Haunani blogging on Hikianalia

Itʻs Sunday, June 16, 2013.  As I sit on Hikianalia, I look to the starboard side and see Ka Lae.  I look to the port side and I see the magnificent Hōkūleʻa sailing on the deep blue ocean.  It is a surreal feeling and I sit in amazement of what is before my eyes.  Hōkūleʻa has grown up with me.  She first set sail when I was a newborn.  So much has changed since then.

Hōkūleʻa en route to Ka Lae

As a child I donʻt remember learning much about Hōkūleʻa and her voyages.  I remember attending a public school that did not teach much, if any, Hawaiian culture.  Hawaiian language classes were offered but I remember having the sense that enrolling in such courses would be of no benefit to me when I graduate and start searching for a career.  I don’t exactly remember where or how I got these impressions.  It is though ironic due to the fact that I have found a career as a Hawaiian language math teacher.  As a teacher, I strive to insure that my students never have the same impressions that I did growing up.  I hope they believe that they can accomplish anything and that the Hawaiian language and culture are a very important part of their life.  Hōkūleʻa has helped me accomplish these goals.

Haunani & Hope on the sweep.

As I teacher, I have personally experienced how the Hōkūleʻa has impacted education.  It has provided valuable stories that motivate and inspire.  It has also provided a catalyst for developing curriculum in which our youth can connect with.  I have used Hōkūleʻaʻs voyages and her many stories to engage my students.  I have also used the Hōkūleʻa to teach my students about a variety of math concepts along with values to live by.

Hōkūleʻa constantly inspires to me to believe.  Being on the ocean with her today on the first leg of the Worldwide Voyage is very special to me.  Today, sailing was smooth; an almost perfect way to start her journey around the world.  I hope for a safe voyage for her and her crew.  And although I will not be able to look to port and see her full sails on every leg of the voyage, I willClick to view slideshow.

be along side her in spirit through every leg of the journey.  I mua!

Haunani Keamo

Teacher at Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu

Hikianlia Crew

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Crew visits ʻImiloa Planetarium with Kaimana of Hōkūalakaʻi and the ʻŌpio of Kūlia I Ka Pono.

The young crew of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia visited the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center Planetarium to explore the night sky under cover. We listened to Kaimana explain to his opio about the star compass, star lines and a few constellations that the wayfinders used in the voyages of the past. Taking a few of Kumu Kaʻiulani Murphy’s class gave me prior knowledge of the star compass and most stars and constellations, but I am always open to learning more from other peoples perspective which allows me to have many different ways of seeing things. Sitting in the back row of chairs behind all the opio listening to the chants that help them remember the four different star lines made me realize that there is never an end in learning no matter what you know or knew there is tons of manaʻo (knowledge) lingering in the air but it depends if you want to grasp it or let it go.

Photo by: Jenna Ishii

Crew Visits Kumu Hula Pele Kaio at Hawaiʻi Community College

Visiting the Hawaiʻi Lifestyles program at Hawaiʻi Community College was an awesome experience for me and the rest of the crew learning how to do a type of chant with string called hei that awakens the night and creates the universe which is important to the Hawaiians which strongly believe in the natural creations of our archipelago. Learning about how the land was first founded by our kupuna before us. They believed Big Island was first created because of the way the ancient Polynesians found the islands being born from the horizon as they sailed their way up the Hawaiian Island chain. Though geologically Hawai‘i Island was the last Island to be created by the underwater volcanoes, ancient Hawaiians believed differently. The relation between the chants we learned and the voyaging we do is that we always started with Big Island and sailed down wind through the Hawaiian chain so that is the reason why Hawai‘i Island is mentioned first in the chant and Ni‘ihau is one of the last.

Photo: Jenna Ishii

Kumu Pele shared his thoughts on teaching our crew members today:

We would like to contribute the hei (ritual string figures) to the Learning Journey. String figures were made popular as a child’s game but this learning journey looks at addressing the ritual of the string. Two hei will be taught that look at calling the night and recreating the universe. The first hei will be paired with the traditional chant Mele a Pakuʻi. This looks at recreating the universe and the pairing of Wākea and Papahānaumoku and Wākea and Hoʻohōkūkalani. This chant tells us that we are direct descendants of the land, the sky and the stars. So, no matter where the waʻa is they are always surrounded and guided by kūpuna. The second hei will be paired with the chant A Pō E, this hei is used to call upon the night so the hei may capture the stars. Through these hei we will address the journeying of the self; the spirit.

Learning this chant and the dance with the hei used a lot of hand eye coordination – something some of us don’t have after lashing and tightening shrouds which makes our hands all sore and tense.

Mahalo nui to Kumu Pele, Allie Atkins and the kumu at Hawaiʻi Community College for allowing us to spend the morning with you and for sharing your manaʻo with our crew members. 

Crew Members Visit Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School

As we voyage around our islands in Hawaiʻi, we will be connecting with our communities, renewing relationships and celebrating stories of mālama honua – caring for Island Earth. An essential question that crew members will be asking is, “How do you inspire the next generation to mālama honua?” We are calling these land-based voyages “Learning Journeys” whree teacher crew members lead expeditions to explore best practices in formal and informal education.

E ke hoa aloha aina.

Mai ka piina a ka la i Haehae i Kumukahi i ia wahi kapu o Kuaokala moku o Puna mokupuni o Hawaii aloha nui kakou. I keia la ua kipa makou na ohana o Hokulea laua o Hikiana i ka aina o Puna.  Oluolu ka hui ana o makou i ke kula o Kuaokala me na kumu a na haumana. Nani no ka aina o Puna paia ala i ka hala. A laila kipa makou i ke awa o Pohoiki a kau makou ma luna o kekahi waa lawaia a na haumana a me ko lakou kumu i kalai ai.  Ua hanau he waa hou o Pualaa.  A pae makou i uka hoomanao makou ia anakala Boogie Kalama kekahi o na kanaka maoli i holo mua ai  i Tahiti ma luna o Hokulea i ka makahiki 1976 a me ka hui ana me ia a me kona ohana. He la maikai loa. Mahalo nui e na kupa o ka aina. Mahalo ke Akua. E houlu i ka lani a me ka honua

- Mahina Hou

This morning, crew members spent the morning visiting Kua O Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School – a Hawaiian culturally-based charter school located on a 600 acre coastal ancient Hawaiian fishing village in Pahoa, Hawaiʻi Island.

Photo by:  Jenna Ishii

Susie Osborne, Principal and Administrator, along with their kumu and students opened the day with a tour and history of Pūʻalaʻa Village. When we asked the students Kekoa, Kaleo and Alakea what they liked most about their school, they said, “There is a lot of hands-on learning, and you aren’t stuck inside a building all day. Almost every day, we get to go outside.” One of the highlights of the day was learning how to plant an ulu tree above ground in a puʻu. Kumu Leila Kealoha explained, “The ulu was the staple of our people.” Kua O Ka Lā dedicated this ulu tree to the Worldwide Voyage to share the message of growing food for our communities and perpetuating food self-sufficiency for the next generation. Every year, this school hosts an Ulu Festival where over 2,000 people come to learn how to grow, cook and care for ulu trees. Some of the revenue from the trees that are sold will go back to the communities where the trees came from.

Photo by: Ua Estabilio

Matt Kanemoto, a crew member and Agriculture Teacher at Kahuku High School, said, “I think it is wonderful how they are sharing the message of sustainability with their community by growing ulu trees. They put their whole heart and soul into their teaching and they do it for their community.”

Photo by: Jenna Ishii

 The murals painted by the students at Kua O Ka Lā reflect the values of their school.  We learned that Kua O Ka Lā is a Hawaiian culturally based school and their place-based learning opportunities include propagating and planting native trees, removal of invasive species, and practicing and perpetuating cultural practices, such as: imu, lauhala weaving, traditional planting styles, etc. They have collected water samples and tracked this data of their coastline for the past five years. They participate in coastal clean ups regularly, and their students have spent the past two years building a 20 foot waʻa named Pūʻalaʻa which was just blessed and launched. Today, the students allowed our crew members to paddle Pūʻalaʻa for her first day in the ocean! It was such a blessing to be on the water with their students and to celebrate the perpetuation of voyaging and navigation.

Crew members help to launch Pūʻalaʻa in the ocean

Photo by: Jenna Ishii

Kua O Ka Lā provides a culturally driven and rich cultural education for their K-12 students. “We hope to embed voyaging in our school in a deeper way in the coming years. We have grown from 26 students to over 300 students next school year” said Susie Osborne.

Mahalo nui to the leadership, kumu and students of Kua O Ka Lā for allowing our crew members to learn from you all today!

For more information about Kua O Ka Lā, visit http://www.kuaokala.org/

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwsGkAUKoE

For most of us on the canoe I think we see ourselves as ocean people. Yesterday however standing among the kupuna trees of Keauhou we were reminded of our connection to the aina. We were fortunate to join our friends at Kamehameha and help them plant some 400 native trees including Koa, Olapa, Iliahi, and a few others.

On the ride back to Hilo Jason and I got to talk story with uncle John, uncle Snake, Uncle Terri, and uncle Tava. For most of them the last time they were at Keauhou was back in the early 90′s when they were looking for Koa for Hōkūleʻa. This time at Keahou they said they really had an amazing experience because they were able to connect with their ancestors and leave something behind for the next generation. We planted trees for crew members who are no longer with us, our families, and our friends. Mahalo nui for letting us be a part of this special experience.

- Haunani Kane

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have been in Kawaihae for four days waiting out rough conditions as they travel to Hilo for the ceremony to kick off the Worldwide Voyage. According to PVS President and Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson:

“The winds are still marginal, but it is worth a try. We are going to plan and  prepare to leave around midnight tonight and at least attempt the trip to Hilo. If the weather is good enough to make it, we will go to Hilo, and if not, we will go back to Kawaihae. I do think it is worth the attempt.”

The caution and patience being exhibited in this instance exhibit the years of experience and knowledge that PVS has in sailing traditional voyaging canoes. Although schedules and events are planned in Hilo, safety is always top of mind and drives all decision-making.

Stay connected on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for updates, photos, and videos on the latest of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia.

MĀLAMA HONUA

WORLDWIDE VOYAGE

Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines

Hōkūle’a and Hikianalia are scheduled to leave Kawaihae for HIlo this week. Click here for a Google map and sail plan of Mālama Hawai’i, the statewide sail, May-October, 2013.

Flyers of Upcoming Public Events in Hilo (pdf format)

Wayfinding Talks / ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo / Friday June 7, 2013  / 7:00 pm . Sponsored by Matson

Two talks on the history and future of Polynesian voyaging…

• Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson will speak on the upcoming “Worldwide Voyage,” sharing the ambitious plans to sail Hōkūle‘a around the world.
• Sam Low will introduce his new book, “Hawaiki Rising,” the epic tale of the formation of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the 1976 and 1980 voyages, and the initiation in 2007 of five Hawaiian men into Pwo.

Community potluck /Palekai, Radio Bay, Hilo Sunday June  9, 2013 12:00 ‐ 5:00 PM

Public Celebration of the Worldwide Voyage, featuring Tours Of Hōkūle‘a & Hikianalia, Educational Exhibits, Public Presentations, Live Entertainment

Hosted By Polynesian Voyaging Society, Keaukaha Community And ‘Ohana Wa‘a, with The Support Of County Of Hawai‘I, Hilo Harbors, Keaukaha Community Association, Ka ‘Umeke K ‘Eo, Kamehameha Schools, University Of Hawai‘I At Hilo, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Koa Puna Motorcycle Club, And All Our ‘Ohana.

Being on the wa’a is the one place that pushes me to support my culture even more then i already do. Living in the modern day and age where kids are so brain washed by modern technology leaves me frowning because they don’t know what they are missing by not getting into their culture.  I know keiki nowadays are so caught up with cell phones and things and they didn’t make time to go paddling, fishing or hunting, all the awesome activities we would do. Growing up in Hana Maui and moving to Oahu caused a cultural shock inside of me and made me realize what i had back in my hometown is going to vanish and it is my kuleana to make a difference in my generation by planting the seed in non cultural minds. Hearing similar quotes from Pwo Navigators Nainoa Thompson and Bruce Blankenfeld and also from Captains incorporated in PVS opened my eyes to realize that wow the ocean is dying. SO being on the canoes makes me realize how much i love the beach and the things in it, the reef the fishes the ecosystem we need to Malama. For me the ocean and canoes is like my parents packed with mana’o and filled with love for their ‘ohana so if you don’t want to lose your aumakuas jump on dis canoe and sail away into the beautiful ocean and Malama Honua.

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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Lehua Kamalu

Hikianalia Crew

S. Maui to Mahukona

First sight this morning was rounding the SE coast of Maui on approach to ‘Alenuihaha Channel, dividing the islands of Maui and Hawai‘i.  I highly anticipated this notorious channel-crossing after hearing years of stories testifying to the power of its unrelenting wind and waves.  The strategy was to use the light of dawn to guide us through the calm morning conditions.  Our escort vessel, Ho‘okela, and its hardy crew are our main concern as there is no match to a double-hulled wa’a in these waters.   The early calm weather soon warmed up into strong winds and intense waves.  Ho‘okela plowed quickly ahead, zig-zagging across the stacking swells while Hikianalia set a straight course on a solid port tack.  Averaging 12 knots, HIkianalia offered us the challenge of trimming and steering in heavier conditions than our average sails off O‘ahu.  Despite the exhausting hauling, lifting, hoisting, carrying, holding on, and steering straight, the most difficult task of the day was simply opening cans for the delicious salmon patties that our cook Nakua prepared for dinner.  Painstakingly prying open each can with a screwdriver and a huki stick presented a great opportunity to bond with fellow crew, share laughs, and get salmon juice all over the deck.

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Early this morning at midnight, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia picked up the tow to ʻUpolu point.  We headed down the Hāmākua coast line, which many of the crew have never seen in their lives.  The forecast said today would be a calmer day, but as we headed towards Waipiʻo, our leadership decided that it was too rough for the canoes.  If we had continued on our course at the speed of 4 knots, we would have been traveling through Laupāhoehoe in the dark.  Everyone understood that the most important thing in this voyage is safety, for the canoes and crew alike.  We turned around and returned to Kawaihae to wait for better weather.  In doing so, we practiced several techniques like moving weight around the canoe and testing different sails.  Uncle Maka, Keahi, and Nainoa were incredible mentors today to many of us who’ve never crossed the ʻAlenuihāhā or the North side of Hawaiʻi Island.  Nainoa says, “the winds will tell you when to go,” so we wait until the weather forecast shows a break in the strong trade winds.

- Hōkūleʻa Crew

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