The Northwest journey of "Hawai'iloa" culminated in Juneau, Alaska, arriving at 10 a.m. yesterday. The canoe sailed into Sandy Beach on the shore of Gastineau Channel and anchored offshore across from a 500 foot high, forested cliffwith waterfalls. A crowd of about 300 people, including native Alaskans and Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders living in Juneau greeted the crew.

After a picnic, the dedication of a replica of a Hawaiian canoe petroglyph at a native Cultural Arts Park on the Juneau waterfront, and a performance by Naa Kahidi, a world-famous native theater group, the crew attended a dinner celebration held in commemoration of "Hawai'iloa"'s visit.

It was an evening of cultural exchange. After a performance of the Southeast Alaskan native national anthem, an elder offered the song to the Hawaiians. Myron "Pinky" Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, invited the native Alaskans to join the family of the canoe, which has spread throughout the Pacific and has now arrived at this far northeast corner of the rim.

"Hawai'iloa" crew members have been performing Hawaiian songs and dances at each stop under the direction of Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa and Brad Cooper. Tava Taupu from Nukuhiva in the Marquesas led the male crew and men from Juneau in a shirtless pig dance of the famous pig god kamapua'a. The Hawaiians were adopted into the Eagle/Raven Dancers under Agnes Bellinger, and performed Tlingit songs and dances. Two young crew members--Kala'i Miller and Kapono Aluli--because of their exuberant dancing, were asked to join the Haida Dancers in their performance. The Mark Trail Dancers serenaded the entire crew.

Robert Martin, chairman of Goldbelt, a native corporation, spoke about Tlingit voyaging traditions along the Pacific Coast and suggested the Hawaiians may be able to help the Tlingits in recovering those traditions. Leo Barlow, CEO of Sealaska, noted that there are already plans to build a traditional canoe in his hometown of Wrangell, Alaska.

Byron Mallot, the former CEO of Sealaska, gave his Tlingit name "Dook da Naik" to Nainoa Thompson, and adopted Thompson into the Raven/Humpback Salmon clan. Dook Da Naik was the name of a Tlingit hero who helped his people drive the Russians from Yakutat, an area on the Pacific coast west of Glacier Bay National Park.

In responding to Mallot, Thompson spoke emotionally about what the last five years of building and sailing "Hawai'iloa" have meant to him and the Hawaiian community. He noted that "Hawai'iloa" was not just about canoes and sailing, it was also about reviving and perpetuating traditional values. "We have been overwhelmed since coming here by your generosity and hospitality, your willingness to give. What the native Alaskans and Hawaiians have in common are their values of caring and sharing. The project is also about achievement and pride. By taking risks and reaching our goals we raise our self-esteem, and that makes everyone healthier."

"Hawai'iloa" will be in Juneau until July 18, when it will be barged to Seattle for shipment to Hawai'i. The barging from Juneau to Seattle has been donated by Alaska Marine Lines; the barging from Seattle to Honolulu has been donated by Aloha Cargo Transport.