The Bucket System

Crewmembers demonstrate how items are transferred between the waʻa while at sea. Captains Bruce Blankenfeld and Bob Perkins sail the canoes closer than their usual 1 to 2 mile range so the canoes could trade buckets of non-essential supplies and notes between crewmembers. Calm oceans, low winds, early morning light are ideal conditions for a successful bucket transfer that provided the Hōkūleʻa crew with essential supplies such as ketchup, creamer and honey. In turn, the Hikianalia crew received snacks and hot cocoa mix.  Whether side-by-side or 2 miles apart, we travel as one crew, one family across two canoes.