The boats left Okinawa Saturday en route to Kumamoto, Japan. Captain and navigator Chad Baybayan opted to pull into a safe port with gale force winds and thunderstorms predicted.

Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson, who is in Honolulu, said Amami is the only safe anchorage along the canoe's route. He said that once the storm clears, forecasters predict three to four days of clear weather before the next storm—which should be plenty of time for the canoe to reach Kumamoto.

Baybayan reported that crew members are safe, and are being housed at a karate dojo for the night.