CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Tamiko Fernelius
Tamiko on the hoe uli
Crew Profile: Tamiko Fernelius
PVS Member Since 2009
HOMETOWN:
Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan
PRIMARY DUTY:
Navigator
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Quartermaster, Sailmaster, Cook
Tamiko first connected with Hōkūleʻa on an evening sail with Captain Bob Perkins in 2009 as she was training to be a crewmember for the Statewide Sail and Worldwide Voyage. "When I first heard about Hōkūleʻa's journey and non-instrument navigation, it reminded me that people used to live with nature very closely," said Tamiko. "I realized that people are part of nature. Once I realized that, I began to pay more attention to nature and our culture. I then wanted to take better care of it."
Tamiko hopes that through the Worldwide Voyage, Hōkūleʻa can inspire more people to feel the same way she did about protecting nature and culture. "I believe that Hōkūleʻa has the power of reminding people what wonderful nature surrounds us, and what great culture we have while living with nature respectfully," she said. "Hōkūleʻa connects people to ocean, and people to people."
Tamiko hopes that through the Worldwide Voyage, Hōkūleʻa can inspire more people to feel the same way she did about protecting nature and culture. "I believe that Hōkūleʻa has the power of reminding people what wonderful nature surrounds us, and what great culture we have while living with nature respectfully," she said. "Hōkūleʻa connects people to ocean, and people to people."
