Hiva Oa to Mangareva

Report on 08/23/99, A.M.

Navigators' Estimated Position at 6 pm, 08/22/99: 21deg 24 minutes S, 30 miles W of the reference course line. (gps-21deg 27m S, 130deg 03 minutes W)

Navigators' Estimated Position at 6 am, 08/23/99: 22deg 24 minutes S, 30 miles W of the reference course line. (gps-22deg 31m S, 130deg 02 minutes W)

Heading last 24hrs: Haka Malanai (S by E) @ 5kts (under tow)

Miles in last 24 hrs: 120

Strategy: Maintain course and speed, begin looking for expanded landfall signs: i.e., land birds, ocean debris.

Winds: Light and variable

Swells: Hema (South) @ 8-10 ft

Clouds: cumulus, alto stratus, and cumulostratos @ 60%

Changes in last 24 hrs: winds have died, building south swell; Cool air of Southern latitudes has been the most noticable change in 24hrs. Last night, full gear (warm clothing) was needed on each watch, including gloves and socks. (Hokule'a is outside of the tropics now, having cross below 23.5 degrees--the Tropic of Capricorn.)

Next 24 hrs: wind will build slowly from the east

Steering at night by Pire'atea (Deneb), Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross), Mintaka (Orion's Belt), A'a (Sirius), Puana (Procyon), Na Kuhikuhi (Alpha and Beta Centauri), Mars, Hoku'ula (Mars), Ikaika (Jupiter), Makulu (Saturn)

Latitude star: due to cloud cover in the north all night, 'Iwakeli'i'(Cassiopeia) was not visible. Poloahilani (Shedir) could not be measured for latitude.

Birds: A'a (booby), Koa'e kea (white-tailed tropic bird)

Crew status: Health of crew 100%. Extend the tow line about 100 ft to reduce the stress put on both Hokule'a and KamaHele.

Crew interview: Today we talked with Tim Gilliom, a commercial fisherman and crew member from Maui. He has been learning to speak Hawaiian Language while on the voyage. Tim's mother urged him to learn his 'olelo makuahine, to bring him closer to Hokule'a and his Hawaiian heritage. His teacher on Hokule'a has been Mona Shintani, a native speaker from the island of Ni'ihau. Currently, Mona lives in Hilo were he teachs 'Olelo Hawai'i at Nawahi Immersion school. Tim's Hawaiian word for today is "Nonolo kapukaihu" meaning "to snore"... Tuesday we'll be talking to Gary Suzuki from Lana'i.

Sources of Information: Moana Doi, Cat Fuller and Chad Baybayan.
Prepared by Kamaki Worthington on Kamahele.

For more information on the quest for Rapa Nui, go to the PVS Homepage.