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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:11 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007

Baccarat resort donates outrigger canoe to Maui group

Advertiser Staff

Baccarat Wailea Resort & Residences has donated an outrigger canoe to members of the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society on Maui.

The canoe, carved by master carver Randy Bumatai, will be used to demonstrate traditional carving techniques and expose participants in the society's programs to traditional lashing techniques and short excursions within the waters around Maui.

Society founder Kimokeo Kapahulehua said: "The generous donation of this valuable resource to the HOCVS has brought life back to the wa'a. It has been reconnected to its source and will become a valuable component of our educational programs."

"We are all connected and part of one 'ohana so we will return to the site of the Baccarat Wailea Resort & Residences upon its completion and celebrate the grand opening with a ceremonial blessing and canoe launch, including the gifted canoe, to continue moving forward," Kapahulehua said.

The ceremony, held last month, followed the traditional ritual ending with the launching of the canoe into the Pacific Ocean.

Baccarat Wailea Resort & Residences is expected to open in 2010, with several other locations to follow, including the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East. Baccarat Wailea will consist of 193 condominium homes ranging in size from one bedroom, 980 square feet layouts to four-bedroom, 3,330 square feet residences.