by Lydee Ritchie
Maui County Mayor James "Kimo" Apana last Sunday proclaimed the year 2001 as "The Year of the Hokule'a" at a welcoming dinner for the Hokule'a crew members at Ma'alaea Harbor Village. The voyaging canoe arrived in Ma'alaea Harbor from Lahaina on Feb. 11, and will be docked at the harbor until Feb. 24 for free on-board tours to the community, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
"We were so thrilled to see the faces of the school children light up when they stepped aboard the Hokule'a (in Lahaina Harbor). They asked so many questions and enjoyed crawling through sleeping areas, as if they were in a cave," said Maui coordinator Myrna Ah Hee. "So far, in the past two weeks, wešve given tours to nearly 1500 students. We expect another 1700 in Ma'alaea. Wešre totally booked!"
The Hokule'a was built by the Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1975 and launched the following year. She is visiting the islands on an educational mission in celebration of her 25th anniversary. As the first modern replica of a voyaging canoe to make the voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti and back, the Hokule'a became a symbol of the richness of the Polynesian culture and the seafaring heritage that links together all of the peoples of the Pacific.
"The subsequent voyages since 1975 have provided a wealth of information for scientists, anthropologists, and archaeologists about traditional Polynesian migrations, documenting one of the greatest achievements of humanitythe exploration and settlement of islands in an area of over 10 million square miles during a period of over 1,000 years," announced Mayor Apana, quoting from the proclamation.
He continued: "the Hokule'a traveled throughout Polynesia, it inspired among Polynesians an increased awareness and native pride in their seafaring heritage; and it also sparked a revival of canoe building and sailing, arts that had not been practiced in over 100 years."
The proclamation was received by Lahaina resident Abraham "Snake" Ah Hee, captain of the Hokule'a Maui 2001 tour. The resident of Lahaina has been on every one of Hokule'ašs return trip.
Entertainment by Kumu Iola C. Balubaršs hula halau followed, and dinner was donated by Ma'alaea Harbor Village General Partner Mike Spalding and Merrimanšs Bamboo Bistro. The audience was also treated to a surprise--spontaneous Tahitian dancing featuring Spalding, Ah Hee, former crew member Sol Kaho'ohalahala, and the Honorable Mayor, himself. About 150 people attended the dinner.