March 15- June 14  (by Ka`iulani Murphy)

As part of Navigating Change, Hokule’a completed a voyage throughout the main Hawaiian Islands this spring, completing the first part of the 2003 Statewide Sail. Island coordinators made possible the three-month long voyage: Chad Baybayan, Clay Bertelmann and JoAnne Sterling on Hawai’i, Snake and Myrna Ah Hee on Maui, Gary Suzuki on Lana’i, Penny Martin and Mel Paoa on Moloka’i, and Dennis Chun on Kaua’i. School children and other community members who visited the canoe at various ports were welcomed by Bishop Museum, NOAA and Hokule’a crewmembers who shared the message of malama.

On March 15, 2003 sixteen dedicated dry dock volunteers and training crewmembers sailed Hokule’a from O’ahu to Hawai’i to begin the three month long voyage. Hokule’a stopped in Hilo, Honaunau, Keauhou, Kauna’oa Bay and Kawaihae. Strong trade winds and an unforgiving ‘Alenuihaha Channel kept Hokule’a from sailing to Maui as scheduled. The extended stay in Kawaihae was a welcomed one as it provided a few opportunities to see two voyaging canoes, Hokule’a and Makali’i, sailing together. The Makali’i ‘ohana took care of Hokule’a and the crew that stayed with her in Kawaihae while they were conducting their own education programs.

On April 27, the strong winds had settled to allow for a safe channel crossing, and Hokule’a sailed to Manele, Lana’i in fourteen hours. From Manele Harbor, another crew sailed Hokule’a to Kaunakakai, Moloka’i. Hokule’a was headed back to O’ahu on the evening of May 2 and crossed the Ka’iwi Channel overnight. The first stop was Hakipu’u, where the beloved canoe was first launched twenty-eight years ago. While on O’ahu, Hokule’a sailed to Hale’iwa, Makua, Poka’i, Ko Olina, and Honolulu Harbor.

After spending the month of May on O’ahu, a crew of seventeen sailed Hokule’a across the Ka’ie’ie Channel to Nawiliwili, Kaua’i.  A week after being welcomed in Kalapaki Bay, the crew of Hokule’a sailed her to Hanalei, where she spent another week.  On June 14, a light crew of twelve sailed back to Honolulu where Hokule’a would rest before continuing up to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this fall to conclude the Statewide Sail.

The canoe 'ohana continues to grow and malama Hokule'a.  Mahalo for your kokua.

March 17, 2003 update (by Ka`iulani Murphy)

The 2003 statewide sail began on March 15. The sail will culminate in a visit to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands that reach out 1200 miles beyond Kaua'i to Midway and Kure. (Click here for a map of the NWHI.) Ka`iulani Murphy filed the following report on the first leg of the voyage, from O'ahu to the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Hokule`a left Maunalua Bay on the afternoon of Saturday, March 15 en route to Hilo to begin her sail throughout the islands. Light winds kept her under tow by escort boat Mana Cat, a 40-foot catamaran from Kaua'i. Travelling on a course between the islands, we were south of Moloka`i by sunset. Passing Lana`i, Maui, Molokini and Kaho`olawe overnight, both escort boat and Hokule'a crossed an unusually calm `Alenuihaha channel before dawn Sunday morning. The sun rose and lit up the north Kohala Coast and Mauna Kea in the distance. Terry Hee cleaned and fried up an aku caught along the way for breakfast - mmm good! Making good time, the crew took a break at the beautiful valley of Waimanu, north of Waipi`o. Surrounded by whales throughout the trip, one breached for the camera off the waterfall-laden coast of Kohala.

The crew (see photos on the right) consisted of left to right (front) John Hoapili, Russell Amimoto-Captain, (back) Ann Marie Mizuno, Kona Woolsey, Kana Uchino, Leimomi Kekina Dierks, Na'alehu Anthony, Kawai Hoe, Nainoa Thompson, Catherine Fuller, Sean Marrs, Kaleo Wong, Rick Rogers, Wati Forbes. Not shown are Terry Hee and Ka`iulani Murphy-taking the picture.

We arrived in Hilo one day early! Greeted by the Kea`eloa in Hilo Bay we ended our 26-hour tow inside of the small bay commonly known as Radio Bay. The crew stayed at Nawahi, welcomed by the students of the school the next morning. We returned to the pier to clean up Hokule`a, uncovering the canvas washing everything between manu ihu and manu hope. Mahalo to Chad Baybayan and the crew at Nawahi for welcoming and taking care of us in Hilo.