Mr Cinavilakeba said this would give national recognition for such art, and hopefully the event could be a tourist attraction in the future.

He said the waqa ni Viti was an icon for our country and our people that symbolised the medium for communication, trade and network for Fiji and its Pacific neighbours in the past.

“With such an important icon for this country and with the challenges faced in the high cost of fuel on the outer islands for subsistence fishing and local transport by sea, we believe that having such race is a mean to experience the real boat in action rather than just on display, and to invigorate research and testing into their efficiency in these times of rising fuel cost,” Mr Cinavilakeba said.

He said intertwined with the craft was special boat building and sailing knowledge and skills of its people, which could be revived if the race was part of the national event.

The Pacific Blue Foundation has been disheartened to learn that this great art is slowing dying with little done to revive it which led them to organise two traditional race events last year.

The foundation is dedicated to conserving cultural and biological diversity in South Pacific island nations and other coastal regions, and provides basic research, education, encouragement and information on sustainable practices in coastal regions with the ultimate goal of preserving and promoting the biological and cultural diversity of the region.

This article can be read on Fiji Times Online.