Crew Profile: Buddy McGuire
PVS Member Since 1977
HOMETOWN:
Kaneohe
PRIMARY DUTY:
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
Leg 6: Waitangi to Auckland
Born and raised in Maunalua, Oʻahu, Michael “Buddy” McGuire grew up in and around the ocean. From fishing, to surfing, to sailing, Buddy has always felt most at home on the water. When asked about his introduction to Hokulea, Buddy said that it all began with a chance meeting at Honolulu airport in 1977. “I was flying home and bumped into my old friend David Lyman and my cousin-in-law, Leon Sterling at the airport. After our initial hellos, the guys told me that they were preparing Hokulea for her second voyage to Tahiti and asked if I was interested in being part of the crew. Without hesitation, I replied, “Yes! When and where do I need to be, and what needs to be done?” The following week, I went down to Pier 12 at Honolulu Harbor, boarded Hokulea and I knew right then and there that I was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.”
After 40 years of being a part of Hōkūleʻa, with all of its ups and downs, and both moments of great achievement and also great adversity, Buddy still sees Hōkūleʻa similarly as he did way back in 1977. “In the old days, there was a purpose behind Hōkūleʻa. It wasn't just about sailing or voyaging, but rather a mission to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the efficacy of Polynesian voyaging. It was about a history that needed to be claimed by our people, and shared with the rest of the world. Today, with the completion of the Malama Honua voyage, Hōkūleʻa still carries with her a great purpose, and yet again she has given all of us an opportunity to share the incredible wealth of knowledge that has been with us all along. Except this time, it’s with a whole new generation of extraordinary voyagers and explorers, all of whom have taken on the incredible kuleana of connecting with other like-minded cultures and people to preserve and protect the oceans that we all share.”
Buddy currently resides in Kaneohe, Oʻahu and is a board member of Kanehunamoku Sailing Academy. When he is out at sea, he misses ice cold beer and ice cream. While at home, Buddy continues to fish and sail whenever possible.
After 40 years of being a part of Hōkūleʻa, with all of its ups and downs, and both moments of great achievement and also great adversity, Buddy still sees Hōkūleʻa similarly as he did way back in 1977. “In the old days, there was a purpose behind Hōkūleʻa. It wasn't just about sailing or voyaging, but rather a mission to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the efficacy of Polynesian voyaging. It was about a history that needed to be claimed by our people, and shared with the rest of the world. Today, with the completion of the Malama Honua voyage, Hōkūleʻa still carries with her a great purpose, and yet again she has given all of us an opportunity to share the incredible wealth of knowledge that has been with us all along. Except this time, it’s with a whole new generation of extraordinary voyagers and explorers, all of whom have taken on the incredible kuleana of connecting with other like-minded cultures and people to preserve and protect the oceans that we all share.”
Buddy currently resides in Kaneohe, Oʻahu and is a board member of Kanehunamoku Sailing Academy. When he is out at sea, he misses ice cold beer and ice cream. While at home, Buddy continues to fish and sail whenever possible.
