Hōkūleʻa Update | February 6, 2016

Aloha, this is Kālepa Baybayan, we are in Natal, Brazil. The Leg 16 crew that sailed from Cape Town, South Africa to Natal, Brazil just handed over the kuleana to Leg 17, which is taking the canoe from Natal, Brazil to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. We are preparing the canoe by packing up the food, and will begin loading operations now. We got the food going on today, and the water going on tomorrow and Monday, and propane being delivered on Wednesday. We should be able to depart either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning if we stay on task. We are looking forward to a great sail. We are in the trade wind fields now between 5 and 6 degrees south latitude, and we’ll be sailing up to between 18 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude, which keeps up smack dab in the middle of the trade wind field. So we are looking for following winds and seas, and hopefully a quick passage. Maybe 18 days to St. John, USVI. Our crew is ready, our crew is prepared for the sail , and we’re just looking forward to a great experience. This is Kālepa Baybayan signing off from Natal, Brazil. Have a good day and follow us on Hokulea.com. Aloha!

Crew members for the next leg of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage have arrived in Natal, Brazil to prepare Hōkūleʻa for the sail to St. John, US Virgin Islands (USVI). Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa is scheduled to depart Natal for the Caribbean on Thursday morning, Feb. 11, 2016.

“Captain Bruce has handed the kuleana to our crew to prepare Hōkūleʻa for this next leg of the journey,” said pwo navigator and Hōkūleʻa captain Kālepa Baybayan. “We are working hard because it’s our responsibility to ensure she is ready-ready to bring the stories of hope we’ve witnessed so far on the Worldwide Voyage to the shores of the US Virgin Islands as we continue around the world.” 

Joining Kālepa on this leg will be apprentice navigators Brad Wong and Kalani Kahalioumi; watch captains Snake Ah Hee, Kawika Crivello and David Komine as well as PVS Chief Operating Officer and veteran crew member Heidi Guth. Raised in the US Virgin Islands, Guth’s homecoming aboard Hōkūleʻa will be a remarkable moment for both the Worldwide Voyage and for her personally.  Guth’s fellow crew members are Nakua Lind, Justyn Ah Chong, Kelly Tam-Sing, Puaita Pulotu and Ben Dumaran.

Hōkūleʻa’s arrival to the coastal city of Natal marked Hōkūleʻa’s  first visit to the South America continent. While in the Caribbean, Hōkūleʻa is scheduled to make stops in St. John, USVI and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands before sailing north and visiting cities along the East Coast of the United States.  She is scheduled to arrive in New York City by June 8, 2016 to celebrate World Oceans Day.

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