Hōkūleʻa Update | April 8, 2016
Lying on the navigation platform under a clear sky in a calm harbor, I reflect upon an exciting day on the intracoastal waterway. Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia smile down at the wa’a as she rests here in St. Augustine, Florida for the night. One can’t help but feel connected even when so far away from home. The stars and the people who greet Hōkūleʻa with humility, grace and awe bring me back home. On this journey we are so lucky to be on Hōkūleʻa in unfamiliar waters on a strange voyage through inland waterways, under bridges, through a continent so close but so far from the mighty Atlantic and one of the most dangerous coasts in the world. It amazes me how far this wa’a reached before she even left the shores of Hawai’i for the Worldwide Voyage.
After a day of traveling by people yelling aloha from the waterside and trying their best to pronounce Hōkūleʻa while raising their best version of the shaka, we find ourselves at our first dock: “We’ve been following you all day!!” A shrill boisterous voice penetrated the air as a dark haired middle aged women approached with four kids. “Aloha. I can’t believe you are here! This is amazing!” We smile exhausted smiles as we tie up and meet very interested, genuine humans. Former captain and navigator Ka’au McKinney’s uncle and aunt greet us on the dock and invite us to barbecue. We’re all amazed at this hō’ailona, this sign, this connection so far away from home. We eat, we sing and we dance to Ka’au’s guitar skillfully played by Maleko under a sky full of stars. Stories, tears and laughter are shared. We must make our way.
This morning starts off slow as we work to make ready we hear another loud voice this time from the water; “Is that the Hōkūleʻa!!!!” A man in a small aluminum dingy is standing tall and staring. “Like the actual Hōkūleʻa??!! Captain Bruce looks up and smiles and invites this ecstatic man on board where he shares his knowledge of Mau Piailug, Eddie Aikau and his years spent living on Hawaii. Fast forward to this afternoon after some near misses under narrow bridges and tricky harbors calmly negotiated by a cool headed captain and a crew who strives to make him and Hōkūleʻa proud. We are greeted by a man with photos ready to sign. He was there on the coast guard boat that helped to escort Hōkūleʻa in to Honolulu harbor in 1976. 41 years later the story goes on.
Through our first bridge of many, along the intercoastal water way for Leg 19
It is a strange way for Hōkūleʻa to travel under bridges separated from the open sea from dock to dock seeking indigenous knowledge and those who care about the planet. As we make our way to our planned events in Charlston, NC, Beaufort, Newport News and Yorktown, Virginia, I want to extend a big mahalo to everyone who has taken the time to visit us along our way. Every face every story, every smile, every tear, every connection with honest, genuine, good, people who care is worth every moment spent on the open sea. Aloha nui. Me ka ha’aha’a.
More than Adventure
Beyond a daring expedition, the Worldwide Voyage is quite possibly the most important mission that Hawaiʻi has ever attempted. As people of Oceania, we are leading a campaign that gives voice to our ocean and planet by highlighting innovative solutions practiced by cultures around the planet.
We could not have begun this great journey without your support, nor can we continue to its completion.
