By Moani Keala Heimuli

Aloha everyone, Fall is upon us here in Virginia. Everyday after finishing dry dock duties on Hōkūleʻa, we drive away talking about how the color of the trees here are becoming more and more red and orange. The view of Hōkūleʻa sitting on the lawn at the Mariners’ Museum and Park surrounded by the changing fall color leaves is just pure beauty.

Today was a very successful and productive day. The crew is getting into a schedule of leaving the house at 7 a.m., working until lunch and finishing our work at 5 p.m. Before the day ends, we make a list of supplies that we may need from the store. Arriving back at the house we always anticipate a great dinner by our fabulous chef Tom. This group of ours isn’t just a crew, we are all really treat each other as family.

For myself, I was honored to engrave two new new names onto Hōkūleʻa. Paige and Moku – the first wahine names to be put onto Hōkūleʻa. I personally have never met these two women but Uncle John and Uncle Bruce share stories with me about what amazing wahine they were and how they really have made an impact on the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Both names are on the wahine side of Hōkūleʻa, which is very fitting. Also where Wally is engraved, Moku is on the opposite side of the spreader. It’s pretty awesome to see.

Until next time, a hui hou!

Hōkūleʻa’s Dry Dock Fundraiser

Every year since embarking on the Worldwide Voyage in 2014, Hōkūleʻa has taken several weeks of downtime annually to ensure she is safe, seaworthy and beautiful for the thousands of nautical miles that lay ahead.

Please help fund Hōkūleʻa’s 2016 dry dock efforts.

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