EDITORIAL
Canoemakers revived Polynesian voyaging

A core part of the Hawaiian renaissance, Polynesian voyaging, would be nothing without the canoemakers.

So it is with sadness that we observe the passing of Wright Elemakule Bowman and Clay Bertelmann, who helped propel the art of voyaging into the 21st century.

Bowman, a master wood carver whose work inspired a resurgence in voyaging canoe building and the restoration of early churches, died Dec. 30 at 96.

Bertelmann, a Parker Ranch cowboy, died Tuesday at age 57. As builder of the legendary voyaging canoe Makali'i, he took master navigator Mau Piailug back to his remote home island, Satawal, sailing half the length of Micronesia.

Both led extraordinary lives. We trust their craftsmanship and pioneering spirit will live on in a new generation of canoemakers.