Hikianalia Crew Answers Questions from Students

Questions from the 4th & 5th graders at Cathedral Catholic Academy

1. “How many trees did it take to build Hikianalia?” Hikianalia’s hull’s are made mostly out of fiberglass which requires no trees, but she does have a lot of wood trim, which we estimate would require 150 sq board ft.  This would probably be less than one tree.

2. “How big are your sails?” Our two primary sails are about 400 sq ft each.

Questions from 8th Graders at Sacred Hearts School Lahaina

Tahjan: To any crew member, what inspired you to be a part of this voyage? From Keala Kimura:  I was inspired to voyage to see things I’ve never seen, do things I’ve never done, go on an adventure, and experience the incredible culture of our cousins in Tahiti.

Ejiya: As captain, what is the most important virtue for the crew members to possess? From Captain Bob: A loyalty and responsibility to the canoe and to their fellow crew members.

Dylan: What have been the most exciting times you have had so far? From Brad Wong: Seening the stars change from Aotearoa to Tahiti and now to Hawai‘i.  There are a lot of stars in Aotearoa that we can’t see in Hawai‘i, and to see the sky move from something totally new to something we are very familiar with has been awesome.  

Kamryn: Does the adrenalin pumping life aboard Hikianalia filled with danger and adventure give the crew fear or excitement? From Brad Wong: Both, mostly only when its rough and we’re changing sails.  Most of the time we’re making jokes and having fun and laughing.

Meiling: Will one of the crew members describe the most amazing experience he or she has seen or felt on this voyage? From Nahaku Kalei: My most incredible moment was being at the piko of the earth, the Piko a Wākea (equator).  Leaving the waters of Kanaloa and entering the waters of Kāne. If there was ever a place to be balanced, it was there.

Hikianalia: Sea Trials in Auckland (October 2012)