National va’a team urges better funding, coordination and travel support to keep pace with Pacific rivals.

By: Summer Kennard

Rarotonga’s Matson Vaka Eiva Festival opened this week without a Palau contingent, a gap that paddlers say reflects ongoing challenges off the water. “We’ve got the talent, the grit and the ocean in our blood—but getting off-island takes resources most of us don’t have,” national team paddler Sharkeisha said, capturing a sentiment shared across Palau’s va’a community.

The festival, one of the Pacific’s premier outrigger racing events, annually draws elite paddlers from across the region. Palau’s absence stands out, especially after the national team’s strong showing at the Pacific Mini Games.

Interviews with members of the Palau National Va’a Team point to the same underlying issue: the desire to compete regionally is strong, but financial and logistical barriers continue to block their path.

A veteran Retro OG paddler described the struggle as an annual cycle of uncertainty. “We have to fundraise, find sponsors, also consistency. Sometimes bigger competitions require us to maintain the same group every competition,” he said, noting that even assembling the same crew for each event can be difficult when resources are tight.

Team members say Palau has already shown its competitive strength on the international stage. But getting to those stages—physically, financially and reliably—remains the toughest test.

Sharkeisha said the biggest obstacles emerge long before the canoe touches the water: money, logistics and visibility. While talent is abundant, she said paddlers often face steep personal costs just to participate in overseas events.

She outlined several changes that could make a difference: increased financial support through travel grants, sponsorships or federation-backed funding; improved access to early and centralized competition information; and stronger community and government backing, including discounted flights, airline partnerships or sports development initiatives.

For now, Palau’s va’a athletes continue training with the same determination that propelled them to recent regional success—hoping that the next time a major festival launches, they’ll be on the starting line, not watching from afar.