LIHU‘E — In June of 2011, Island School elementary students wrote 126 messages, corked and carefully sealed in wine bottles. The seven voyaging canoes anchored in Hanalei Bay took the bottle messages on board and released them into the Pacific
LIHU‘E — In June of 2011, Island School elementary students wrote 126 messages, corked and carefully sealed in wine bottles. The seven voyaging canoes anchored in Hanalei Bay took the bottle messages on board and released them into the Pacific Ocean north of Kaua‘i in July, 2011, on their voyage to San Francisco. To date, two of these bottles have been found, hundreds of miles from where they were cast adrift.
The Bottle Message Project was developed by Hawaiian Studies resource teacher, Steve Soltysik, who works with Island School teacher, Sabra Kauka, at Island School.
“The objective of project is to stir interest in foreign lands and the culture of people who might find the bottles,” Soltysik said, as the students refer to him. “The students also learn about how wind and ocean currents carry marine debris to and from distant islands and continents. They can also learn about geography and use math to calculate the distance and speed of travel with wind and current.”
The bottle messages contained the school’s contact information and a brief note from the student. A current seventh grade student, Mikayla Savoie, received a letter from Taiwan, telling her that her bottle had been found by a fisherman at sea, off shore of Ivalino Village, Lanyu, Orchid Island, Taitung, Taiwan.
“Dear Mikayla,” the letter reads. “I found your bottle in the sea on 2012, October. I live in a small island (surrounded by) sea and mountains. I love surfing, diving, swimming. I am married with (a) 9 year old son. We are glad to know you and your family. Happy New Year.”
The second bottle message made by current eighth grade student, Tanner Tavares, was found off the coast of Japan.
“Aloha everyone,” Tanner’s letter reads. “This is the message in a bottle sent from Kauai. The bottle was fetched by a young fisherman, Shingto Ishimine, Who lives in Sarahama fisherman village on Arabu Island off Miyako – Mayahk.”
The glass is made from quartz sand, which does not leach any toxic chemicals ingested by marine animals. The rest is paper from trees, cork from the bark of trees and a small amount of paraffin wax.
