Months of research about the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a have earned Maryknoll High School graduate Denise Kobashikawa a spot on navigator Nainoa Thompson's Ka Puna Keiki team of teenagers who are paddling around the state to earn money for the Children's Justice Fund.

Kobashikawa, who has been paddling and sailing since she was 8 years old, picked Hokule'a as the subject for her required senior project at Maryknoll.

Her project so impressed Thompson that he included her among the teens joining him as he paddles along the coasts of all the Hawaiian islands. He also gave the commencement address at her graduation.

Another highlight was a ride on Hokule'a during the filming of an Eddie Aikau documentary.

She said the experience was exhilarating. "In a sailing canoe, you are very close to the water. It's a good experience and it's a good feeling," Kobashikawa said.

She was thrilled to escort the crew of the Hokule'a's initial voyage as they sailed into Kailua Bay on a recent Save Kailua Day event.

"It was just really beautiful and the day was so pretty," she said. "It's never so calm, but we were lucky that day."

In addition to creating a scale model of Hokule'a using balsa wood, Kobashikawa also did extensive research for an oral presentation in an attempt to discover whether the success of Hoku-le'a's voyages depended on its crew's knowledge of Hawaiian history.

Through her studies she has learned that "the really important thing is to save the environment and really perpetuate the Hawaiian culture," she said.

"That has really opened my eyes as to what we need to do as the next generation to take care of this place that's Hawai'i."

Kobashikawa plans to study pharmacy at the University of Southern California before returning to Hawai'i.

But before she leaves, she will finish the statewide paddle with a trip to Kaua'i and Ni'ihau.

Who helped you? Kateri Inglis, her mentor for the project. "I had her as a teacher for English as a junior and I really enjoyed her class and I thought it was really inspiring and became a better writer."

Advice: Kobashikawa said her work has taught her that "we need to appreciate where we live and who we are."