Taitung County Government Collaborates Across Ethnic Groups to Build "Eye of the Ocean" Boat, Set to Sail in May
Based on Austronesian boats, the Taitung County Government, in collaboration with various ethnic groups, has built the "Eye of the Ocean" boat. The new vessel was unveiled at Sugihara Bay today and is scheduled to sail along the Taitung coast in May, heralding the Taitung Expo.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 13:56
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Based on Austronesian boats, the Taitung County Government, in collaboration with various ethnic groups, has built the "Eye of the Ocean" boat. The new vessel was unveiled at Sugihara Bay today and is scheduled to sail along the Taitung coast in May, heralding the Taitung Expo.
This morning, indigenous peoples from Taitung's Lanyu Island and various tribes and ethnic groups, along with tourists, gathered at Sugihara Bay. Attendees included Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling, Speaker Wu Xiu-hua, and Democratic Progressive Party legislators Chen Ying and Chuang Jui-hsiung, all of whom participated in naming the new boat and offering blessings.
The new boat is based on the "Flying Proa" from Guam. It was jointly designed and discussed by Chamorro craftsman Ronald Acfalle, Amis elder Cinaw Liu Yu-yi, and Yami/Tao craftsman Hsieh Fu-sheng, representing cross-ethnic and cross-island collaboration. It is a "Flying Proa" capable of sailing in Taiwanese waters and undertaking long voyages, named "Mata No Riyal," meaning "Eye of the Ocean."
In her speech, Rao Ching-ling stated that Taitung is an important starting point for Austronesian culture's outward connections. Boats are not only means of transportation but also symbols of cultural exchange, knowledge inheritance, and Austronesian identity. By building an Austronesian boat through cross-island and cross-ethnic cooperation, it not only deepens local cultural heritage but also strengthens cultural links with Pacific island nations, showcasing Taitung to the world as the homeland of Austronesian culture.
The Taitung County Government's Department of Indigenous Affairs stated that this boat was built by Lanyu boat builder Hsieh Fu-sheng using traditional tatala plank boat techniques, securing the vessel with hundreds of wooden pegs. Amis elder Cinaw Liu Yu-yi from the Tsit-tong tribe utilized bamboo and rattan to bind traditional Amis rafts, incorporating shipbuilding techniques from Palau's Nick Halishluw, and integrated them with an outboard float platform to create this Austronesian boat.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs stated that the "Eye of the Ocean" will currently be docked at the Tsit-tong Marine Learning Base in Sugihara Bay. Visitors can make appointments for guided tours. In May, it will sail along the Taiwan coast to herald the 2026 Taitung Expo.
In the future, this boat will serve as a crucial vehicle for cultural education and marine learning. Combined with millennia of traditional craftsmanship, inheritance, and international exchange programs, it will promote Austronesian culture into schools and communities, allowing more people to understand the wisdom and value of maritime civilization. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150418
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This morning, indigenous peoples from Taitung's Lanyu Island and various tribes and ethnic groups, along with tourists, gathered at Sugihara Bay. Attendees included Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling, Speaker Wu Xiu-hua, and Democratic Progressive Party legislators Chen Ying and Chuang Jui-hsiung, all of whom participated in naming the new boat and offering blessings.
The new boat is based on the "Flying Proa" from Guam. It was jointly designed and discussed by Chamorro craftsman Ronald Acfalle, Amis elder Cinaw Liu Yu-yi, and Yami/Tao craftsman Hsieh Fu-sheng, representing cross-ethnic and cross-island collaboration. It is a "Flying Proa" capable of sailing in Taiwanese waters and undertaking long voyages, named "Mata No Riyal," meaning "Eye of the Ocean."
In her speech, Rao Ching-ling stated that Taitung is an important starting point for Austronesian culture's outward connections. Boats are not only means of transportation but also symbols of cultural exchange, knowledge inheritance, and Austronesian identity. By building an Austronesian boat through cross-island and cross-ethnic cooperation, it not only deepens local cultural heritage but also strengthens cultural links with Pacific island nations, showcasing Taitung to the world as the homeland of Austronesian culture.
The Taitung County Government's Department of Indigenous Affairs stated that this boat was built by Lanyu boat builder Hsieh Fu-sheng using traditional tatala plank boat techniques, securing the vessel with hundreds of wooden pegs. Amis elder Cinaw Liu Yu-yi from the Tsit-tong tribe utilized bamboo and rattan to bind traditional Amis rafts, incorporating shipbuilding techniques from Palau's Nick Halishluw, and integrated them with an outboard float platform to create this Austronesian boat.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs stated that the "Eye of the Ocean" will currently be docked at the Tsit-tong Marine Learning Base in Sugihara Bay. Visitors can make appointments for guided tours. In May, it will sail along the Taiwan coast to herald the 2026 Taitung Expo.
In the future, this boat will serve as a crucial vehicle for cultural education and marine learning. Combined with millennia of traditional craftsmanship, inheritance, and international exchange programs, it will promote Austronesian culture into schools and communities, allowing more people to understand the wisdom and value of maritime civilization. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150418
Stand with the facts. Every sponsorship from you is a force to protect press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.