Hokule'a arrived home safely this morning aboard the NYK container ship Settsu. It was beautiful to see her back home. At about 9 am a massive Hawaii Stevedores, Inc. crane lifted Hokule'a off the deck, swung around and placed her on tarps and blocks on the dock.

About 20 crewmembers were there and immediately sprayed the dried limu on the hulls and scraped it off. By 11 am the crane lifted her again and placed back in the familiar waters of O'ahu. She was then towed to her home at Honolulu Community College's Marine Education Training Center. (See the Gallery for more photos.)

We want to thank again NYK Line and the stevedores at Pier 1 who did a beautiful job and took such care in getting her back on the 'aina for cleaning and into the water. We will keep you posted as to what's next. Two major events are taking family members and the ashes of the late Captain Kawika Kapahulehua on a sail to Ni'ihau, followed by the drydocking of Hokule'a.

Thanks again to everyone who made the 2007 voyages a success. Aloha, Kathy

Data on the voyages called Ku Holo Mau, Ku Holo La Komohana – Sail On, Sail Always, Sail Forever, Sail On To The Western Sun:

Voyage distance: 9,570 statute miles.

Voyage length: 175 days

Start date: January 13, 2007

Arrival at final port: June 9, 2007

Vessels: Hokule’a (Micronesia and Japan), Alingano Maisu (Micronesia), escort boat Kama Hele (Micronesia and Japan)

Stops: Majuro, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Satawal, Woleai, Ulithi, Yap, Palau, Okinawa, Amami Island (Kagoshima), Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, Ehime, Muroto (Kochi), Miura (Kanagawa), Kamakura, Yokohama.

Captains: Shorty Bertelmann, Nainoa Thompson, Bruce Blanekenfeld, Chad Baybayan, Chadd Paishon, Sesario Sewralur

Navigators: Chadd Paishon, Bruce Blankenfeld, Nainoa Thompson, Sesario Sewralur, Chad Baybayan

More than 130 crewmembers over several crew changes.

Satawal: Home island of Master Navigator, Hawaiian navigators’ teacher and first navigator of Hokule’a to Tahiti Mau Piailug. One mile long, half a mile wide. Mau awaited the vessels on Satawal, where he was gifted the voyaging canoe Alingano Maisu, which was built for Mau by the Hawai’i island voyaging group Na Kalai Wa’a Moku o Hawai’i. Mau’s son Sesario is now captain of Alingano Maisu, which is homeported in Yap.

Pwo Ceremony: On Satawal, Mau initiated 5 Hawaiian navigators and 11 Satawalese navigators into pwo (pronounced poh). Pwo is a traditional ceremony likened to a sacred graduation ceremony and this was the first time it was imparted on foreigners.

Kama Hele Note:

Captain Mike (back in Hawai'i) of Kama Hele reports that Kama Hele, motor-sailing, is about a third of the way home from Japan. One night, some "flying" squid landed on deck and provided a meal; and the crew just catch their first fish -- a mahimahi.

Celebration Hokulea has come home!

Inspired by Hokulea, I began a new H.P. as below. Anyone who has Hokulea`s Heart is welcome!!
http://peoplenature.at.webry.info/200707/article_3.html