Sailing into Chuuk

Maisu (left) and Hokule'a (right) arriving at the entrance to the Northeast Pass into the lagoon at Chuuk. Although the islands are high islands like Hawaii, Chuuk is a true atoll and the islands surround a lagoon. The entire area of the high islands and the lagoon is then surrounded by a massive coral reef system which makes navigating up to the islands much more hazardous than approaching the Hawaiian Islands.
(Photo by Mike Taylor, Captain, Kama Hele)

Pohnpei

Makali'i

The voyaging canoe Makali'i was the first Hawaiian canoe to visit Pohnpei, in 1999.

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Maisu dockside in Pohnpei

Photo by Na'alehu Anthony

Maisu crew disembarking at dock

Photo by Na'alehu Anthony

Preparing for the Ceremony in Pohnpei

Photo by Na'alehu Anthony

Map of Chuuk

Chuuk Aerial Photo

Farewell to Pohnpei

Hokule'a departing Pohnpei

Maisu departing Pohnpei

Nainoa and Shorty

Hokule'a captain Nainoa Thompson and Maisu captain Shorty Bertelmann

Working the steering paddle at departure

Working the steering paddle today, on Hokule'a, is from left Gary Kubota, Pauline Yourupi, Ana Yarawamai (with her back to you) and watch captain Timi Gilliom

President's Farewell

President of the Federated States of Micronesia speaking to the crewmembers of the 3 vessels and other community members at dockside this morning in Pohnpei. To his right, with his shirt around his neck, is Maisu Captain Shorty Bertelmann, to shorty's left, in the yellow tank top is Kama Hele crewmember James Hadde, and to his left in the blue short is Maisu crewmember Kawika Eskaran.

Towing out of Pohnpei

Yesterday... working on Hokule'a in the rain

Crew members from Maisu talk to man in a traditional Pohnpei paddling canoe

Photo by Na'alehu Anthony

Shorty Bertelmann and Pua Lincoln talk about cloud formations while departing Po

Photo by Na'alehu Anthony

Canoes and Seiners

Hokule'a and Maisu leaving Kolonia, Pohnpei, the capitol of FSM, surrounded by foreign fishing vessels. These vessels dominate the harbor in Kolonia and are startling reminders of what we are doing to our wild fish populations in the oceans. These purse seiners are seen all over FSM, Palau, etc. scooping up as many of the schools of tuna as they can spot with their helicopters. The purse net surrounds the school, the bottom is pulled closed into a "purse" and the whole school is headed for fish markets, restaurants, and bars to feed the global hunger for tuna. We hope the canoes symbolize a different relationship between humanity and the sea, and support the movement for sustainable fisheries to ensure that there will be tuna for all future generations. (Photo by Mike Taylor, Captain, Kama Hele)

Hokule'a with sails closed in doldrum conditons

Photo by Mike Taylor