7th Annual Outrigger Marshal Islands Cup
Celebrate Marshallese Culture and Tradition
Participants from more than 21 atolls in the Republic
of the Marshall Islands will come together on May 9 and 10, 2003, to
celebrate the tradition of Marshallese canoe building and sailing and
compete in the seventh annual Outrigger Marshall Islands Cup. Sponsored by
the Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort, the two-day festivities will also
feature a variety of other races and competitions as well as traditional
Marshallese arts, crafts, dancing, and food.
 Held at the
Outrigger Marshall Island Resort, the celebration begins with several
exciting and fun-filled events. The first day's activities include the
Opening Ceremonies saluting Jebro, the Marshallese legend of sailing canoes,
the winner of the Kone Jubar (Iron Man) competition and the Taste of the
Marshalls, a food event featuring traditional Marshallese food and
Marshallese songs and dances by Youth to Youth, Waan Aelon in Majel and the
employees of Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort.
Other day-one competitions include the women's paddling
race and recycled boat race, where children will race canoes built entirely
out of recycled materials. More than 100 children are working on their boats
representing their schools in Majuro atoll.
 Day two will offer
the main-event Outrigger Marshall Islands Cup, featuring a six-mile men's
race across Majuro Lagoon in one-person sailing canoes, called korkor. Each
korkor is handmade and built on its home atoll using traditional materials
and techniques. The hulls are traditionally made of hollowed-out breadfruit
trunks, and the sails of woven pandanus leaves. For the race, the sails may
be made of modern materials. Other races that day will include the tipnol
traditional canoes that can carry up to 10 people and riwut, where more than
30 participants will compete to sail their unmanned model canoes (korkor)
across a three-mile lagoon.
In addition to the exciting canoe races, both days of
the event will offer a variety of displays and activities celebrating
Marshallese culture and tradition. Cultural festivities will include
distinctive crafts from outer atolls, demonstrations of sennit and lauhala
dress, and other Marshallese traditions.
Over the years, the Outrigger Marshall Islands Cup has
helped to rejuvenate interest and excitement of traditional Micronesian
canoe building and has grown to become a nationally recognized cultural
event for the people of the Marshall Islands. Thousands of spectators
attended the first two Outrigger Marshall Islands Cups, which attracted
competitors from Ailinglaplap, Ebon, Namdrik, Arno, Wotje, Lae, Ujae, Lib,
Namu, Mili and Majuro.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is situated 2,285
miles southwest of Honolulu and 1,624 miles east of Guam. They are comprised
of 29 atolls and five coral islands. The islands are a primary destination
for world-class scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. The Outrigger Marshall
Islands Resort is the only first-class full-service hotel in the Marshall
Islands. Located on Majuro Lagoon, the 150-room property features a
restaurant, cocktail lounge, swimming pool, tennis court, sundry shop, tour
desk, and fitness center.
Rates at the Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort start at
US$130 per room, per night. For reservations or more information, call
Outrigger Hotels & Resorts at 1-800-OUTRIGGER (1-800-688-7444) within the
U.S. or Canada. Elsewhere, call (303) 369-7777 or call the Outrigger
Marshall Islands Resorts direct at (692) 625-2525. Internet users can access
information on Outrigger via the World Wide Web at
www.outrigger.com. Outrigger Marshall Island Resort's e-mail address is
omrhtl@ntamar.com.
A number of tour operators also offer air/room packages
to the Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort. During the Outrigger Marshall
Islands Cup, Business & Leisure Holidays is offering a four night package
from Honolulu for US$1,199 single or US$949 double, plus tax. For departures
from a West Coast gateway city, add US$375. The package includes air
transportation aboard Aloha Airlines from Honolulu, accommodations at the
Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort, and transfers between the airport and
hotel. It does not include departure taxes. For reservations, call Business
& Leisure Holidays toll-free 1-800-284-0440, direct (808) 949-8100 or visit
them online at
www.bnlh.com for more information.
Edited by Dave Shultz
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