 Image search results - "sail" |
Hokule'a and escort ship Kama Hele. What makes this canoe so special and famous is that it was used to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti (and many other places) without any modern navigational instruments.
|
|
They wanted to prove that the original native Hawaiians were able to sail between Tahiti to Hawaii on purpose, and that they did not land on Hawaii by accident.
|
|
Pukari Sanbashi Pier in Minato Mirai, Yokohama, Japan. Hokule'a docked on the left (arrived June 9, 2007).
|
|
Hokule'a in Yokohama for the first time. This boat was first launched on March 8, 1975. It has become part of Hawaii's modern soul and spirit.
|
|
What makes this canoe so special and famous is that it was used to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti (and many other places) without any modern navigational instruments.
|
|
Escort ship Kama Hele
|
|
Hokule'a tour guests walk on the dock to the boat. The canoe is little over 62 feet long. They only referred to the sun, moon, the stars, and ocean waves to navigate through the vast Pacific Ocean or Polynesia. This is called celestial navigation.
|
|
Like at its other stops in Japan, Hokule'a offered free onboard canoe tours to the public during its one-week stay in Yokohama. A reservation ticket (seiriken) had to be obtained beforehand. (I got one at 1:30 pm on June 11, 2007.)We could see the top deck, rudder, masts, cramped sleeping quarters, food pantry, and more of this legendary canoe named after a star named Hokulea in Hawaiian. Entry to Hokule'a canoe tour on June 11, 2007.
|
|
This was during the 2 pm - 4 pm tour, and by 2:20 pm, the Hokule'a canoe tour reception desk says tours are all full. ホクレア号乗船見学会
|
|
First we were given life vests. The tour started with an illustrated talk by a man named Kimo.
|
|
He showed various pictures and gave an overview of some basic concepts.
|
|
"You don't need muscle to do it. It's more mind-oriented..."
|
|
He showed sample parts of the boat.
|
|
Hokule'a
|
|
First time that I've gotten this close to Hawaii's most famous canoe.
|
|
We were then allowed to enter the pier where Hokule'a was docked.
|
|
The tour group was split into two. One group here was at the stern, listening to a talk by Kanako Uchino, a Japanese crew member.
|
|
The other group was at the bow listening to a talk by another crew member.
|
|
The white vertical board (the woman sitting on it) is a splash guard (called pale wai or pale kai).
|
|
|
Bow
|
|
Leis on the bow endpieces (Manu ihu).
|
|
Mast complemented by koinobori carp.
|
|
Koinobori carp streamers for a Japanese touch. These are flown in Japan during early May for Children's Day.
|
|
Ropes crisscross everywhere.
|
|
|
Kanako Uchino talks about the canoe in Japanese.
|
|
Holding on to the steering paddle so it doesn't bump anyone.
|
|
Rudder going into the water
|
|
Stern. The pointy stern endpieces are called "Manu hope" in Hawaiian.
|
|
Solar panel in the forefront. Power is used for communications equipment.
|
|
Male god on the left.
|
|
|
|
Female goddess on the right.
|
|
Navigator's seat (kilo) at the stern. The black thing is apparently a seat cushion. Another one on the opposite side.
|
|
Fresh food storage (onions)
|
|
|
|
All the fresh food (perishables) are consumed during the first few days after leaving a port. After that, it's canned food, dry goods, and fish caught in the water.
|
|
Canoe deck (pola)
|
|
Canoe deck is littered with waterproof containers for food and other essentials.
|
|
Galley
|
|
Galley or "da kitchen."
|
|
Food
|
|
|
Captain's dry things
|
|
Covering the top of hull is a canvas covering (kapalina) fastened by rope to the safety railing (palekana). The canvas is also a tent-like roof for the sleeping quarters.
|
|
Above both hulls are storage bins and sleeping quarters.
|
|
Sleeping compartment provides bed padding with a built-in pillow. Above it is the canvas covering (kapalina).
|
|
Under the bed padding (red) is storage bins, including an opening to the hull where more stuff is stored.
|
|
Canvas covering (kapalina) the sleeping quarters over the hull.
|
|
Hull storage. The wooden cover was made by a Japanese carpenter whose name is on it. Many parts of Hokule'a bear the name of the person who made that part.
|
|
Base of aft mast (Kia hope). The woodwork here was exquisite, and looked quite expensive.
|
|
Aft sail
|
|
Talk by crew member named Dean. The interpreter was Kyoko Ikeda, Asian Pacific Leadership student.
|
|
Rudder
|
|
Rudder (steering paddle or Hoe uli)
|
|
Close-up of steering paddle or Hoe uli, made of wood.
|
|
|
Getting off the canoe
|
|
Pier
|
|
Escort ship Kama Hele (not open to visitors)
|
|
Japanese, Hawaiian, and Yanmar (sponsor) flags on the Kama Hele, escort boat for Hokule'a. (Yanmar is a marine engine maker from Shiga Prefecture.)
|
|
Stern of Kama Hele (Yanmar engine hidden below)
|
|
Other sponsors
|
|
View from pier
|
|
Hokule'a T-shirt sold by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau (all sold out).
|
|
Welcome banner.
|
|
|
They offer one-hour cruises a few times a day for about a week in early Aug. 2009 when I went.
|
|
|
The Kanko Maru was built in 1987 in Holland.
|
|
|
On top deck.
|
|
|
Kanko Maru departing the pier.
|
|
|
Kanko Maru in Yokohama
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Below deck on the Kanko Maru. This deck was air-conditioned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
First duty of the day was to raise the mast.
|
|
|
|
|
Raising a sail.
|
|
Then we were allowed to walk along the bowsprit after donning life jackets. Safety net below, but we were told not to bring sunglasses, etc., which may fall into the water.
|
|
|
Safety net below so it was not dangerous to walk on the pole.
|
|
|
Next activity was tying rope knots. Haven't done this since being a Boy Scout.
|
|
|
Arrive back to port.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
