Crew Profile: Michelle Kapana-Baird

PVS Member Since

HOMETOWN: Honolulu, Oʻahu
PRIMARY DUTY: Education Specialist
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED: 2017 Hawaiʻi Homecoming, Leg 9: Auckland
Michelle, a teacher of 27 years, serves as an Education Specialist on the canoe. She first became involved with the Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1984 on the Voyage of Rediscovery. As a student, Michelle saw Hōkūleʻa return from her maiden voyage to Tahiti in 1976 and thought to herself that one day she would like sail on Hōkūleʻa. Now she is living the dream, sailing in the footsteps of those courageous ancestors who traversed the Pacific Ocean. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to learn the indigenous knowledge of wayfinding and be a part of upcoming adventures. She acknowledges that with that opportunity comes incredible kuleana to represent Hawaiʻi as an ambassador of PVS her family and as an educator on board addressing environmental issues.

On the Worldwide Voyage, Michelle would like to see Hōkūleʻa haku, or weave, a lei of different cultures, wahi pana (sacred sites and places) and moʻolelo (stories) of hope to share and encircle the world.

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