Winds in the 'Alenuihaha Channel, after remaining strong and gusty for the past week, appeared ready to begin moderating today, creating an opening for the departure of the voyaging canoes Hokule'a and Alingano Maisu.

Leaders of the expedition have allowed several announced departure times to pass due to the strong weather in the channel, and at a news briefing yesterday morning, Maisu navigator Chadd Paishon said the decision is ultimately about safety.

"Because of the weather — the way the weather is right now — we decided to delay leaving today," Paishon said as he stood with his canoe's skipper, Shorty Bertelmann, Hokule'a skipper Bruce Blankenfeld and Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson. Roughly 100 crew members, family members, supporters and media were present for the planned departure.

Paishon said the need for safety overrides the inconvenience of the delays.

"We have this long legacy of 30 years. Those 30 years have taught us the decisions that need to be made. Sometimes those decisions are not right for other people, but they are right for us. ... We know that the decisions we make don't only affect us on the canoe, but they affect our families and our communities," he said.

The National Weather Service forecast for the 'Alenuihaha, which has included small craft warnings for the past several days, calls for powerful winds to begin dropping through the day today and continue dropping through the weekend. The small craft advisory was scheduled to remain in effect until this afternoon.

The canoe leadership, along with that of escort boat Kama Hele, was expected to meet this morning to determine whether conditions are appropriate to begin the mission to sail to Micronesia and Japan.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.