Abatoa
The village on the other side of the channel, opposite Buota. You can take a look at it on Google Maps here.

Atoll

An atoll is a ring-shaped island that encircles a lagoon.

Aue! Aue!
Wow! Wow!

Baa ni kaina
The leaf from the pandanus tree.

Bota
Gather

Buena
Row

Buota
The village on the other side of the channel, opposite Abatoa (see above).

Butuia
Push it

E nako
You might hear this in the performances by the Kiribati singers used in the soundscape.

E nako is similar to the meaning of Na Ko Ep! (Ready Set Go!) - literally translated to ‘it goes’

Frigate Bird
The national bird of Kiribati. You can read more about it here. 

Imatang
The man from Matang — a person from a place far away.

This is what all visitors to Kiribati are called. 

‘Mauri imatang!’ can mean ‘hello person not from here!’

Kamaiaki
The cluster of stars in the southern sky — also known as the Southern Cross.

Kiba
Jump!

Ko na mauri
Greetings to you (you will be blessed).

Ko rabwa
Thank you

Kuriiko, Kuriiko
Hurry! Hurry! — from the atoll of Butaritari and Makin (Kiribati North).

Magic Spinner
Magician — in Kiribati they call magicians te tia tabunea.

Marooroo
Discussion

Mauri
The everyday greeting of ‘hello!’ in Kiribati, but the direct translation means ‘blessed’.

Mwaneaba
The gathering house

Na Ko Ep
Ready Set Go!

Nei Nibarara
There is an old Kiribati story of the lady on the moon. Her name is Nei Nibarara.

Nei Tabwakea
Miss Tortoise (female tortoise)

Neiko
Girl

The island in ‘The Flying Canoe’ is called Neiko because it is based on the story of the island of Marakei which is known as ‘the women’s island’ due to the four female spirit protectors of the island.

Tarawa
The capital of Kiribati. You can read more about it here.

Te katabwanin
Literally means ‘going around the island’. It is the ritual to be completed when arriving on Marakei - but it must be taken anticlockwise (the lucky way)!

Te marawa
The ocean

Te Rau
The roof for the local house — the thatch. Te Rau also means peace.

Te wa ni kiba
The canoe that flies! It is also what Kiribati people call the aeroplane. This story was called ‘The Flying Canoe’ because we thought that a flying canoe sounded adventurous - even though in Kiribati, they use this phrase all the time to talk about aeroplanes.

For Kiribati people listening to ‘The Flying Canoe’ - they will most likely think - oh, the adventurers are taking a plane!

Ti a bo

Goodbye.

Ti a bo, Te mauri, te raoi, ao te tabomoa.
This phrase is a Kiribati motto, it means “Goodbye. We wish you health, peace and prosperity.” 

Tikiraoi
It’s beautiful!

Tokonoonoo
Mischievous