Bereavement - Francis Cowan

Its is with great sadness we must farewell Francis Cowan - Father of Raipoia Brightwell, Father in-law of Matahi Brightwell

Francis Cowan was instrumental in teaching Matahi waka building and ocean navigation without technology.

Francis was chief navigator on Hawaiki Nui which was built with Matahi in Tahiti and sailed to Aotearoa in 1985.

Francis's love, skills, sharing of waka and ocean voyaging is emanent, with his family and siblings also passing on their/his knowledge to multitudes in Aotearoa.

No reira e te rangatira, haere. Hoki atu ki a rätou, e tatari ana, kia kitea anoki i a koe. Ano ra e te rangatira, haere, haere, hoki atu ra.

http://www.hawaikinui.org

Reader Comments

1. Kia Raipoia koutou ko Matahi, nga mokopuna o te tumu korero a Papa Francis Tuarongo Cowan. Ka nui te mihi atu kia koutou te whanau pani e noho pouri ana. Haere e Papa ki a ratou kua wehe i te po, haere, haere, haere atu ra. Haere ki o tupuna a Peter Keith Cowan raua ko Tekonini Tamarua, Jack Tata me ona tungane, tuakana, a Tuarongo Alexander, William, Charlie ratou katoa. Na te whanau a Tuarongo e noho ana ki konei ki Aotearoa, ki Rarotonga, me Tahiti.
   Arohanui
   Catherine Evans matou ko nga tamariki.
   Catherine Evans - 07-Jan-2009
2. Nga mihi aroha he Brightwell whanau - your loss is our loss, Francis not only ressurected and gave freely his matauranga waka over the generations but he also gave us his whakapapa to carry on his passion and work for generations to come. Our thoughts are with you and your whanau, Raiapoia and Matahi.
   May we endeavour to honour this Rangatira in times to come. E tangi hotuhotu ana Nga ure o Toa Rangatira. No reira, kia kaha, kia manawanui
   Tipene on behalf of Ngati Toa & Toa Waka Ama Club - 06-Jan-2009
3. Kia Reipoia raua ko Matahi, me te Whanau pani Tena koutou. Tena koutou i tenei wa pouri. Kua hinga to maatua. He pouri nui tene. Tangi tonu, tangi tonu. E tangi hotuhotu ana Nga Hoe Horo mo koutou. No reira, kia kaha, kia manawanui.
   Te Whanau Nga Hoe Horo O Pawarenga - 06-Jan-2009
4. Raipoia and whanau,
   Please accept our heartfelt sympathies and aroha in the passing of your Papa - A great man of wisdom knowledge and strength. Our thoughts are with you at this time. Kia kaha.
   On behalf of Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club, Rotorua. - 05-Jan-2009