Newsletter--Ho'oilo 1997

On September 12, 1996, Hokule'a sailed to Kaua'i, with veteran Kaua'i crew member Dennis Chun serving as captain, and an all-Kaua'i crew.

The voyage was the beginning of a statewide voyage by Hokule'a conducted by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the Queen's Health Systems, the Bishop Museum, and the Hawai'i Maritime Center. The theme of the voyage is Malama Hawai'i--"Caring for Hawai'i." T he mission of the participating groups is "to facilitate the building of community-initiated programs and activities which will contribute to a safe, healthy Hawai'i, where cultures thrive and people are productive and secure."

The canoe remained on Kaua'i until November 10, with stops in Nawiliwili, 'Ele'ele (Port Allen), and Hanalei. It was first time in over twenty years that Hokule'a spent an extended period time on Kaua'i. The Kaua'i visit was spearheaded by Na Kalai Wa'a o Kaua'i, a new voyaging group formed by veteran crew members Dennis Chun, John Kruse, and Dr. Pat Aiu. The visit brought together many cultural groups and health care providers, which supported the Hokule'a visit and which began to look at the connection between culture and health, and ways to improve the health of the community, particularly the Hawaiian community. Supporting groups included Wilcox Hospital, Ho'ola Lahui, Mokihana Festivals, Kaua'i Taro Festivals, Aloha Festivals, the Garden Island Cano e Racing Association, the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Kaua'i Community College Hawaiians Studies, and Kaua'i Rural Health Association.

Dennis Chun summarized the impact of the Hokule'a visit on Kaua'i: "There was an incredible outpouring of interest in Hokule'a and what this canoe means. What stood out was the various ways in which people took meaning from the canoe and incorporated this into their own lives. Some viewed the canoe from its accomplishments and took pride in what the ancients were able to accomplish. While others envisioned the cultural and social aspects of voyaging that enabled Polynesians to venture forth on the ocean. Still others investigated the academic areas of traditional voyaging and marveled at the knowledge and skills that were developed during those times. Whatever the perspective that one chose, there was always the interest, pride, and desire to personalize the canoe within one's own life."

Over 5,000 students and 3,000 community members visited the canoe. About 20 select Kaua'i residents were able to sail and learn voyaging and navigation, while another 75 had at least one opportunity to sail. The newly formed Na Kalai Wa'a o Kaua'i hopes t he visit will inspire the community to support the building of a voyaging canoe for the island.

On January 11, the O'ahu segment of the statewide voyage began, with the Hakipu'u 'Ohana and other members of the Ko'olaupoko district of O'ahu sailing Hokule'a from the Hawai'i Maritime Center to Maunalua Bay on a training sail. On January 26-27, the 'Oh ana will sail the canoe around Makapu'u to Kane'ohe Bay, and anchor at Hakipu'u for three weeks of canoe activities, including community sails, star observations, and canoe tours for elementary and intermediate schoolchildren. The tours will teach about n avigation, geography, provisioning, and sailing while emphasizing values such as 'Imi 'Ike (Seeking Knowledge), Malama (Taking Care), Laulima (Working Together), Lokomaika'i (Sharing), and Olakino Maika'i (Living Healthily) as keys to a successful, safe v oyage. Windward Community College's voyaging class is planning to build a star compass at Kualoa Regional Park in order to teach younger students and the community about the ancient Polynesian method of navigating by the stars.

Pu'ohala Immersion School 4th Graders Check Out Hokule'a's Hold

Pu'ohala Immersion School 4th Grade Girls

On February 14-15, the canoe will be moored at Moku o Lo'e (Coconut Island), where the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology will host it and conduct marine education activities for schoolchildren (Friday) and the general public (Saturday).

On Feb. 17 Hokule'a will sail to Kahana Bay for a welcome ceremony by the Ko'olauloa District (Ka'a'awa to Waimea Bay). Canoe tours for schoolchildren and community sails will be conducted on the 18th and 19th.

Hokule'a will arrive at Poka'i Bay on Feb. 22 for a week-and-a-half stay. The canoe will depart from Wai'anae on March 7. Captains and coordinators for the O'ahu legs are Bruce Blankenfeld, Kimo Lyman, Gordon Pi'ianai'a, and Nainoa Thompson.

Hokule'a will continue its statewide voyage by sailing to Moloka'i on Mar. 8 with a Moloka'i crew and continue on to the Big Island on March 22. Before the voyage ends in mid-June, the canoe will also visit Hana (April 4-5), Kailua-Kona, Miloli'i and Hilo (April 7-24), Kaho'olawe (Apr. 26), Lana'i (Apr. 28-May 2, June 1-12), Kahului (May 10-30), and Waimanalo (June 14). Neighbor island coordinators for the statewide sail are Mel Paoa and Penny Martin, Moloka'i; Sol Kaho'ohalahala, Lana'i; Clay Bertelmann and 'Onohi Paishon, Moku o Hawai'i; and Leon and Jo-Anne Sterling, Maui.

Young Voyagers on the Canoe Tour