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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, May 17, 2004

Weather again delays Hokule'a sailing

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

HANALEI BAY, Kaua'i — The sailing of the voyaging canoe Hokule'a was delayed again yesterday, in part because of fears that a rising south swell would make anchorages at the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands unsafe.

Captain Nainoa Thompson said he was now planning for a departure Thursday or Friday.

He said the south-facing anchorages at French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island could be too dangerous to use if a big south swell appeared.

Also, while northwest winds were blowing, they were extremely light, meaning very slow sailing for the canoe.

The crew of the Hokule'a and escort vessel Kama Hele have been on standby for a departure originally set for May 8.

The main issue has been an unseasonal weather pattern that has brought repeated low-pressure systems through the Islands from the west. Such systems are normally part of winter weather in Hawai'i, and the National Weather Service has dubbed it "November in May."

Thompson is delaying the departure in hopes of the characteristic May weather pattern of trade winds and fair skies, which will allow the canoe to sail briskly and navigators to have a clear view of the night sky.