1: Concept

The 2007 Hokule’a voyage from Hawai’i via Micronesia to Nippon approaches its end. This voyage gives us, the residents of Nippon archipelago so many things. Moreover, their voyage through Micronesia places some themes for us, the earthians.

Now, we have to think about what we should do from now on. But you know, there are so many differences between Hawai’i and Nippon. Geographies, histories, climates…etc. What I want to stress is that we are NOT Hawai’ians. We are NOT Polynesians. Therefore practicing Hula, building a Polynesian voyaging canoe or learning modern Hawai’ian Wayfinding is not the answer for us. There must be our own way to make the achievements like something Hokule’a did.

I want to discuss with you what we can learn from Hokule’a and do something for our own islands and our communities.

２：Symposiasts

Ms. Hayashi Kazuyo: A writer and longtime friend of Mau Piailug and his sons. She now writes the biography of Mau Piailug.

Mr. Takumi Hiroshi : A writer and skilled businessman for global logistics. He helped the reviving project of the voyaging tradition of Yap. He did a voyage between Yap and Palau with Mau Piailug in 1994. The Yapese voyaging canoe went to Palau and curved two stone moneys then back.

Mr. Ishikawa Naoki: A writer and photographer. He studies voyaging traditions and techniques throughout Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Fujisaki Tatsuya: A veteran trekking guide in Hokkaido Island. He made an NPO with Ainu people and now building a traditional Ainu canoe dedicated to Tiger Espere.

Ms. Uchino Kanako: A photographer and writer. Crewmember of Hokule’a.

Mr. Araki Takuji : A professional athlete and the captain of his own sailing canoe “Uminchumaru”. Crewmember of Hokule’a.

Coordinator: Kato Kosei, Ph.D. A translator and has been translating PVS weblog for Japanese since January 20. He also translated the book about Hokule’a’s 1980 voyage “An Ocean in Mind (Will Kyselka)” in 2006.

3: Programs (subject to change)
13:00- Opening address by Kato Kosei
13:05-Lecture by Uchino Kanako “Routine practices of PVS back in Hawai’i”
13:30-Lecture by Hayashi Kazuyo “Voyaging tradition in Satawal today: what is voyaging for Satawalese themselves?”

13:55-Lecture by Ishikawa Naoki “(not announced)”

14:20-Lecture by Takumi Hiroshi “Stone money voyage in Yap, 1994: its achievements and failure”

14:45-Lecture by Fujisaki Tatsuya “Reviving Ainu canoe: How to amalgamate it with our everyday life?”

15:10-Tea break

15:25-Lecture by Araki Takuji “The challenge of Uminchumaru”

16:00-17:00 Colloquium “Then, what can/should we do as an everyman who lives in this islands?”


Note:
We are very sorry but there is no budget to call interpreters for English speakers. But I will publicize the summery and photos of the lectures and discussion in English ASAP. (Kato Kosei)