Hokualaka`i Practice Sail
Sunday, May 8, 2005 • Outside Hilo Bay
Hilo's new voyaging canoe, Hokualaka`i went out for a practice sail on Sunday, May 8th. A crew of about ten men and Captain Kalepa Baybayan took the beautiful craft out of Radio Bay, where she is docked, and out past the breakwall to the waters off Hilo Bay. The crew is practicing for its maiden sail to Kona at the end of May, and on to Kauai sometime in June. The Hokualaka`i program seeks to perpetuate wayfinding, the skill of navigating the ocean by currents, wind and celestial objects.
Captain Baybayan addresses the crew before we set sail out of Radio Bay at the Hilo pier
The crew begins to raise the jib after pulling out of Radio Bay and into Hilo Bay Hokule`a crew member on a number of sails, Tava Taupu takes a moment to relax Ikaika at the helm, guiding Hokualaka`i with her steering sweep, with Josh looking on
Pensive moment for Kalepa Kalepa instructing Kini on how to rig the trampoline netting on the railing Who let this guy drive? Kalepa at the steering sweep, bringing her in
Kalepa and crew testing out the freshly rigged trampoline, while Lamona gets a drink Kalepa and Josh making a manual tack with the steering sweep Tava and Maka`ala talking story on the bow