Crew Blog | Hye Jung Kim: Bring a Bucket

by Hye Jung Kim

Jason and Naʻalehu from ʻŌiwi TV told me to bring a bucket (to throw up in) into the hale where the media specialist does their work. I laughed, but knew that was an advice coming from their many legs of experiencing the waʻa in various conditions around the world.

Day one of our Alahula Kai o Maleka voyage, we departed the Marine Education and Training Center to Makapuʻu and then headed north from there. That evening, I was to process 8-10 photos to send back home via satellite wifi and that meant some time in the hale processing those photos.

I started to digitally process a few photos at a time at a time and I could feel in my stomach that I was about to get sick. I came out of the hale for air a few times and tried to go back and it just kept getting worse and worse with the rocking of the waʻa and myself trying to focus on the computer screen to process the photos and write about the day to report back home. I kept telling myself “This is day one, just getting started, you have to get used to this.” Thankfully, I was able to send the photos over and the PM update over to our office!

As soon as I walked out of the hale, I felt so sick… I knew I needed a bucket or needed to get to the stern real quick before I make a huge mess. Thankfully, I got to the stern in time for me to poke my head out toward the ocean instead of in the hull. That did not feel good at all, but I felt much better afterwards.

Day after day, I am learning more and more to listen to my body and take the time to prevent myself from getting too sick from staring at the screen. I have been spreading out my time in the hale so that I donʻt have a long section where I need to stay in the hale.

I have a deeper understanding and appreciation of all of those media specialists throughout the voyage. I am only doing a fraction of the work that they did regularly and I am slowly understanding how much work it takes in order for us to share this voyage with our supporters. What keeps me going strong is the fact that there are so many people back home and around the world who support us and it is our kuleana to share as much as we can and perhaps inspire change.

Our crew has bonded so tightly throughout the weeks of delay that we experienced, and that helped us have a smooth transition off of the land and into the deep blue. It is absolutely gorgeous here out in the ocean and we know that we will have our fair share of challenges ahead, but I know that our crew can handle anything that is given our way.

To all of our supporters back home, we are here out in the ocean enjoying each otherʻs presence and learning more about the nature because of the support that you folks give. Every moment, we remind ourselves of how lucky we are to be out here! Mahalo nunui for your support! Sending lots of aloha your way!

SB 72,
Hye Jung