CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Emily Lau
Crew Profile: Emily Lau
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
Oʻahu
PRIMARY DUTY:
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
Doldrums Sail May 2021: Hikianalia
Emily Lau, originally from Oʻahu, moved to Islesboro, Maine when she was only 10 years old. She first set foot on Hōkūleʻa in Mount Desert Island, during the Mālama Honua voyage. She was inspired by the crew members and soon found her way back to Hawaiʻi where she sailed on Hōkūleʻa for the first time in April 2021 and will soon set sail on Hōkūleʻa’s latest voyage to the Doldrums in May 2021.
To Emily, Hōkūleʻa is hope sailing forward and an anchor for her to her heritage and the history of her ancestors. Since she moved away when she was younger, she didn’t learn that much about the ‘aina and traditions she comes from. Hōkūleʻa, the volunteers, the crew, and the mission have all played a huge role in helping her reconnect to Hawaiian culture. She believes that Hōkūleʻa is such an inspiring waʻa, not just to her but to everyone, everywhere. People can see in her the huge amount of effort and labor that has gone into not only rediscovering and rebuilding traditional voyaging but into voyaging to a new future where we mālama the Earth and each other. Hōkūleʻa lights up a path forward, just like the stars light up her path through the ocean.
Emily wants this challenging, sacred tradition of voyaging to continue on forever. She wants people to remember Hōkūleʻa a thousand years from now as the beacon leading us and teaching us to treasure and protect our planet and for the Hawaiian keiki to remember that saltiness is in their blood, and to be proud.
Although Emily has not been out at sea for long before, she will miss talking to family and drinking tons of water. When on land, she imagines she’ll miss the free-flying feeling of being surrounded by the ocean as far as the eye can see.
To Emily, Hōkūleʻa is hope sailing forward and an anchor for her to her heritage and the history of her ancestors. Since she moved away when she was younger, she didn’t learn that much about the ‘aina and traditions she comes from. Hōkūleʻa, the volunteers, the crew, and the mission have all played a huge role in helping her reconnect to Hawaiian culture. She believes that Hōkūleʻa is such an inspiring waʻa, not just to her but to everyone, everywhere. People can see in her the huge amount of effort and labor that has gone into not only rediscovering and rebuilding traditional voyaging but into voyaging to a new future where we mālama the Earth and each other. Hōkūleʻa lights up a path forward, just like the stars light up her path through the ocean.
Emily wants this challenging, sacred tradition of voyaging to continue on forever. She wants people to remember Hōkūleʻa a thousand years from now as the beacon leading us and teaching us to treasure and protect our planet and for the Hawaiian keiki to remember that saltiness is in their blood, and to be proud.
Although Emily has not been out at sea for long before, she will miss talking to family and drinking tons of water. When on land, she imagines she’ll miss the free-flying feeling of being surrounded by the ocean as far as the eye can see.
