Feb. 26, 2000; 21 days since departure--Report from Two Na Pua No'eau Students, Likeke Sawyer of Molokai'i and Kahula Justina Kaloiokalanikamokuowakea Hoke of the Big Island, who spoke with their Kumu and navigator in training on Hokule'a Kahualaulani Mick on the afternoon and evening of Feb. 26.

Report from Likeke Sawyer of Moloka'i: 4:25 p.m. on February 25. We had a really bad connection where I could hear Kahualaulani but he couldn't hear me so I didn't really get to ask all my questions. We got disconnected about 3 times. What I did get out was: the crew is doing well though the wind and weather has really been taking a toll on their bodies. They've begun searching for land now for a little less than a day, and they belive they're "really in the ball park now."(Kahualaulani)

Though they haven't seen a bird or other strong signs of land the clouds have really been encouraging them that land is near. The canoe has had much better wind conditions than expected and the crew is excited and can't wait to get home. Last night the canoe had a good clear night and was able to make a good reading off the stars and get a good bearing on their position.

They've been getting good moon light though they have encounterd a few squalls and 100% cloud cover some nights. To help the canoe with navigation besides Hokupa'a and Hokule'a, they've been using Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in the early evenings and Ke Ka o Makali'i (Sirius, Procyon, Castor and Pollux, Capella) and Orion later in the night. They have also had Venus in the early morning to help them. Kahualaulani stated that he's really enjoyed watching stars like Hokule'a get higher and higher in the sky as the canoe makes headway towards Hawaii. He predicts that they should spot Big Island soon and weather permitting sail on to Molokai where they'll make their first land fall. He also sends his Aloha and hopes to see us all soon.

Report from ahula Justina Kaloiokalanikamokuowakea Hoke of the Big Island: Feb. 25, 8:46 p.m.: Kahualaulani predicts that they are at 19 or 19 1/2 degrees North, 60-100 miles East of Kumukahi heading Noio Ho`olua . They plan to go 20 1/2 degrees turn Komohana then go West into the sunrise. The weather is pretty rainy, like Keke said they had a few squalls all day. The wind speed is about 15-20 knots. I asked him how the voyage home is affecting him, knowing this trip is the completing of the circle of 25 years of voyaging. His reply was that this is an awesome and really good trip but very hard at the same time. They were experiencing weird weather. He also said that he has learned a lot and the completion trip makes him feel really good. He also said that the crew is ready to come home and to tell eveyone that by sunrise they will be looking hard for land, like Mauna Kea. But, we've had a brush fire on Mauna Kea that started at 6 p.m. last night. I told him that I wasn't sure if they will be able to see Mauna Kea, just a huge cloud of smoke. But he said he'll let them know about the smoke and they'll look out for that because any sign is good.

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