Gaualofa is a 22 metre long double-hulled voyaging canoe built in the traditional shape but out of modern materials. Gaualofa sleeps 16 crew and is designed to sail across oceans. She is powered exclusively by the wind and sun.
“Va’atele” is the Samoan term for a traditional sailing, double-hulled canoe. In the Samoan language “va’a” means canoe or boat, while “tele” means large.
“Gaualofa”, was provided to the Aiga Folau o Samoa ~ the Samoa Voyaging Society (SVS) by Okeanos Nature Film Productions (ONFP) in 2009, under a lease to purchase agreement. In June of 2012, Gaualofa was gifted to SVS and Samoa by Okeanos founder, Dieter Paulmann and his wife Hanna.