PRESS RELEASE
contact: Ramona Ontiveros
536-8405, after hours: 753-1499
pvsramona@yahoo.com

Ku Holo Mau, Ku Holo La Komohana
2007 Voyage to Micronesia and Japan
Hokule’a Crew to Return as Next Crew Awaits Departure For Final Leg of Japan Voyage
June 1, 2007

Honolulu, HI – Crewmembers of Hokule’a and the escort boat Kama Hele are awaiting departure from Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture for their final leg of this historic voyage to Japan. Captain Nainoa Thompson says the crew has been working very hard with community and education events so they are taking this day of rest for crewmembers to get centered and refocused for the journey ahead. Also, forecasters say a low pressure system will be passing just south of them, likely bringing gusty winds and rain tomorrow; therefore, they have decided to let the low go by and catch the good weather behind it.
Thompson will be returning along with crewmembers who have been on Hokule’a and Kama Hele at least since Fukuoka, more than two weeks ago. Among the 15 returning: Nainoa Thompson, Iolani sophomore Sky Takemoto, 19-year old Nanea Baird, Anela Benson, Heidi Guth, crewmembers from Kaua’i Dennis Chun, Kaimi Hermosura, Stephanie Beeby, Keala Kai, Van Warren, Imaikalani Aiu, Kama Hele Crewmembers Mike Cunningham and Lee Taylor, who has been on board Kama Hele since the voyage began in January and is the son of Kama Hele Captain Mike Taylor, and Hokule’a volunteers Lita Blankenfeld and Mary Fern, who have worked tirelessly to provision both vessels for the entire voyage. They will be arriving on JAL flight 76 at 6:45 am tomorrow, Saturday, June 2nd.
The 15-member crew sailing Hokule’a from Uwajima to Yokohama include Captain Bruce Blankenfeld, Chadd Paishon, Pomai Bertelmann, Atwood Makanani, Ka’iulani Murphy, Na’alehu Anthony, Kanako Uchino, Takuji Araki, Patti-Ann Solomon, Dennis Kawaharada, Tava Taupu, Dr. Cherie Shehata, Dean Nikaido, Chris Baird and Leighton Tseu representing the Royal Order of Kamehameha.
They journey to Yokohama commemorates King David Kalakaua’s voyage to Yokohama in 1881. It is said he was greeted by a Japanese military band playing Hawai’i Pono’i. The King’s meeting with the Emperor lead to the opening of Japanese immigration to Hawai’i. This final leg of the voyage is expected to take 5 to 6 days, depending on weather.
Find more information on this voyage and a tracking map at www.pvs.hawaii.org.

VOYAGE SPONSORS

Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Hawaii Tourism Japan
Japan Airlines
Continental Airlines
NYK Line
Matson Navigation Company
Yanmar Co., Ltd.
First Hawaiian Bank
Queen Lili’uokalani Trust
Island Insurance Companies
HMSA
Bank of Hawaii
Hawaiian Electric Industries
Central Pacific Bank
Chemi-Pure Termite and Pest Control
Boatswain’s Locker
Industrial Electronics
Kobayashi Foundation
Cole Family Foundation
Dowling Community Foundation
Nyctea Foundation
Poseiden Properties
Mariana Express Lines Limited
Hawaiian Telcom
AIG Hawaii

Howzit Everybody
This is Imai from the Kaua'i crew. We're all home safe. At least I am, haven't talked with the rest of the crew yet. First thing I did was sleep all day, then go out for some dark beer. Japan has lots of great things but good dark beer isn't one of them. And then of course surfing.

Hope the Yokohama crew is enjoying Japan as much as we did.

Mahalo to all the crew I was with for a great time.

Mahalo to the people of Japan for being so nice to us. I feel guilty at how good we were treated.

And mahalo to Kana, Taku, Kyoko and Junko for sharing their homeland with us.