Keiki join journey of knowledge
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — For the 41 second-graders at Lanikai Elementary School, wrinkled noses and shaking heads made it clear that it wasn't appealing to have to bathe with ocean water aboard Hokule'a.
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"There's a lot of stuff in the water, like fish pieces," said Jesse Bersson, a second-grader.
With Hokule'a captain Nainoa Thompson on the other end of the line, Lanikai Elementary School second-grader Kaleb McPherson asks about supplies on the voyaging canoe. Beside him is Paige Gabel, a parent at the school, who facilitated the long-distance telephone hookup with the Hokule'a.
And the students couldn't control an outburst of giggles and "eeews" when they learned that Hokule'a crewmembers relieve themselves by hanging overboard.
But the information didn't faze Apuakea Huebner, who wants to be a member of the historic vessel's crew someday.
"I want to learn to navigate," Apuakea said. "I think it might be fun to learn how to sail with the stars."
An ancient way of traveling was linked with modern technology yesterday to give the Lanikai students a glimpse of what it is like to sail Hokule'a using only the stars, sea and wind. For the second-graders in Barb Vanderkamp's and Amy Bruhl's classes, it was a chance to share the daily life of crew members as Hokule'a retraces past voyages made by early Hawaiians and spreads a message of stewardship, caring for the environment.
In a darkened classroom the group split in two, with some gathered around a telephone and others watching a slide show about Hokule'a's voyage to Nihoa and other islands in the Hawaiian archipelago.
From Hokule'a, master navigator Nainoa Thompson alternately answered questions from the group and from students in Louisiana as part of the Navigating Changes program in which 60 classes of about 1,600 students in Hawai'i, Louisiana and American Samoa will call the vessel during its trip.
The Lanikai students prepared for the encounter with Hokule'a by studying its course, learning about stars, researching it on the Internet and watching a video. Paige Gabel, a facilitator for the program, said by connecting the students with Hokule'a, the children learn that what they do in their lives makes a difference to the environment.
"They understand that even though we're just little Lanikai School, their reach is extensive," Gabel said.
The students' questions covered the gamut and brought praise from Thompson, who complimented them on their work.
They asked about supplies, the cut of the sails, whether animals guide them, what chants are used on the voyage and how one navigates when the skies are overcast with clouds and it's dark.
"When the skies go black so does the water," Thompson said. "The only way you can navigate is by feeling the pulse and the rhythm of the ocean wave."
The students would turn their ears to the phone that carried his voice from hundreds of miles away. Each in turn stood up at the telephone and asked a question.
Evan Phillipson, curious about weather emergencies, was told that during heavy gale-force winds, the boat is safe out in the ocean as long as its sails are lowered. But during a hurricane, which has stronger winds, the captain might call for help from the Coast Guard.
"The main thing to deal with in weather emergencies is to make good, sound judgments and holding safety as a priority," Thompson said.
Taking turns with the Lanikai students were students from Labadieville Middle School in Louisiana. They asked about what would happen when the winds died or when someone was ill. They also wanted to know what the voyagers ate.
Students hung around after the conversation with Thompson and talked about sailing on Hokule'a some day. Casey Doyle said she wants to see the Northwestern Islands, and Makheila McDonald said she would like to voyage to those islands to see the different fish.
They agreed it was important to continue the sailing tradition and "passing on the knowledge from generation to generation," second-grader Jake Castillo said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
