Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 5, 1 May 2007 — Kū Holo Lā Komohana Voyage update: [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kū Holo Lā Komohana Voyage update:

On April 23, after sailing more than 6,000 miles from Hawai'i in the last four months, the veteran voyaging eanoe Hōkūīe'a docked at Itoman Harbor in Okinawa to begin its landmark first visit to the islands of lapan. The purpose of the voyage, titled "Kū Holo Lā Komohana - Sail On to the Western Sun" is to honor the strong ties between Hawai'i and lapan, and the 1881 visit to the "Land of the Rising Sun" by King Kalākaua, whieh opened the door for immigration of Iapanese workers to Hawai'i. "Hōkūle'a has so mueh to offer to lapan," blogged Kanako Uehino, one of two Iapanese crewmembers aboard the eanoe on the leg to Okinawa. "I am sure the stories of Hōkūle'a, started from a single vision of Hawaiian people, will touch the core of the people of lapan." On April 12, Hōkūle'a departed for Okinawa from the Micronesian island of Yap, where it had concluded the first portion of its voyage, titled "Kū Holo Mau - Sail On, Sail Always, Sail Forever." The purpose of that voyage had been to deliver the new eanoe Alingano Maisu to Grandmaster Navigator Pius "Mau" Piailug as a gift to help perpetuate the navigators' art among his own people. Apprentice navigator Ka'iulani Murphy wrote that the sail from Yap to Okinawa "was not an easy one ... (as) we experienced a wide range of weather - from zero wind, flat water and extreme heat to near gale force winds, rough seas and intense cold." Murphy wrote of Master Navigator Nāinoa's Thompson's skill in dealing with the conditions: "It was a challenge for any navigator ... yet, Nāinoa's confidence instilled the same in eaeh of us, and we all knew he would raise Okinawa out of the sea. He could see the island before any of us could, and he knew exactly where it was since the time we left Yap. Our aloha and respect for this incredible man is immeasurable. Mahalo Nāinoa, your magic is an inspiration." □

HōkūleVs crew ofter arrival in Okinawa. Front row (left to right): Takuji Ara ki of Okinawa, apprentice navigator Ka'iulani Murphy, captain ond navigator Nōinoa Thompson, first mote Chadd Paishon, Kanako Uehino of Japan, Pomoi Bertelmann, Atwood Makanani. Back row: Kaina Holomalia, Dr. Pete Roney the on-board doctor, Mūile Neff (who ean barely be seen), and Timotby Gilliom. Photo: Courtesy ofthe Polynesian Voyaging Society.