Hikianalia Crew View: Keli

Howzit from da galley.

Sailing da deep blue sea and cooking fo’ da crew is a new and welcome challenge….writing a blog is scary – but wotevaz….here I go.

I have been honored wit da kuleana of crew cook and quartermastah by Captain Bob.  I am grateful he had da faith in me to take it on.  Mahalo to Lita and her team fo’ doin an unreel and fully appreciated job on organizing all our food and supplies fo’ Hikianalia.  Without you guyz….we could not sail.  Mahalo too to Heidi fo’ reorganizing leg two stuffs as she was getting off her leg in Tahiti.  Aaaaah…. you guyz are my heroes…beeg time.  Mauruuru roa to Kawika, Moeata, Rereao & Tutavae for assisting us while provisioning fo’ Hikianalia.  Mahalo to Saki and Brenda – I appreciate your time in helping me pick up all da stuffs.  Mauruuru roa to all our Tahiti ohana foa all yoa generous gifts of fresh fruits and vegies – we are all so very grateful.   Also, tanx Gary fo’ yoa mentoring in Papeete – I truly appreciated all yoa advice.  AND, tanx to Gary, I have humangous slippahz fo’ fill.  (Gary’s one galley legend).

Cooking down unda in da galley can drive you to insanity – but den u laff…not luff…..and it’s all good.  My crewmates dunno wot dea missing.  Rock and roll babe.  As my watch captain Maka teaches how to be one wit da canoe and steering da hoe, he explains it’s like a dance – so too in da galley.  Gotta feel da pitch, rocks, rolls, bumps, glides, sways, kicks, rumblings, and dat aahsum vibration thru da hull.  Slicing, dicing, chopping, cutting, pouring, stirring, standing (balancing) is a dance.  Gotta time da motion, especially when knife in hand.  I usually have one mean lean into da counter, but once in a while da kick comes and my gripping toes will lose da grip and I’ll hit a hot pot or da hot oven (yes an oven!) — burn marks are badges of honor (ha ha – I’m so honored).

“Hanapaʻa!” is music to my ears.  Keala has done a great job catching us fish.  I know da crew wuz keepin score – but to me both Keala and da fish are WINNAHZ! Fresh fish!!  Holy ono!  Holy aku!  Holy mahi mahi!  Dis has been a dream of mines…(if sailing on Hikianalia wasn’t enuf).   When watching fishing shows and dey catch da fish..an den clean and eat em on da boat – I always dreamed of having dis fresh fish.  Line to galley, where wasabi and shoyu awaits – dream fulfilled!….and on Hikianalia – even bettah.  I am so stoked.  Mauruuru Keala and Kanaloa.

Bein da crew cook is  intimidating (doesn’t help following da legend), but my crewmates have been supah supportive and helpful.  At home I cook fo’ two (simple), dea stay nuttin simple about cooking fo 15.  Everything is huge – da portions, da pots, pans, bowls, kettle.  I am 5’1” and tankfully born to fit inside da low ceiling galley.  A funny site my crewmates don’t see, however, is me trying to peer over da pot’s rim.  Mauruuru roa to my Hikianalia crewmates…you have all made dis experience so wonderful.

I also want say mauruuru roa to all our Tahiti ʻohana.  We learned so much from our Faafaite brothers and sisters.  Mauruuru fo’ sharing with us so much from yoa hearts.  Mauruuru fo’ also driving us everywhere!  I know I speak fo’ all of us by saying we are foreva grateful.  Mauruuru to da Tautira ohana – we were so honored to visit with you – it was certainly an honor.  Mauruuru to Temarama and your ʻohana fo sharing your home wit all of us.  All of your unconditional love and support for all of us is overwhelming; it made it difficult to leave your embrace and your beautiful home.

Before dis journey, I was filled with so much emotion – excited, honored, grateful, nervous and completely humbled.  I am still feeling all dat and more, but I have not yet been able fo’ express deez emotions in words.  My journal is blank, except for some food notes.  (fo’ reelz)    So to those I wish to express these deep emotions and appreciation – my bettah haff Kiki, Captain Bob, Nainoa, Bruce, all PVS (leadership and fellow crewmates), Tahiti ʻohana, my two work places – Ethan and Milton, and to my ʻohana and frenz, and dis precious Hikianalia crew/ʻohana – please look deep in my heart and there you will find my gratitude and appreciation that I am not yet able fo’ express in words.

Aloha nui nui, Keli