Posted on: Monday, March 14, 2005

Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

The voyaging canoe Hokule'a will sail next week from Ka Lae on the Big Island on another voyage that links Hawaiian canoe culture to the environment and education.

"We're using canoes and heritage to look at social and environmental issues," said Nainoa Thompson, the Polynesian Voyaging Society's veteran navigator.

Thompson said 13 high-school students from public, private and charter schools on O'ahu will paddle one-man canoes along the leeward side of the main Hawaiian Islands, with Hokule'a sailing alongside.

During the stops, the students will dive on coastal reefs, meet with land managers ashore and learn about issues in the Hawaiian environment, he said.

"We want to inspire students to explore and care for the ocean, coral reefs and these islands," Thompson said.

Each of the students has been raising pledges per mile paddled, and the project is expected to raise about $10,000 for the Children's Justice Center, a state judiciary program for abused children in Hawai'i.

The first leg of the effort is a seven-day trek during the spring break that goes up the Big Island's leeward coast from Ka Lae (South Point) to Mahukona. The students will paddle a dozen or so miles each day. The first day, March 21, from Ka Lae to Okoe, will be the longest at close to 20 miles. Some segments will be less than 10 miles.

The group will do Maui County April 22 to 24, Moloka'i to O'ahu April 20 and 30, and Kaua'i County May 6 to 8. The overall event is titled "Kapu Na Keiki."

"When it's over, we will have paddled from South Point to Kaua'i over four weekends, on the lee sides of the islands," Thompson said, with a possible sailing visit to Ni'ihau. The kids will not paddle the channels between the islands.

The students are Haunani Kane, Clifford Kapono, Mark Towill, Ka'ulunahenahe Samson, Waimea McKeague, Teresa Kaho'okele, Ili Peneku, Lono Kealoha, Kapena Na'auao, Kamuela Paikai-Hind, Uluwehi Keaunui, Denise Kobayashi and Kanoa Brown. Others may join during the coming weeks, Thompson said.

"With 62 paddling clubs and 16,000 paddlers in Hawai'i, the canoe has become a unique tool for creating powerful learning experiences. We're not the only canoe organization doing this kind of thing, but we're trying to do our part," he said.

If you have a question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, drop a note to Jan TenBruggencate at P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766, e-mail jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or call (808) 245-3074.