I was asked to write this story by several crew members, although I was not there, I will try to retell it the best I can (I lost my notes, so this is from memory).

While we were docked at Oshima, it was decided that we were going to switch the sails to the crab claw ones. In doing so however, we needed to add pepepiao (ear-shaped pieces made of wood, with a hole in it through which a tricing line runs). The problem was that one, we did not have the wood, and two we did not have the tools to make it with. If you remember Oshima is a very small rural island, with small mom and pop shops but really no commercialization in any grand scale. Most trade work is done by community members, and it would have to word of mouth to find the person.

Keala initially had found wood to work with, but it was not the ideal kind that he wanted. However, the work needed to get done so he did the best he could. He made the outline to make the new pepeiao, and asked around for a workshop he could go to. After asking around for a bit, he found exactly what he needed, or so he thought. He went to the workshop, which was really an elementary school shop, where they had nice equipment, but nothing really worked. He managed to find a small drill bit to make holes, and filled away the other portions, and made due with what he had. Keala, however, knew that the wood grain, texture and density were not the best; he hoped for better, but had to settle for what he had.

He set aside the makeshift pepeiao that night, and decided he would try to lash them onto Hokule'a the next day. When he woke up the next morning, he went to look for the pepeiao, but could not find them. All that hard work had been wasted. Again he asked and looked for someone who could help him. One of the crew said they thought that they had met a guy who did woodwork. He lived near a convenience store a few blocks away, up the mountain. That was all Keala had to go on.

So Keala and Stephanie made the trek to the convenience store, which they described being more like 40 blocks away. After finding the store, they asked if anyone knew the local carpenter and were redirected to his house. They went to the house of the carpenter, who was in his 80s. Now as an aside, we all remember meeting this man before, but we did not know he was a carpenter at that time. But he was a rascal, and asked all sorts of inappropriate questions that only a man of his age would get away with (I will just leave it at that). So Keala and Stephanie explained what they needed to the carpenter. He nodded, and told him he could make them that day. He went to his back yard, and found the heaviest iron wood he had, and said I will make them from this.

The carpenter then took both of them to his shop, which was described as having all sorts of home made gadgets and gizmos, that he had invented. The carpenter asked to go back to the canoe so that he could see exactly what was needed and size and function to get the pepeiao made. They took him there and showed him and example, and he took his measurements and went back to his shop.

He worked non stop for 4-5 hours to get the job done. Keala and Stephanie returned, and helped him finish them off. After they were done he wanted to show them some of his handicrafts. Including, a cup and saucer (which he gave to Stephanie), and two pieces of wood that he fashioned into phallic pieces, that he showed to them so proudly.

Stephanie and Keala had asked him to sign the pepeiao for them so that his name would forever live on the canoe. He also had his wife sign the other part with him. He was so touched by the gesture that he was near tears, and his family was so proud of what he had done. The cute thing was that the family wanted to also keep a sketch of the pepeiao that they had drawn, and have them sign it so that it could be framed.

They then took the pepeiao to the canoe, placed them on the spar, and they fit perfectly. The entire family came, and the carpenter turned to his grand-daughter and said you see look up there I am going to Hawaii. The family was so proud of him, and we were all so grateful that he was able to pull through and help us.

Later that day, the missing pepeiao were found on the dock near the canoe. They were completely substandard, and would not have lasted on the voyage. It was a blessing that they were not found, otherwise we would have never met the carpenter and his family. There is always a reason for everything, and things at one point we think are devastating, may be actually opening a path to something more beautiful.

Thank you for sharing this story with us.

Doctor, it's too long for me to translate it into Japanese before the lunch......okey, but i'll challenge that.

What a great story. It brought me to tears. Even more so my thoughts are with all the crew especially my husband Tava. A Hui Hou.