CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Jason Patterson
Crew Profile: Jason Patterson
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
Makiki, Oʻahu
PRIMARY DUTY:
Co-Captain, Navigation Team
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Documentation, Canoe Gear, Radio, Communications, Apprentice navigator, Videographer/photographer, rescue swimmer, sail maintenance and fishing
Jason became involved with PVS through Kapu Na Keiki, a group of young sailors that trained with Hōkūleʻa crewmembers. He first sailed on Hōkūleʻa to Kauaʻi in 2006. He has since been training with PVS in voyaging and the art of non-instrument navigation.
To Jason, Hōkūleʻa is “an avenue to actually physically touch and participate in my culture. A vessel both physically and metaphorically that is continually teaching me what it means to be Hawaiian, to feel Hawaiian, to realize that you are a part of something much, much larger than yourself. Before being a part of Hōkūle‘a, I felt none of that.”
Hōkūleʻa has been a life changer for Jason and he is grateful for everything she has done for the Hawaiian community and for the opportunities, both past and future, that she makes possible.
Jason would like the see the youth of Hawai‘i, especially those of Hawaiian ancestry, to become not just interested but dedicated to learning traditional non-instrument navigation. Jason hopes that the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage will bring communities together to share ancestral knowledge to fix modern problems.
When not sailing, Jason, a canoe-builder, misses the unity of his crew. When at sea, he says, his crew is his ʻohana who share the same motivation to make the goals of the voyage successful for everyone.
To Jason, Hōkūleʻa is “an avenue to actually physically touch and participate in my culture. A vessel both physically and metaphorically that is continually teaching me what it means to be Hawaiian, to feel Hawaiian, to realize that you are a part of something much, much larger than yourself. Before being a part of Hōkūle‘a, I felt none of that.”
Hōkūleʻa has been a life changer for Jason and he is grateful for everything she has done for the Hawaiian community and for the opportunities, both past and future, that she makes possible.
Jason would like the see the youth of Hawai‘i, especially those of Hawaiian ancestry, to become not just interested but dedicated to learning traditional non-instrument navigation. Jason hopes that the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage will bring communities together to share ancestral knowledge to fix modern problems.
When not sailing, Jason, a canoe-builder, misses the unity of his crew. When at sea, he says, his crew is his ʻohana who share the same motivation to make the goals of the voyage successful for everyone.
