Choosing The Waʻa: Uncle Tava

Some photos tell you everything you need to know about a person. This is one of those:

From left to right: Kanoelani Steward, Henani Enos, Tava Taupu, Kalamaehu Takahasi, Kaimana Cabebe, and Nahele Cabebe. Photo Credit Maile Enos

After a gathering in Hāna for Hoʻākea Hāna, someone asked Uncle Tava Taupu which van he wanted to ride in for the trip back to Kahului.

His answer was simple:

"I go on the waʻa."

For many, the wa'a is a vessel. For Uncle Tava, it is a way of life.

Standing aboard the waʻa with friends and crewmates, Uncle Tava reminds us that voyaging is about far more than reaching a destination. It is about cultivating relationships with people, place, and purpose.

Even though Uncle Tava's life has been shaped by decades of voyaging and countless miles at sea, those who know him know his commitment has never been measured in miles sailed, but in the people he has guided, the relationships he has nurtured, and the values he continues to embody. His example teaches that voyaging is not something we do. It is something we live.

In an age that often celebrates speed and convenience, Uncle Tava's response feels like a reminder of something deeper. The waʻa teaches patience. It teaches that mastery takes time, that relationships take time, and that communities are built one voyage, one lesson, and one generation at a time. The canoe asks us to slow down enough to become part of something larger than ourselves.

Mahalo nui, Uncle Tava, for the example you continue to set and for the many ways you help carry our voyaging traditions forward. You continue to remind us that the waʻa is more than a vessel. It is a teacher, a home, and a way of being.