Hawaiian Canoe Voyagers Reach Destination

On August 15, the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society (HOCVS) returned to Kaua‘i after having reached Laysan Island on the morning of August 11. The team paddled a 40-foot traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe through the newly formed NW Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument, which encompasses some of the most isolated waters in the world. Beginning at Mokumanamana (Necker) Island, a team of 16 paddled 461 miles in 3 days and 11 hours to arrive at Kauo (Laysan). One mile wide and 1 1/2 miles long, and home to 2 million breeding sea birds and 240 monk seals, Laysan lies in the middle of the Monument, 900 miles northwest of Honolulu.

This year’s voyage, HOCVS’s third into the NW Hawaiian Islands, continues a multiyear paddle instilled with the goal of enhancing spiritual and cultural connections throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago by literally connecting all of the Hawaiian Islands. HOCVS intends not only to educate the public about the unique nature of the NW Hawaiian Islands, but to promote stewardship of our whole island state. Members of HOCVS were among the first people to gain entry into the newly created National Marine Monument, which extends 1,200 miles from Nihoa Island to Kure Atoll. HOCVS extends its gratitude to the State of Hawai‘i DLNR Aquatic Division and NOAA for granting permission to enter the Monument and State waters.

Members of the paddling crew were:

Kimokeo Kapahulehua, Maui
Chris Luedi, Maui
Jamie Woodburn, Maui
Kathryn Hughes, Maui
Mike Spalding, Maui
George Rixey, Maui
Chris Smith, Maui
Terry Quisenberry, Maui
Jeff Meadows, Maui
Kendall Struxness, Kaua‘i
Matt Muirhead, Kaua‘i
Scott Funk, Kaua‘i
Kama Hahn, Moloka‘i
Dave Loustalot, California
Scott Woodburn, Florida
Frank Negri, New York

Support Staff:
Michael Gilbert, Photographer
Grant Thompson, Crew Chief
Joshua Circle-Woodburn, Alternate Paddler
Jason Hilford, Journalist

Voyagers were escorted on the trip by American Marine’s American Islander and sponsored in part by:
Goodfellow Brothers Inc., Dowling Co., Kialoa Paddles, PaddleMe.com, Da Kine, Brookfield Homes Hawaii, Maui N¯o Ka ‘Oi magazine, Honua‘ula, Lulu’s Restaurant, and Tri-Star Restaurant, West Marine, Dr. John Hedrick.

Posted by keizo on Wed, 08/23/2006 - 7:13pm