Kawika Kapahulehua, 1976

Photo by crewmember Dr. Ben Young, who sailed on the trip back to Hawai'i in 1976: Captain Kawika Kapahulehua on the '76 voyage.

Kawika Kapahulehua

Photo from “Pictures of a Lifetime, Photos by Kathryn Bender” Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Tuesday, December 28, 1999. Caption: "Aboard the Hokule'a, Kawika Kapahulehua chants a request to approach Te Ava Mo'a." Te Ava Mo'a is the sacred pass through the reef, leading to the marae of Taputapuatea, one of the most sacred in all of Polynesia, located on the island of Ra'iatea, in Tahiti Nui.

Kawika Kapahulehua was the captain of Hokule'a on her historic first voyage from Hawai'i to Tahiti in 1976. Mau Piailug was the navigator. Kawika passed away on May 17, 2007, during Hokule'a tenth major voyage, to Micronesia and Japan. The shoulders of courageous and visionary giants like Kawika have provided the firm foundation for the perpetuation of Hokule'a's achievements.

Kawika was fascinated with sailing since age 18. Raised briefly on Ni'ihau, he was also a native speaker of Hawaiian. After retirement, he turned his attention to teaching Hawaiian language, culture, values, and traditions, including ocean navigating techniques.

Kawika Kapahulehua with early crew members of Hokule'a

Photo from the Honolulu Advertiser, posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006.

Caption: "Crew members and friends of the Hokule'a in February 1976, before its first voyage to Tahiti that May: on hull, from left, Tommy Holmes, Abraham "Snake" Ah Hee, Nainoa Thompson, Keani Reiner, Sam Kalalau, Mel Kinney, Penny Rawlins, David Lewis. On central platform: Capt. Kawika Kapahulehua, John Kruse, Kimo Hugho, Billy Richards, Maka'ala Yates, Shorty Bertelmann, Ben Finney, and Vic Fageroos."

Hokule'a, Honolua 1976

Photos by crewmember Dr. Ben Young, who sailed on the trip back to Hawai'i in 1976: Hokule'a moored in Honolua Bay, Maui, the day before setting sail on the maiden voyage to Tahiti.

Clay Bertelmann, leader of Na Kalai Wa'a Moku o Hawai'i, the builders of Maisu

Clay is traveling in spirit with the canoes to Satawal. (Photo by Monte Costa)

Hokule'a Captain and Navigator Bruce Blankenfeld

Navigation: Measuring the Altitude of the Sun by Hand / Rapanui to Tahiti 1999

Hokule'a Navigator Bruce Blankenfeld

Maisu Captain Shorty Bertelmann

Maisu Captain Shorty Bertelmann

Maisu Navigator Chadd Paishon

Lashing a railing; from Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Maisu Navigator Chadd Paishon

Maisu Crew Sesario Sewralur

Mau Piailug's son with a Mahimahi

Hokule'a Navigator Nainoa Thompson 1999

Hokule'a Navigator Chad Baybayan 1999

Hokule'a Crew Ka'iulani Murphy

Steering / Tahiti to Hawai'i 2000

Hokule'a Crew Attwood Makanani

Carving a Stone Gift on the Beach at Taiohae, Nukuhiva / Rapanui Voyage 1999

Hokule'a Crew Tim Gilliom

Fishing Off Pitcairn Island, Caught a pile of 'Ahi / Rapanui Voyage 1999

Mona Shintani

Mona Shintani, with crew members Moana Doi and Kaniela Akaka. Taiohae, Nukuhiva, Marquesas Islands, 1999. Voyage to Rapanui.

Kamahele Captain Mike Taylor (right) with Engineer Erik Norris

Photo by James Hadde

Hokule'a Crew, Hawai'i to Majuro

Maka, Nainoa, and Timi

Maka, Nainoa, and Timi, with an 'ahi caught near Ulithi in Micronesia. Photo by Gary Kubota, Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Wednesday, April 4, 2007).

Ka'iulani Murphy on the satellite phone

Ka'iulani Murphy calls classrooms and students on the satellite phone to report on the voyage. Photo: Sam Low.

Kana Uchino

Hokule'a crew member Kana Uchino sits on the deck after a dive at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Photo: Jan TenBruggencate, The Honolulu Advertiser, Tuesday, June 8, 2004.

Billy Richards

Photo: Sam Low

Chad Baybayan

Photo: Sam Low

Keoni Kuoha

Photo: Sam Low

Attwood Makanani

Photo: Sam Low

Na'alehu Anthony

Photo: Sam Low

Pomai Bertelmann

Photo: Sam Low

Snake Ah Hee

Photo: Sam Low

Mike Taylor, Captain of Kamahele

Photo: Bob Douglas

Na'alehu Anthony, Crew Member/Videography, Pohnpei to Satawal

Photo by Monte Costa

Mike Tongg, steering Hokule'a, 1999 voyage to Rapanui. Courtesy of Sam Low.

7/13/2007: We are very sad to say that we have lost Mike Tongg--a great voyager and canoe paddler, a great ocean man, president of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, former president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and dear friend to many. Mike passed away at home this afternoon. Mike was a veteran Hokule'a crew member, watch captain, and captain: 1980 Tahiti to Hawai'i; 1985 Tahiti to Cook Islands, Cook Islands to Aotearoa; 1986 Aotearoa to Tonga, Tonga to Samoa, Cook Islands to Tahiti; 1987 Tahiti to Rangiroa, Rangiroa to Hawai'i; 1992 Cook Islands to Hawai'i; 1995 Hawai'i to Tahiti, Nukuhiva to Hawai'i; 1995: West Coast; 1999 Mangareva to Rapanui.