September 13 (HST): Hikianalia Launching Scheduled

Hōkūle‘a’s sister canoe, Hikianalia, is scheduled for launching tomorrow afternoon at 5 pm from Salthouse Boat Builders, Auckland, NZ, where the new canoe was built.  Sea trials will follow over the next couple of weeks.

The three watch captains for the maiden voyage from Auckland to Papeʻete — planned for this October — have been in Auckland for the past week, helping to prepare Hikianalia and getting to know her. The three watch captains are Mike Taylor, Kealoha Hoe, and Maka.  The captain of Hikianalia’s maiden voyage will be Bruce Blankenfeld.

From Pape’ete, the canoe will sail for Hawai’i.

(Click on any image to enlarge it and access a slide show of images in this post. Photo credits: all photos below by Mike Taylor.)

Hikianalia emerging from shed for the first time.

Kealoha Hoe greeting Hikianalia into the world of natural sunlight.

Lifting the mast.

Stepping the mast.

Frost on the deck.