Hikianalia Report: Oct 8, 21:30 HST (2012-10-09 07:30 UTC/GMT)

It’s wonderful to get underway, headed for Papeete, Tahiti, together with the Tahitian canoe, Faafaite.  Before getting underway, we participated in an ‘awa ceremony, which united the two vessels and crews into one ‘ohana.

After an amazing Maori oli by Awhitia Mihaere, a seabird similar to the koa’e we see at home circled the canoe — a great hō’ailona (sign).

Koa’e (For information about seabirds and other sealife, see  “Fish, Birds, and Mammals of the Open Ocean” at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.)

Awhitia and her husband, Manueu Suganuma, who hails from Hawai’i, were typical of so many who gave of their time and energies to support us in Aotearoa.  Another of those families, Ke‘ala Campton Baker and her daughter Tataiarangi, hailed us from an ancient Maori pā (fortress) as we sailed away into Hauraki Gulf.

position: 36.6528 degrees S 174.9118 degrees E (See tracking map and Google map under the “Hikianalia: Aotearoa to Hawai’i” in the top menu bar.)

course: 050 degrees True

speed: 2.5 knots

weather: clear

wind: NNE 0 to 5 knots

sea state: calm

vessel and crew condition:  all ok (Faafaite also)

Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: Lots of stars, Bruce is teaching us pointer stars for the cardinal directions. Visible now: Mars, Saturn, Ka Makau Nui O Maui (Scorpius), Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross), the Navigator’s Triangle and plenty more.

Below: Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross) and Ka Makau Nui O Maui (Scorpius). Click on the image to enlarge it. Image from Stellarium, a free desktop planetarium at stellarium.org. For Hawaiian names for constellations, see Hawaiian Star Lines at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.

Animal Life:  Dolphins

Sea Birds and Sea Life: Gulls, Boobies, etc.  A manu landed on our manu.

Booby (For information about seabirds and other sealife, see  “Fish, Birds, and Mammals of the Open Ocean” at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.)

Marine Debris: None observed