Crew member Kyoko Ikeda leading a tour in Uwajima

The following photos were sent to us by Kyoko Ikeda during her leg of the Hokule'e voyage to Japan.

Fukuoka late night canoe tour

A late night canoe tour by Takuji Araki.

Fukuoka late night canoe tour 2

A late night canoe tour by Takuji Araki. Students are from a local junior high school in Fukuoka. Both students and teachers sent us heartfelt thank-you letters after this activity.

Fukuoka: Takuji and student letters

Takuji holding the thank-you letters by the junior high school students who came onboard for the late night canoe tour.

Oshima kindergarten 1

"In Oshima, we mainly did educational activities with students from Oshima Maritime College (age 16 to 21) and Komatsu Kindergarten."

"Kindergarteners welcomed us at a port in Oshima, presented us hand-made gifts and a song. A few days later, they welcomed us at the Emigration Museum in Suo-Oshima.  Those cute ones in traditional Japanese summer wear called Yukata showed crew members how to dance Bon-dance (in the pictures are some crew members as well as Captain Chad Babyan).  Also, they surprised us by showing us a hand-made replica of Hokule’a. On board the replica of Hokule’a was a figure representing each student in Komatsu Kindergarten. They presented Captain Chad Babayan with Koinobori, carp-shaped flags hoisted every spring to wish for the well-being of children in Japan."

Oshima kindergarten 5

Komatsu kindergarteners surprised us by showing us a hand-made replica of Hokule'a.

Oshima kindergarten Hokule'a

Here, the hand-made replica of Hokule’a with figures representing each student in Komatsu Kindergarten.

Oshima kindergarteners & Chad

Captain Chad Babyan dancing the Bon-dance with Komatsu kindergarteners.

Koinobori presentation at Komatsu Kindergarten

Presenting Captain Chad Babayan with Koinobori.

Chad, kindergarteners, and Koinobori

Hokulea and Koinobori

Oshima welcome Maritime College

"Students from Oshima Maritime College welcomed us on a boat, helped clean the deck upon our arrival, cooked delicious meal for us, escorted us on its training vessel."

Oshima Maritime College

Students from Oshima Maritime College.

Oshima Maritime College clean up crew

Students from Oshima Maritime College helped clean Hokule'a.

Uwajima Fishery School students unloading sails

"In Uwajima, students from Uwajima Fishery School (the school which operates Ehimemaru) helped us clean the canoe as well as organizing supplies for the longer voyage to Yokohama."

 Here, a picture of students helping to unload Hokule'a's sails to be dried.

Uwajima Dream Big 1

"Also in Uwajima, 6 students and a teacher joined Takuji’s “Dream Big Project”.  They spent the night on the canoe and Takuji and Nainoa gave them lecture of star-navigation. Talk-story was another highlight of this project."