Aloha Dennis, Kathy and Ramona.

On Thursday, April 26th, it was my honor and privilege to greet and escort forty second-grade students from two US Department of Defense Schools in Okinawa. The children were from Bob Hope Primary School and Stearley Heights Elementary School on Kadena Air Base.

Over the past several years, I have been involved in quite a few canoe tours, so I was expecting a rather routine event. Things began to change immediately when the children got off their yellow school bus and I saw how excited they were. Both classes have been following the voyage closely - Takuji Araki of the Hokule'a crew is from Itoman and had visited their classroom before he departed to join the canoe, they read the blog daily in class, and
they had received a satellite phone call from Ka'iulani and Takuji while we were out at sea. You could tell they were "stoked."

Still, I was totally unprepared for the emotional impact I felt when these beautiful children sat in a semicircle on the Itoman dock beside Hokule'a and gazed silently and innocently up at me. I couldn't begin to speak, as I had a lump in my throat the size of a pineapple that took long moments to clear. It had suddenly struck me, "These children are the very reason we are voyaging for so long, so far from home. This is who we came to see." Somehow, the lump cleared and we had a great talk about Hokule'a and Kama Hele while waiting our turn to board the canoe where Ka'iu, Taku, Timi, Maka and others were waiting to show the kids around. Their questions were numerous, bright, insightful beyond their years and revealed how very much they had already learned about the canoe, voyaging and values.

But the moment that will stay with me and the other crew who were privileged to be there, was when the children asked, just prior to boarding, if they might sing two songs to the canoe and her ohana. They sang a song by Na Leo Pilimihana that I had not heard before, "For the Sake of the Children." It spoke DIRECTLY to the point of our voyaging in such a sad way that I thought, "What a sad song to teach to little kids." I can tell you that I was not the only adult male crewmember with tears sneaking out from behind our sunglasses. Then it came to me how I should respond on behalf of PVS. I thanked them for the incredibly powerful gift to the canoe of their song and asked them to send me the words that I might forward them to you for the blog. I told them, "We voyage because we are concerned about the very problems about which you sang. But, after hearing your song I realized that you guys see the problems and know how to address them. I feel better now about the future just from the fact that you sang that song. Please keep singing that song. Teach it to and sing it with your friends. Sing it to your parents and their friends. Sing it every day - and we will sing it, too."

The mood was lightened by their rollicking version of "We're Going to a Hukilau", complete with fancy hula moves, followed by a really fun canoe tour. But the attached lyrics are going to be one of, if not the, most powerful moments of this already-epic voyage.

The childrens' visit was front-page news, with a beautiful color photo of Taku with the children on the canoe, in the April 29, 2007 issue of "Stars and Stripes" a Department of Defense-authorized newspaper for servicemen and their families serving overseas. Many thanks to Gwen Fred, a teacher at Bob Hope and a third-generation Japanese-American from Hawaii for her MANY kindnesses during our visit to Okinawa; but, most especially for making this visit, and a moment I will never forget, happen.

Mike Taylor
Captain, Kama Hele

[Hoku Team Note: to read the lyrics of Leo Pilimihana's "For the Sake of the Children," please see Education Downloads in Education Resources on the menu to the right, or click the following link to download the PDF file: http://pvshawaii.squarespace.com/download-files/. To see photos of Mrs. Fred's class visit to the Hokule'a, please see the Education Photo Gallery: http://pvshawaii.squarespace.com/education-photos/. Mahalo.]

Captain Mike,

We have been tracking the Hokule'a since it left Hawaii in January, and will continue to do so until they reach mainland Japan.. The students were enthused about the voyage probably more so because I was excited about it. Being so far away from Molokai, it was a thrill to be able to teach my students about the Hawaiian culture, and to get them actively involved was extraordinary. As the Hokule'a came closer and closer to Okinawa, the children were so excited. We couldn't guarantee a field trip to the canoe, and up to three days before the trip, we still weren't sure. You can just imagine how they were on the bus ride down to Itoman Port! It was not just another field trip to them, it was a "once in a lifetime experience!'

Thank you, Captain Mike, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to the children, and for allowing us to board the canoe. Who would have thought that halfway across the Pacific Ocean, our children would have the opportunity to do this?

Domo Arigato,

Gail Shimiu Mora
Stearley Heights Elementary School
Kadena Air Base
Okinawa, Japan

Dear Mike,
I am very touched by your reflection and effect the children had on you. It is the innocence of children that can pull at your heartstrings. But you are right. It is for the children that we teach. It is for the children that you voyage and carry on the traditions. It is to make this world a better place for them.
When I came across that song by Na Leo Pilimehana I knew it was the correct song for the Hokule’a. You have a strong commitment to educate. You tie cultures together. You are a marvelous example of dedication, determination, with the hope of being one. It is through your example that these children have learned and will continue to learn as we track your voyage to the end. We have incorporated many life skills as well as academic curriculum in our studies. If it were not for the Hokule’a these lessons would not have come about so effectively.
As I watched you sail away on Sunday, I thought of the courage everyone has to venture out into that big ocean in your tiny vessel. What commitment and bravery. It takes special people to voyage as you have. It was my priviledge and honor to meet you. I only wish I could have made it more comfortable for you all. If I could have cleared the wind and rain for you I would have. You all deserve the best! The children love you and we have learned many things through your voyage. A brother of one of my students said, “All my sister talks about is the Hokule’a, Hokule’a, Hokule’a.” You have made such an impression in their minds. I am sure they will remember this for the rest of their lives.
I am very blessed to have been able to rub shoulders with all of the crew members. I am very proud to say I am from Hawaii. As I travel and learn about new places I have come to realize what a special place Hawaii is. It is filled with beauty - beautiful beaches, mountains, ono food but most of all the people. I don’t think there is any other place in the world where so many cultures could live together in such harmony, respect and love for one another as in Hawaii. And that is because of the aloha spirit. That feeling of ohana can not be found anywhere else in the world. Hawaii no ka oi.

Malama pono and ahui hou.

Gwen (Sewake) Fred
from Kohala, Hawaii and Wahiawa, Oahu