"At the museum, I asked Nainoa his reflections on the significance of bringing Hokule`a to a place that is such a powerful symbol of the horror that humans beings can – and still do – inflict on one another.

"I think an experience like this really rocks you into realizing that peace is not an option for our world – it’s an absolute requirement,” he said. “And when you look at peace, it really is something that has to begin in the heart of each individual, and that depends largely on what we teach our children. I look at Hokule`a as a bridge across cultures to the core value of aloha that can allow us to navigate toward a more peaceful future. So I think Hokule`a has no choice to continue to sail, and to spend more time in different parts of Island Earth, in order to honor our own culture – which brings self-esteem and pride to our children – but also carry a message of aloha and respect for all cultures, as well as for our precious global environment and natural resources.” (Ferrar)

2007 Voyage Photos > Hiroshima (30) > A tree that survived the atomic blast