After 24 hours of light and variable winds, the “Alingano Maisu,” with “Hokule‘a” and escort boat “Kama Hele” following, made a “very respectable 38.8 nautical miles, given the wind or lack thereof” between sunset Feb. 6 and sunrise Feb. 7,
After 24 hours of light and variable winds, the “Alingano Maisu,” with “Hokule‘a” and escort boat “Kama Hele” following, made a “very respectable 38.8 nautical miles, given the wind or lack thereof” between sunset Feb. 6 and sunrise Feb. 7, according to Kama Hele captain Mike Taylor.
He said the wind then freshened to about 10 knots out of the northeast, helping them along to Majuro.
What follows is a report from the Alingano Maisu. We, Na Kalai Wa‘a Moku o Hawai‘i and the Polynesian Voyaging Society will be posting reports regularly at a joint Weblog, pvshawaii.squarespace.com/.
Log entry:
Chadd Paishon, Alingano Maisu navigator, Feb. 6
At sunset on Monday, the roles of navigation were switched from Hokule‘a’s Bruce Blankenfeld to Maisu’s Chadd Paishon.
Congratulations to Bruce and his crew and to our wa‘a Hokule‘a for guiding us to Johnston (Atoll).
Bruce’s desire to perpetuate the skills and art of wayfinding is proof that navigation is alive and well in Hawai‘i.
Hokule‘a and Kama Hele will follow behind Maisu, as was done on the way to Johnston atoll. All three vessels will stay in visual range of each other.
Log entry:
Alingano Maisu
Courseline: Manu Kona or Tupul Sarapool (WSW).
Winds: 5-10, light and variable (ESE to NW).
Fishing Status: Caught a few while under way, mahalo to Hokule‘a for all the fresh catch. When we get home, we are all applying for DLNR’s “Tag and Release” program since we all know it so well.
According to Shorty Bertelmann, Captain of the Maisu, “The canoe is doing awesome. She’s holding her own and riding the swells really well. The crew has adjusted to life on the ocean, but there are still many more lessons to encounter before we reach Majuro.” Mau says, “make strong.” “We tell our crew the same thing, it’s important for them to do this so that they can be open to the learning that is taking place.”
Chadd says, “The winds have been really light today. It’s been switching all day from ESE to NW, really, it’s just been light and variable. The light winds brought about a day of “house cleaning” for both canoes, something to keep them busy in the extremely hot weather.
“We will take whatever we get. This trip is all about teaching those who have never been open-ocean before and it validates the responsibility that we carry for those of us who have. We are just really excited to be able to be part of making the delivery of Maisu to Papa. Just as the breadfruit nourishes ones appetites, Maisu will bring nourishment to the people of Micronesia. Maisu will enable Mau to help his people maintain their culture. She will inspire them to continue the use of their traditional skills and practices into their daily lives as it has been for generations.”
Find more information on this voyage and a tracking map at www.pvs.hawaii.org.
