Posted on: Saturday, October 30, 2004

New voyaging canoe arrives in Hilo today

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i's newest voyaging canoe, Hokualaka'i, will arrive at its home port in Hilo Bay this morning.

The single-masted, double-hulled canoe was first launched in August from the Marine Education Training Center on Sand Island, O'ahu, where it was built. It took a training run last month in a sail to Moloka'i accompanied by the venerable Hokule'a.

The canoe is owned by the 'Aha Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion school program, and will be used as a floating classroom by the nonprofit program. The 20-year-old group received a federal grant under the Native Hawaiian Education Act to pay for the vessel.

A public reception for Hokualaka'i, which means "guiding star," will be held at the Hilo Bayfront starting at 8:30 a.m.

"Hokualaka'i is the first of its kind for large voyaging canoes," said master navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan, project manager responsible for the canoe. "It is the first to be made out of composite materials, including foam and fiberglass, which were chosen for easier maintenance and increased safety."

The other modern voyaging canoes are made of tree trunks — usually koa — although the Hawai'iloa is made of Sitka spruce logs donated by Alaskan natives.

"Another unique aspect is that the 'olelo Hawai'i is the language of the canoe," Baybayan said. "Hokualaka'i is a floating honua, or cultural environment, where our language will thrive. It is grounded in the mauli (the heart or seat of life), that cultural foundation which is a feature of all ('Aha Punana Leo) programs."

The canoe is 58 feet long and 18 feet wide, and was designed to accommodate 12 passengers on long-distance voyages. It is loaded with technology, providing e-mail and Internet access.

The welcoming ceremony will begin with a gathering of the voyaging canoes Hokualaka'i, Hokule'a and Makali'i around the Hilo Bay breakwater, followed by a mele of welcome from shore.

There will be special presentations by Punana Leo, Nawahiokalani'opu'u School, and Ka Haka 'Ula o Ke'elikolani (College of Hawaiian Language of University of Hawai'i at Hilo), followed by receiving of the crew members on shore.

Refreshments and music will follow, with the event scheduled to end at 12:30 p.m.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.