CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Mariah Hugho
Crew Profile: Mariah Hugho
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
PRIMARY DUTY:
Volunteer Coordinator
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Quarter Master
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
Leg 2: Hikianalia’s Voyage To California
My name is Mariah Kuaihealani Hugho. I was born on Oahu and raised in Kaimuki and have a daughter, Hilinaʻi. My family has had a special bond to the Moana and Hōkūleʻa which sets a clear course to my future in voyaging.
My father, Kimo Hugho, was a board member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society when it was founded in 1973. Along with his father, Sonny Hugho, they and many others spent countless hours with Hōkūleʻa nurturing her innocent spirit. Dad was Hōkūleʻaʻs first crew chief bosun with the kuleana of training and selecting the finest watermen and women to crew Hokule'a on her maiden voyage to Tahiti and back in 1976.
I recently heard my fellow crew members on Hikianalia asking why are we here on this voyage, and my answer came to me immediately. I am here to connect with my grandfather and kupuna ancestor voyagers. To sail the path to Tahiti that my father did not. I am here to be part of the awareness of environmental issues that Hōkūleʻa is addressing and in finding solutions for. I am here to see parts of the world which Hōkūleʻa has seen and to which she will visit. Hōkūleʻa is our classroom, our teacher, our mother, our daughter. Most importantly, Hokule'a holds my father's and grand father's DNA, and now I am her haumana.
My voyaging is just beginning and I will never be alone. Along with my crew, the mana of grandfather Sonny and my father will be with me and reminding me of the importance of life safety on land and at sea.
My kuleana will be to spirit strengthen our culture and to value teachings from all leader voyagers present and past. Hilina'i and I will continue to strengthen our bonding with everything in nature which will bring Hilina'i to be proud as to where she comes from, who she is and who she can be. Our Alahula Kai o Maleka Voyage is my awakening and Hilina'i's awakening for our cultures' longevity through voyaging.
Aloha and a hui hou!
My father, Kimo Hugho, was a board member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society when it was founded in 1973. Along with his father, Sonny Hugho, they and many others spent countless hours with Hōkūleʻa nurturing her innocent spirit. Dad was Hōkūleʻaʻs first crew chief bosun with the kuleana of training and selecting the finest watermen and women to crew Hokule'a on her maiden voyage to Tahiti and back in 1976.
I recently heard my fellow crew members on Hikianalia asking why are we here on this voyage, and my answer came to me immediately. I am here to connect with my grandfather and kupuna ancestor voyagers. To sail the path to Tahiti that my father did not. I am here to be part of the awareness of environmental issues that Hōkūleʻa is addressing and in finding solutions for. I am here to see parts of the world which Hōkūleʻa has seen and to which she will visit. Hōkūleʻa is our classroom, our teacher, our mother, our daughter. Most importantly, Hokule'a holds my father's and grand father's DNA, and now I am her haumana.
My voyaging is just beginning and I will never be alone. Along with my crew, the mana of grandfather Sonny and my father will be with me and reminding me of the importance of life safety on land and at sea.
My kuleana will be to spirit strengthen our culture and to value teachings from all leader voyagers present and past. Hilina'i and I will continue to strengthen our bonding with everything in nature which will bring Hilina'i to be proud as to where she comes from, who she is and who she can be. Our Alahula Kai o Maleka Voyage is my awakening and Hilina'i's awakening for our cultures' longevity through voyaging.
Aloha and a hui hou!
