UPDATE: As of 3 p.m., Aug 17, Hikianalia is now scheduled to depart from METC Sat, Aug 18 at 5:30 a.m.
Lehua Kamalu is captain of Leg 1 of Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage and she is serving up today’s video update. While the departure of Hikianalia continues to be postponed, the crew are still busy preparing for the 2,500 mile voyage.
Based on the latest weather update, Polynesian Voyaging Society leadership has decided to reschedule Hikianalia’s departure to 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.
“The forecasted track of Hurricane Lane does not pose a risk to the canoe, but we are making a conservative decision to take one last look at the forecast early tomorrow morning,” said Nainoa Thompson, president, Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Hikianalia was originally scheduled to depart Sand Island on Monday, July 30, but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions caused by Hurricane Hector and final canoe preparations. The departure of Hikianalia will launch Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage. After an approximately 30-day sail across the Pacific Ocean, the canoe is expected to arrive in Northern California in mid- September, weather permitting. The welcome ceremony and celebration has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 16, at Aquatic Park in San Francisco due to the delayed departure. After engagements in San Francisco, Hikianalia will sail down the coast of California to San Diego and connect with communities along the way. The canoe is expected to return to Hawaii in December 2018.
Click here for more information about Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage.
Based on the latest weather update, Polynesian Voyaging Society leadership has decided to reschedule Hikianalia’s departure to 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.
“The forecasted track of Hurricane Lane does not pose a risk to the canoe, but we are making a conservative decision to take one last look at the forecast early tomorrow morning,” said Nainoa Thompson, president, Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Hikianalia was originally scheduled to depart Sand Island on Monday, July 30, but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions caused by Hurricane Hector and final canoe preparations. The departure of Hikianalia will launch Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage. After an approximately 30-day sail across the Pacific Ocean, the canoe is expected to arrive in Northern California in mid- September, weather permitting. The welcome ceremony and celebration has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 16, at Aquatic Park in San Francisco due to the delayed departure. After engagements in San Francisco, Hikianalia will sail down the coast of California to San Diego and connect with communities along the way. The canoe is expected to return to Hawaii in December 2018.
Hōkūleʻa’s sister canoe Hikianalia will depart Hawaiʻi soon to launch the Alahula Kai o Maleka California Voyage, an estimated 2,500-mile voyage across the Pacific Ocean to California. The voyage will continue the Mālama Honua campaign to inspire action toward an environmentally and culturally thriving world. The wind and solar-powered canoe, which will be captained and navigated by next-generation voyaging leaders, is scheduled to arrive at the coast of Northern California by early September 2018. The timing of the arrival of the traditional voyaging canoe is planned to coincide with the Global Climate Action Summit in
San Francisco among other California events.
The name of the voyage, Alahula Kai o Maleka, honors the “frequented pathway,” alahula, across the ocean between Hawaiʻi and California, kai o Maleka. Kai o Maleka, literally means “sea of America,” a traditional reference to the Pacific waterway connecting the Hawaiian Islands and the West Coast.
While making the approximately 30-day sail to California on a vessel powered by wind and sun, the crew will demonstrate the important relationship between humanity and the natural environment as the crew navigates their way to California using cues from nature, rather than a GPS or other modern navigational instruments, to guide the way. As the issue of climate change is at the forefront in the Bay Area as San Francisco hosts the Global Climate Action Summit, Hikianalia and crew will bring a message from Hawaiʻi about the importance of caring for the oceans and Island Earth. Polynesian Voyaging Society president and pwo navigator Nainoa Thompson has been invited by California Governor Jerry Brown to speak at the Summit’s session focused on “Healthy Oceans.” The Global Climate Action Summit, Sept. 12-14, 2018, will bring together leaders from around the world and endeavors for deeper worldwide commitments and accelerated action from countries that can put the world on track to prevent dangerous climate change.
Additional purposes of the voyage are to connect, learn and share the Mālama Honua message with schools and communities in California; continue developing the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers; and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues of today.
Captained by Lehua Kamalu, the crew is planning to sail Hikianalia through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre of marine debri particles in the central North Pacific Ocean, to bring attention to the critical need to protect the world’s oceans. The crew will take water samples and track the marine debris in this area. The canoe will also sail into San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge and will be participating in events in the Bay Area throughout the month of September. After engaging with communities in the Bay Area, the canoe and crew will head to San Diego, making stops along the way before returning to Hawaiʻi in December 2018.
Below are the canoe and crew engagements that have been scheduled to date. All events are subject to change, so please check www.hokulea.com for the latest updates:
Because the West Coast of the United States was not part of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, the Polynesian Voyaging Society and crew are looking forward to engaging with the California communities. While Hikanalia is sailing to California, Hōkūleʻa will remain in the Hawaiian Islands to complete the Mahalo, Hawaiʻi Sail.
About Hikanalia
Hikianalia is the Hawaiian name for the star Spica, which rises together with Hōkūleʻa (Arcturus) in Hawaiʻi. They are sister stars because they break the horizon together at the latitude of the Hawaiian islands. Launched on September 15, 2012, Hikianalia was designed specifically for the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage. The canoe started as an escort vessel to Hōkūleʻa and is now used as a floating classroom blending ancient wisdom with modern solutions. Hikianalia specializes in scientific exploration of marine resources and training for the next generation of voyagers. Values and behavior practiced on the deck of the canoe including how to conserve resources, care for our oceans and fellow crewmembers are shared as a model for how we can live sustainably on islands or anywhere in the world. She combines the latest ecological technology with the heritage of voyaging tradition: each of her hulls contains an electric motor powered by onboard photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight to electric propulsive energy. With a zero carbon footprint, her design supports the “Mālama Honua” (care for Island Earth) mission.
Crew Blog by Tamiko Fernelius
As we wait for hurricane Hector to pass Hawaiʻi, the crew of Leg 1 of Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia’s Voyage to California are continuing to work on preparing the waʻa and continuing with crew training. Last Friday, while patiently waiting for our departure, our leg’s navigation team – Hye Jung, Kalani and I had a meeting to go over our sail plan and navigation plan with Captain Lehua.
This is our sail plan as of Tues, Aug 7:
When the weather permits, we will depart from PVS headquarters at the Marine Education and Training Center located in Sand island. Our escort boat the Tern Cat will tow Hikianalia east along the south shore, then up to Makapuʻu on the windward side of Oʻahu. Once we get up to Makapuʻu, we will release the tow line, open sails, and start sailing with traditional navigation from there.
Makapuʻu’s latitude is about 21o30′ N and from that position our reference course is ʻĀkau (direct north). With tradewinds off the starboard side, we will be holding that course until around 41oN to get above the ridge of the high pressure system. This should get us favorable winds to allow us to tack east toward the continental United States.
We will be sailing approximately 1200 nautical miles with an average of 5 knots, so it will take us 10 days to get up to 41oN. Our reference course will then change to ʻĀina Malanai which means 2 houses south from the east. We will be sailing 1620 nautical miles down to 38oN – the latitude of San Francisco.
The beginning 2/3 of that distance (1080 nautical miles), we are expecting less wind because we will be crossing middle of the high pressure, canoe speed will average 3 knots for 15 days but we might have to use our electric motor, or combination of sailing and motor to get more speed if we are going less than 3 knots. The last 1/3 of that distance (540 nautical miles), we are expecting stronger winds hopefully to get canoe speed up to 6 knots for 4 days.
We are expecting colder weather, wetter conditions, and mostly cloudy skies in this area high above the tropic zone. When we were out on a training sail with Nainoa last week, he told us how important it is for us to understand and feel the wind, swell, and motion of the canoe. If we can’t see the stars, sun, or any celestial bodies, we can only rely on the wind and the ocean swells. We will have to pay attention and observe nature as closely as possible.
Although our reference course is north, we will try to sail as close to the wind as possible to get easting towards San Francisco if conditions allow. Currently hurricane Hector is approaching the islands of Hawaiʻi and the unfavorable winds from north to northeast make it difficult to sail up the current plan. Hikianalia can’t sail in the direction of wind or in the direction of 6 houses (67.5 degrees) on either side of the wind direction. We are standing by until the hurricane passes Hawaiʻi and hopefully we will get more easterly winds in a few days.
I’m sure there are a lot of challenges waiting for us, but all crewmembers of leg one of the Alahula Kai o Maleka are working together as one ʻohana, I believe we can get through all the challenges that we will face and I’m very honored and humbled to be included with this amazing crew.
Hikianalia crewmembers from the Alahula Kai o Maleka California Voyage continue to prepare and wait in port as Hurricane Hector pushes toward Hawaiʻi. Providing us with today’s update is apprentice navigator Tamiko Fernelius.
On Saturday, Aug. 11, Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) is kicking off its membership drive with a community mural project by famed artist Prime of Urban 808.
Community members who contribute a $5 donation will have the opportunity to help paint a portion of the mural honoring legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa.
The summer celebration includes an extensive list of entertainment and activities for all ages from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Our Kakaʻako and SALT. Participants will have the chance to listen to crew member stories, enjoy local music and discounts from surrounding shops and restaurants at SALT and Our Kakaʻako. All donations will directly support PVS’s mission, canoe maintenance and community programs.
Participating vendors and activities include:
Entertainment:
Prizes and Giveaways from:
Parking available on the street, at the Flats at Puʻunui and at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako.
Event address: 440 Keawe Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813.
This is a fun, family-friendly event for all. Come for an hour or stay for the entire day!
PVS would like to thank our gracious sponsors: Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Electric Companies, Sherwin-Williams and 808 Urban.
As unfavorable winds continue and with Hurricane Hector potentially impacting the Hawaiian Islands, the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) has decided to postpone the departure of Hikianalia until next week at the earliest.
“We are concerned about our crew on the canoe as well as their families being left behind, so we are holding off the launch of this voyage until the risk of this hurricane and any other weather issues have passed,” said Nainoa Thompson, president, Polynesian Voyaging Society. “We want to make sure that both the canoe and our homes in Hawaiʻi are safe, and we want to allow our crew to be here to make sure their families are okay,” he added.
PVS will continue to work closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the weather to determine the safest time for the crew to set sail.
Hikianalia was originally scheduled to depart Sand Island on Monday, July 30. The departure of Hikianalia will launch Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage. After an approximately 30-day sail across the Pacific Ocean, the canoe is expected to arrive in Northern California in early September, weather permitting. A welcome ceremony and celebration is scheduled at Aquatic Park in San Francisco for Sept. 8, 2018. After engagements in San Francisco, Hikianalia will sail down the coast of California to San Diego and connect with communities along the way. The canoe is expected to return to Hawaii in December 2018.
With forecasts showing unfavorable winds, Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) leadership will continue to hold the departure of Hikianalia until conditions improve. PVS has been working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the weather to determine the safest time for the crew to set sail.
Hikianalia was originally scheduled to depart Sand Island on Monday, July 30. The departure of Hikianalia will launch Alahula Kai o Maleka, Hikianalia’s California Voyage. After an approximately 30-day sail across the Pacific Ocean, the canoe is expected to arrive in Northern California in early September, weather permitting. A welcome ceremony and celebration is scheduled at Aquatic Park in San Francisco for Sept. 8, 2018. After engagements in San Francisco, Hikianalia will sail down the coast of California to San Diego and connect with communities along the way. The canoe is expected to return to Hawaii in December 2018.
Click here to learn more about the Hikianalia California Voyage.