"It's slacking toward Kaua'i, but it's still howling here," said mission spokeswoman Kathy Thompson at 7:15 a.m. from the Big Island's Kawaihae Harbor.

The National Weather Service is forecasting decreasing wind speeds, but the drop had not yet reached Hawai'i Island. The weather buoys to the west and southwest of

the island—which are along the path the canoes intend to take--continued to show gusts in excess of 30 mph.

Thompson said that Maisu navigator Chadd Paishon described the situation this way: "They're looking for a window between too much wind and not enough wind."

She said the leadership of the voyaging canoes and escort boats, along with Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson, met for more than an hour

at 6 a.m. to discuss the weather. They decided to hold another meeting to review conditions at noon.

For the past week, too-strong winds have been the issue preventing their departure, but the forecast for the weekend is for steadily dropping winds. The

sailors hope to get moving before they lose all wind, she said.