| Posted on: June 9, 2004 |
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Bad weather hits crew hard |
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After a day on beautiful Kure Atoll, the crew endured its worst day at sea. Steering the canoe into the face of a gale was misery. |
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| Posted on: June 7, 2004 |
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Greeting Pearl and Hermes |
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We sighted Pearl and Hermes Atoll about 9:30 a.m., took a short dive in about 25 feet of water, and then proceeded along the atoll's southern reefs. |
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| Posted on: June 6, 2004 |
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Curious ulua join crew off Lisianski |
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We anchored for a short while off Lisianski, and snorkeled alongside the canoe.
Two 50-pound ulua circled marine biologist Randy Kosaki as he spun in the water taking pictures of them. |
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| Posted on: June 5, 2004 |
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Hokule'a leaves Laysan, scientists behind |
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We left the eight scientists living on Laysan Island sitting on the beach. Except for a visit later this week by a supply ship, we would be the only folks they'd see for months. |
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| Posted on: June 4, 2004 |
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Meeting seals at Laysan |
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I walked far inland to avoid bothering a gray-brown mother seal and her sleek black pup. When I walked back an hour later, there were two moms there, and two black pups. |
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| Posted on: June 3, 2004 |
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Birds leave colorful souvenirs on Laysan |
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A group of us walked around the rim of Laysan's super-salty lake, which is littered with bits of plastic, colorful butane lighters, kukui nuts, pieces of pumice and squid beaks. |
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| Posted on: June 2, 2004 |
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Hokule'a also serves as emergency room |
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The big event of the morning was Randy Kosaki's operation after he deeply cut the end of his index finger. |
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| Posted on: June 1, 2004 |
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Washing clothes easier than drying them |
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I washed some clothes and I have been trying to get them to dry. But dry has eluded them. |
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| Posted on: May 31, 2004 |
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Dried fish makes up for missed catch |
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We missed at least two fish today, but we still have dried fish from a previous day's catch. |
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| Posted on: May 29, 2004 |
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Canoe better than bunker on shore |
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Most of the crew spent at least one of the two nights at French Frigate Shoals sleeping on shore.
I stayed on the canoe. |
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| Posted on: May 28, 2004 |
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Encounter with Tern Island's talkative residents |
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On Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, one of the many things that impresses you is the noise. |
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| Posted on: May 26, 2004 |
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Fishing is good |
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Fishing has been good. We caught a mahimahi last night, which caused the immediate abandonment of plans for making chili. |
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| Posted on: May 25, 2004 |
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Physical hardship draws no complaints |
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Everyone is working sleep-deprived. Back and shoulder muscles unused to hauling anchor and manhandling the bucking sweep are aching, but nobody is complaining. |
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| Posted on: May 24, 2004 |
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Chores are challenging on Hokule'a |
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Washing dishes aboard Hokule'a is challenging. Crew members use a series of buckets and use salt water dipped from alongside. |
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| Posted on: May 23, 2004 |
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Finally, Hokule'a sails |
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The two weeks of waiting for Hokule'a to depart has been painful. But the canoe is now underway, her big sails pulling hard. |
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| Posted on: May 11, 2004 |
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More waiting for eager crew |
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We were up at 5:30 a.m. to meet Capt. Nainoa Thompson on a cliff at the Princeville Resort, where there was a wide view over the north Pacific. |
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| Posted on: May 10, 2004 |
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Final preparations — again |
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The crew, enheartened by Nainoa's prediction of a dawn departure May 11, set about making final preparations — swabbing the deck, tightening the shrouds, and the dirty work of climbing down into cramped holds and sponging out any moisture. |
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| Posted on: May 9, 2004 |
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Working in the rain |
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The sky was overcast and the weather cold at dawn. It cleared and was sunny for a couple of hours, but a black weather front swept in from the north at midmorning, enveloping crew and canoe in cold and wet. |
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| Posted on: May 8, 2004 |
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Getting ready to leave Hanalei Bay |
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Most of the crew arrived at Lihu'e Airport in the late morning, piling into two rental cars, my truck and that of watch commander Dennis Chun. Several stopped at Hamura Saimin for a snack before heading out to Hanalei. There was last minute shopping for a sleeping bag for Keoni Kuoha and batteries for navigator Ka'iulani Murphy. |
