A love and respect for ʻāina or place is tied to an aloha for ʻohana… ties that are more than evident here in Waimea, home to the voyaging canoe Makaliʻi that was built by some of Hōkūleʻa’s original crewmembers. And now their own children are training even younger voyagers, who are well-connected to and care deeply for this place.
In many ways he is the kaula - the rope that binds, the man who possesses many intuitive skills. He is one of a few who can harness the energies of the ocean, land, and sky and center them all on the deck of the canoe.
For myself, it has been a great pleasure meeting old friends as we sailed across the central Pacific and to introduce new crew members to the many island communities we visited.