Polynesian Voyaging Society spokeswoman Kathy Thompson said the canoes pulled out of the bay about 5:30 p.m. There was an onshore wind and both canoes were under tow until they could get away from shore.

The sailing plan was for the canoes to sail south along the Big Island's coast to Ka Lae or South Point, and then to turn south-southwest.

Their first goal is Johnston Atoll, about 900 miles away. The atoll is almost directly in line with their next stop, Majuro in the Marshall Islands, and will serve as a check of the accuracy of their non-instrument navigation.

Both canoes will be navigating without instruments.

Skipper/navigator Bruce Blankenfeld aboard Hokule'a will be the lead navigator for the voyage as far as Johnston, after which Maisu navigator Chadd Paishon will serve as voyage navigator to Majuro.

Both canoes have both short-range radios for scheduled twice-daily radio checks between them and escort boat Kama Hele, and shortwave radios for scheduled three-times-weekly radio checks with Honolulu through the University of Hawai'i's Peacesat program.

The canoes left Kawaihae Harbor Friday to start their sail, but returned to anchor at Kealakekua Saturday night after a steering sweep cracked and needed repair. Although there are extra sweeps aboard, the voyage leadership decided to make repairs to that sweep on land while they were still close to land.

The sweep — a 24-foot-long paddle used like a rudder to steer voyaging canoes — was taken to the workshop of a voyaging canoe supporter and repaired.

The canoes are headed for Micronesia, where they will deliver Alingano Maisu as a gift to master navigator Mau Piailug, who taught non-instrument navigation to Hawaiian canoe sailors.