Paddlers Continue Voyage Through Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Canoe Voyage Continues

Through the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

July 24, 2006- With the support of Kialoa Paddles, West Marine, Da Kine, Doc Martin’s Sunscreen, Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, PaddleMe.com and many generous individual supports the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society (HOCVS) will depart August 5, on the 1,150 mile third leg of their incredible voyage in the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Launching their 40 foot outrigger canoe from where they ended last year at Mokumanamana (Necker Island) the team will paddle continuously day and night through the French Frigate Shoals and complete the voyage to Laysan Island, a paddling distance of 450 miles. The group will use 16 paddlers rotating every hour and expects to complete the paddling portion of the voyage in 94 hours. This voyage will be the longest continuous paddling voyage attempted. The Northwestern islands present the challenge of isolated waters, unpredictable weather and some of the most treacherous ocean conditions in all the Hawaiian Islands.

The HOCVS crew will consist of 15 men and 1 woman on this leg of the voyage. Most of the crew members reside in Hawaii and have prepared for years to accomplish this voyage. Lead by their Kahuna Holokai (skilled seaman) Kimokeo Kapahulehua, who envisioned an incredible and unprecedented multi-year journey of reconnection, with the goal of paddling a six-person Hawaiian outrigger canoe from the most southern of the Hawaiian islands to the northernmost atoll – Kure. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef System, a newly designated National Monument wildlife refuge area that extends approximately 1,100 miles and encompasses an area of 131,800 square miles. These islands begin with the island of Nihoa, approximately 160 miles northwest of Kauai, and stretch past Midway to Kure Atoll.

One purpose of the HOCVS is to perpetuate and experience the Hawaiian culture of long-distance paddling. In ancient times, Polynesian voyages would be planned around the phase of the moon and stars. The physical building of the canoe and all the preparations of testing, selecting and training a crew would take them a year. When the ancient Kahuna gave the proper sign to leave, the whole community would be intensely involved in all the preparations required. Chosen crew members would be filled with pride and purpose and they said their last goodbyes. Each would take hold of their paddle and propel the canoe into the ocean with all their strength, leaving their home island perhaps for the last time. With the same accord as these ancient traditions the HOCVS and their community, experience the same harmony, strength and respect that arises when men and women paddle a canoe towards a common goal. The fact that the Northwestern waters are so remote, environmentally delicate, filled with such mystery and hold an ancient spiritual connection make this voyage more momentous to all. Each year the HOCVS develops educational components of every voyage. Through video, pictures and writings the HOCVS promote stewardship and perpetuate the real experiences that ancient Polynesian voyager’s faced.

To learn more about this incredible journey into the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Call Jamie Woodburn at 808 870-5671 for more information or email : woodburnj001@hawaii.rr.com or Matt Muirhead at 831 818-7126 or email mmuirhead@barlocker.com.

Posted by keizo on Sun, 08/06/2006 - 11:15am