect change and the results.” place for Waan Aelon Kein,” Through NGOs, people’s voices are heard and results are Alessio said. “But when the proj- noticed, he said. ect changed, it was right for it to A challenge for the government and NGOs is to get top-level move out and establish its own people in government to recognize the importance of NGOs. “The personality.” government needs to realize that a lot of what it does could be In 1996, Alessio took the unusu- done by NGOs,” Kelen said. Among the obvious areas for NGO al action of “firing myself.” Kelen expansion are programs for youth and women, he said. took over, while Alessio focused He’d like to see government agencies see the value of partner- on developing his tropical hard- ships with NGOs, and inject funding to expand NGO activities. wood home building business. By providing funding to NGOs, the government “gets the credit Waan Aelon Kein became Waan and more results,” he said. Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) and went into a partnership with Youth to Youth in WAM additional shop space for center; on the water, recently ar- Health as the canoe building train- ‘The reason it will continue is because its boat building work. rived Dartmouth teachers were ing moved into its first phase. everyone owns it. It’s not owned by The key element in the pro- being taken out for sails on canoes Kelen asked Alessio to continue Alessio. I was blessed to be part of the gram, however, was not money. by WAM trainees; inside the canoe working with the program to de- “The most important ingredient is house, young women and men velop the training curriculum, and process.’ — Dennis Alessio youth,” Alessio said. Looking back were working on fiberglassing the their partnership continued. at various RMI national meetings hull of a new 24-foot outrigger Meanwhile, the government’s major sponsorship, in 1997, of the and concentrate on more focused such as the National Economic and canoe (tipnol) under the skilled new hotel was going up in Delap to first Outrigger Marshall Islands “train the trainers” type work. Social Summits (NESS), Alessio guidance of John Kawakami; and host the South Pacific Forum meet- National Cup. That race sparked Alessio described this as one of said: “We developed a program in the office, program manager ing at the end of 1996. President canoe racing competition that had the challenges of running a suc- to meet the needs of youth at risk Kelen and program administrator Amata Kabua identified the piece not existed in Majuro for several cessful program in the Marshall so they are a viable part of the Rachel Miller were working on of property that’s at the western generations, and continues to this Islands, but added: “Either you future.” grant and funding reports. end of the hotel property for the day. take it as the end or you take it With Alessio’s recent departure, “It’s taken on a life of its own,” WAM canoe house and office to By 1999, WAM formally incor- as an opportunity. That’s why the some people in town speculated Alessio said shortly before he left be built. porated as a chartered, non-gov- program is successful. We take that the program might stop. But Majuro for his new home on the Once the hotel was opened, ernment organization. whatever comes and develop op- a visit to WAM last Friday found Big Island of Hawaii. “I see the under Outrigger management, first But in the early 2000s, despite portunities.” a beehive of activity: Outside, strength of Alson and others in the general manager Laverne Salvador significant youth training suc- Major international donors, such master builder Tiem Clement, program. They’re buying in. The provided a room for WAM to use cesses, funding was pulled by a as the , Andy Caleb and James Jelai were reason it will continue is because for an office. Outrigger’s sup- major local funding partner, forc- recognized the fine work of the starting on a 14-foot outrigger everyone owns it. It’s not owned port for canoes went far beyond ing the program to stop the larger program, and this led to funding canoe that will be displayed in the by Alessio. I was blessed to be part providing an office to include youth trainings it had been doing for facilities expansion, giving new RMI government convention of the process.”