"The ties of friendship between Hawai’i and Japan seem to be growing stronger every day." (Crew member Kaimana Barcarse).

A strawberry farmer, Yonezawa Isaomi, who lives in Suo-Oshima, is building the 1/10 replica of Hokule’a to pray the safe voyage.

From only photos and illustrations of the canoe, he used a hand saw and knives to build this. He wants the crewmembers to visit his farm. Yonezawa-san said “If the crewmembers will come here, I want to let them enjoy the strawberries harvested at my farm”. (Photo courtesy of Kato Kosei)