February 18, 2007

Honolulu, HI – Crewmembers aboard the voyaging canoes Alingano Maisu and Hokule’a sighted the tops of the coconut trees on the northeastern end of Majuro atoll at about 3:30pm this afternoon, Hawai’i Standard Time (HST).

At about 4:20pm HST, the canoes were an estimated 12 miles away from the atoll. They are sailing at about 6.5 knots and hopefully will be in the lagoon of Majuro at around 6pm HST.

This is the first landfall for Alingano Maisu and first landfall for Hokule’a west of the dateline. Crewmembers of all three vessels – Maisu, Hokule’a and escort boat Kama Hele - are extremely excited and very tired after a long voyage – 26 days since leaving Kealakekua Bay. Getting to anchor in the calm lagoon of Majuro will provide the rest and relaxation that the crews deserve and time for leadership to take a break.

We would like to commend Chadd Paishon for excellent navigation on board Alingano Maisu, the lead canoe from Johnston Atoll to Majuro. Also, deserving congratulations to all crewmembers who kept the three vessels together during this difficult leg of the voyage.

After some rest, a few crew changes, reprovisioning, and refueling of the escort boat, the voyage should continue on to Micronesia in a few days.

Congratulations to the Hawai'i-Majuro Crews:

1. Maisu's crew: Captain Shorty Bertelman, Navigator Chadd Paishon. Micronesian members: Mau Sesario Sewralur (Mau Piailug's son, 36) of Yap; Jason Urusalim, 26, of Satawal; Innocenti Eraekaiut, 32, of Satawal; Athanasio Emaengilpiy, 26, of Satawal; and Norman Tawalimai, 28, of the neighboring island of Ifalik. Hawaiian Crew: Keala Kahuanui, Pualani Lincoln, Kaipara Nick Marr, Kamoa'e Walk, Keaka Mo'ikeha Yasutake.

2. Hokule'a's crew: Captain and Navigator Bruce Blankenfeld; Dr. Ben Tamura, medical officer; watch captains: Ka'iulani Murphy, Attwood Makanani, and Tim Gilliom; crew: Russell Amimoto, Bob Bee, Terry Hee, Nohea Kai'aokamalie, Kaleo Wong, and Palani Wright.

3. Kamahele Crew, Hawai'i - Majuro: Mike Taylor, Lee Taylor (Mike's son), Erik Norris, Mark Rhodes, James Hadde, Sam Monaghan.

Crew Changes in Majuro

1. Dr. Gerard Akaka will switch off with Dr. Ben Tamura on Hokule'a and be on board until Pohnpei.
2. Patti-Ann Solomon, Rod Floro, and Ka'umealani Walk will join the crew of Alingano Maisu.
3. Gary Kubota of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin will be on board Hokule'a from Majuro through Palau. Look for his newspaper reports.
4. Mike Cunningham, who has been so generous with his time and expertise will be on Kama Hele through Palau. Kama Hele crewmember Sam Monoghan will come off in Majuro and fly home.

Thanks be to God! V6AI Radio Yap

Congratulations to all of the crewmembers! Been following your progress daily via the weblog from Carmel, CA. You've made Hawaii proud, not to mention what you've accomplished in representing your families and ancestors in carrying on a very worthwhile tradition!

Your efforts are appreciated and envied by many, even those of us who live on the mainland and carry Hawaii in our hearts daily.

Congratulations! You're an inspiration! Aloha!

congrats to everyone,been following you guys as much as i could.heard all the reports and can't wait to hear the real stories.wish u guys all the best,and will see u across the pond!

all our aloha to the crews,

p.s. now u have u'r own stories.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.Praise ye the LORD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!
You are all such an inspiration in showing that through hard work and working together anything can be accomplished.We are all so proud of you.
As you complete this part of the voyage we should all again give PRAISE and HONOR to our lord JESUS CHRIST for all that he has done.We have all been blessed through this voyage and i think we are truely connecting the world.We have been moved dearly by your daily updates and have come to appreciate all the hard work everyone has done to make it possible.so give yoursevles a big group hug and go get something nice and cold to drink.Your families are proud of you and are awaiting your return until than continue to take care of each other and GOD bless all of you.

As we share this most awesome news with members of the Makali'i Ohana, Waimea Middle School, Kanu o Ka Aina and Halau Hula Ke'alaonmaupua, we honor each of you; you are our community members, our family members, our friends, our teachers and our comrades - through you our ancient songs live again, through you the songs of today bring life to this and the generations to come. Rod, the students of Waimea Middle thank you for sharing your star lab with us and will follow you for the rest of the journey. To Patti Ann,we, your 'ohana are proud of you - Sail on for all of us, we sail with you!!!!

Congratulations to everyone! We have been in daily contact through the website. Mahalo for keeping us informed of all the happenings. A big 'Mahalo' to all the crewmembers for taking good care of our son, Palani. Love you Palani. Mom & Dad

Congratulations again to all of you voyagers!!! You should all feel proud of your accomplishments on completing the first leg of this voyage! We are all so proud of all that you folks have done!! Bruce, Chadd and Uncle Shorty, you have once again proven that wayfinding is alive and well!!
Now that you have found Majuro, it is time to adjust back to life on land.....we know how hard that can be......
Enjoy the moment!! Awesome guys and gals!!
Aloha,
Moana, Kealoha & Keoe

P.S. Proud of you my brother Chadd!!!

Mahalo na akua for your safe crossing. I want to be inside your feet when they first touch land again, to know what that feels like. Love to you all, especially the one with the beautiful eyes (well, that's all of you).

Lonoikamakahiki!

Congratulations!!! We are so proud of all of you. Hope you get to rest, enjoy the moment, and know that we are always with you. You are making history(again). What a wonderful feeling that must be. Safe sailing as you continue your journey. Ku Holo Mau...(luv u Ka'iulani...mom)

Congradulations to the crewmembers of all the canoe's. I know you guys had such a great experience on the the open waters. Thank you for letting us share the moments with you through the web. Now you guys can relax and chill out for alittle while before heading out again. Mahalo nui loa for taking care of someone special to me. Take care and good luck on the journey's to come.

Uncle Chadd and the rest of the crew...Maika'i on your arrival....much aloha...

I ku mau mau
I ku wa
I ku mau mau
I ku huluhulu
I ka lanawao
I ku wa
I ku lanawao
I ku wa
I ku wa huki
I ku wa ko
I ku wa a mau
A mau ka eulu
E huki e
Kulia

hinano

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CREW MEMBERS!!!!
You guys are great and welcome aboard to the new crew..You keep on sailing and we'll keep on tracking your voyage....
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Tessie, Michigan

Awesome! Wishing you all the very best on behalf of Holualoa 4th graders who share my enthusiasm for all that you are doing! Mahalo Uncle Rod for helping us feel connected to the Wa'a 'Ohana!
Malama Pono! Thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Land Ho! Great Job! Following the voyage each day! CONGRATULATIONS! Malama!

Allelua, allelua, thanks God you made it. You finally made it. We are very proud of you. We wish you success in your other legs. You have shown to the world that the knowledge has been computed into your little computers and that will never diminish.

Rest assure that our prayer goes with you all days and nights. With God we trust.

Kapwong ngaeni kaemi meinisin

Aloha to all the crew and leadership of all the canoes. Shorty, Bruce, and Kaonohi, great job of raising the islands. Once again you have shown that the skills of our ancestors are alive and well. Timi, Terry, Russell, Palani, Nohea, Kamoa'e, Keaka, bradda Nick from Aotearoa, and Kaleo, awesome making of those landfalls. Russ did you spot the island first like on our trip to Nuku Hiva? The eyes still sharp, eh??!! E holomua i ka holo moana a ho'okele 'ana i na wa'a kaulua!! Soon the "Polynesian" Navy will commission another wa'a kaulua to sail the ocean highways and connect once the again the peoples of the Pacific. How can we forget our sista, Ka'iulani!! Us here on Kaua'i are proud of you and mahalo nui ia oe i kou leka mai. You are an inspiration to our wahine that voyaging entail the whole community which incudes na wahine. Inspiring also in that your committment and sacrifices for the canoe is awe inspiring and a demonstration that this is what is needed to accomplish one's goals and dreams. Live the dream and not just dream of it. E ola mau a holomua.

Na Kalai Wa'a o Kaua'i
Dennis "Kaho'i" Chun

Tumeke!You guys rock!Well done to all who were and are involed with this voyage.You have made our Tupuna proud,to Nick rest up my bro we all proud az of your mahi cant wait to talk story with you bro.Arohanui.

Congratulations to the brave guys from both Satawal and Ifalik who are on these canoes. Their wives and girl friends are very proud of them for being part of the team work-One Ocean, One People. Songs and chants were composed one after another for each of these brave men like the Satawalese and the Ifalikese. When the canoes encountered the bad storms also added on the chants and songs, especially the mountaineous waves, the sounding of the wind, the roaring of thunder and the flashing of lighening and yet these guys could still steering and navigating. I know my cousin Norman, Inos and nephews Athanasio and Jason will feel like to jump sixty feet high when they hear their own chants. Congratulation folks and keep up the good seamanship.

Congratulations to the brave guys from both Satawal and Ifalik who are on these canoes. Their wives and girl friends are very proud of them for being part of the team work-One Ocean, One People. Songs and chants were composed one after another for each of these brave men like the Satawalese and the Ifalikese. When the canoes encountered the bad storms also added on the chants and songs, especially the mountaineous waves, the sounding of the wind, the roaring of thunder and the flashing of lighening and yet these guys could still steering and navigating. I know my cousin Norman, Inos and nephews Athanasio and Jason will feel like to jump sixty feet high when they hear their own chants. Congratulation folks and keep up the good seamanship.