For the next four years, Hawaiian Voyaging canoe H艒k奴le驶a will be circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean, and Campbell Riverites got a chance to explore it on Aug. 3.
The trip is being described as 害羞草研究所淎 Voyage for Oceans, A Voyage for Earth,害羞草研究所� Moananui膩kea is the name of the voyage. It also is the name for the vast Pacific Ocean that is a heritage region for Peoples who are Indigenous to the islands and continents that surround the ocean. One of the goals is to 害羞草研究所渋gnite a movement of 10 million 害羞草研究所榩lanetary navigators害羞草研究所� who will pursue critical and inspiring 害羞草研究所榲oyages害羞草研究所� to ensure a better future for the earth.害羞草研究所�
Moani Heimuli is the captain of this leg of the voyage. She is the fourth generation of her family to be a traditional navigator.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got four generations of them now, which is pretty amazing害羞草研究所� Heimuli said. 害羞草研究所淐oming from Hawai害羞草研究所檌, at one point in time. We never had any navigators here. We lost that art 害羞草研究所� to say today that we have four generations of navigatiors 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e very, very proud of that.害羞草研究所�
That traditional navigation is done without the use of any instruments. Using ancestral methodology re-introduced to Polynesian people by Master Navigator Mau Piailug of Micronesia, navigators are able to travel by using stars, animals, wave direction and winds.
害羞草研究所淥nce you get away from the land, it害羞草研究所檚 a lot easier because the horizon becomes your compass,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he land blocks swells and things like that. They come clean out on the deep sea. It害羞草研究所檚 really nice.害羞草研究所�
Over the course of the next four years, H艒k奴le驶a will visit nearly 100 Indigenous territories in 36 different countries and archipelagos. Heimuli said that part of the goal was to build a sense of camaraderie and common heritage between these Nations.
害羞草研究所淵ou know, if you really think about it, we害羞草研究所檙e the biggest country in the world,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎ll these little tiny Islands collectively, if we come together. We are the biggest country in the world. That害羞草研究所檚 the people of this Pacific Ocean from all the way up in this Pacific Northwest all the way down south to New Zealand.害羞草研究所�
The voyage started in Alaska, and will pass by B.C. through September. From there, the crews will continue south along the west coast of North, Central and South America, before they turn west early next year towards the Galapagos Islands and Rapa Nui. It will pass through Polynesia (Pitcairn Islands, Marquesas, Tuamotus) through next spring, and finish the crossing to Aotearoa (New Zealand) where it will travel through spring 2025.
The voyage will cover Melanesia and Micronesia into 2026, and then travel through Asia and up to Russia by September 2026. By the end of 2026 the voyagers will have crossed the Northern Pacific to Los Angeles, and will return to Hawai害羞草研究所檌. It will make one final trip in the spring of 2027 to Tahiti.
As they travel, they will stop in ports to change crew members, restock supplies and also to allow for a cultural exchange. There is also a sustainability component. H艒k奴le驶a is powered entirely by natural means. There is no motor, no GPS and no other navigational tools. They hope that through the voyage they are able to build a sense of stewardship for the ocean all Pacific peoples share.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e voyaging for the Earth but also voyaging for seven Generations from now,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淪o that our kids can continue to eat and thrive in the oceans that we live in now. And it害羞草研究所檚 also about gathering all these stories from the communities in the First Nations peoples and you know, we害羞草研究所檙e all connected in some way or form.害羞草研究所�
Part of that occurred on Aug. 3, when the crew met with local Indigenous Peoples to 害羞草研究所渃onnect with everybody, learn our stories together and share stories.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵ou know, generations from now, they害羞草研究所檒l still be talking about us here in Campbell River. Like 害羞草研究所業 remember when that canoe was here, you know? We害羞草研究所檙e all people of the canoe.害羞草研究所�
H艒k奴le驶a leaves Campbell River on Friday, when the crew will make their way to Vancouver for a few days, before continuing on to Seattle and eventually the rest of the Pacific.
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