Hiva Oa to Mangareva

Report on 08/26/99, A.M.

Prepared by:Kamaki Worthington on Kamahele.

At 8pm HST Hokule'a departed Pitcairn Island for Mangareva.

Navigators' Estimated Position at 6am, 08/26/99: 24deg 39m S, 60 miles along the reference course line. (Actual Position from GPS: 24 deg 52 minutes S, 131 deg 15 minutes W)

Heading: 'Aina Ho'olua (WNW) @ 5kts (under tow). Heading will remain the same until Temoe Island (an island 20 miles east of Mangareva) is sighted.

Wind: Noio Ho'olua (NW by W) @ 15kts

Swell: Noio Kona (SW by W)@ 4ft

Clouds: cumulus, altostratos @ 50% cloud cover

Changes: wind direction changed from southwest to northwest.

Steering at night by: Hokule'a (Arcturus), Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross), Hoku'ula (Mars) and Ikaika (Jupiter)

Latitude stars: Not available due to cloud cover

The crew will, in the next 2 days, be cleaning and preparing the canoe for arrival in Mangareva.

Yesterday, prior to departure, the crew of Hokule'a and Kamahele put on a lu'au for the entire island of Pitcairn (population 42). Tim Gilliom spent the morning fishing for the feast. He caught one 40lbs 'Ono, two50 lbs Ahi, and an Aku, all in 1 hour (only about 200 yards off shore). The fish was prepared by Mel Paoa, Gary Suzuki, Gary Yuen, and Aldon Kim. They made ahi poke, poisson cru (Tahitian-style raw fish), dried aku, and fried the 'ono.

While the crew were getting dinner ready, Navigator Chad, Apprentices Moana and Cathrine, and crew members Aeroway and Nalani went to the islands only school to talk to the students about Hokule'a and navigation. They were received warmly by the 10 students of the school, and sang a song. After the presentation, the crew members gave the children some M & Ms, and other chocolates. This was indeed a real treat for them since the island was without chocolate for 3 months. Pitcairn gets a shipment of supplies every 4 months from New Zealand. Chocolate is usually the first item to go.

After dinner, the island community transported the crew down the steep cliffs on 4 wheel ATV motorbikes (no cars on the island just the ATVs) and saw the Hokule'a and Kamahele off. Only the sound of the Pu (from crew member Atwood Makanani) could be heard as the two vessels sailed into the quiet night.

For more information on the leg to Mangareva, go to the Hiva Oa to Mangareva Page.

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