LAUNCH 50 YEARS AGO EXPLORING ITS EARLY CHALLENGES TO ITS  MILESTONE WORLDWIDE VOYAGE.

PLUS, WHAT’S NEXT FOR HOKULEA  AS IT GETS READY FOR ANOTHER JOURNEY FAR BEYOND OUR SHORES.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS  HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶  ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I’M LAUREN DAY.

MARCH 8TH, 1975, ON THE SHORE  OF KUALOA BEACH PARK, HOKULEA HIT THE WATER FOR THE FIRST  TIME.

SINCE THEN, THE VOYAGING CANOE  HAS TRAVELED THE WORLD, SHARING THE INGENUTITY OF  POLYNESIAN WAYFINDING.

TONIGHT WE REFLECT UPON  HOKULEA’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT’S  SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR  QUESTIONS AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT  PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

DR. BEN YOUNG SERVED AS THE  DOCTOR ON THE 1976 MAIDEN VOYAGE OF HOKULEA FROM TAHITI  TO HAWAII.

HE IS A PSYCHIATRIST AND  RECEIVED HIS MD DEGREE FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND WAS  FORMER DEAN OF STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII’S JOHN A.  BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

JONAH APO IS A CURRENT HOKULEA CREW MEMBER AND ALSO  DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING  SOCIETY.

HE WAS INTRODUCED TO HOKULEA  IN 2016 AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

SOME OF THE PLACES HE HAS VOYAGED TO INCLUDE ALASKA,  CANADA, AND CALIFORNIA.

KAI HOSHIJO IS A HOKULEA  NAVIGATOR.

HER FIRST TIME ON THE VOYAGING  CANOE WAS AN OVERNIGHT SAIL IN 2021.

BY 2022 SHE WAS AN APPRENTICE NAGIVATOR, SAILING FROM TAHITI  TO HAWAII.

ELISA YADAO IS A FORMER  TELEVISION JOURNALIST WHO COVERED HOKULEA’S 1985 ‑1987  VOYAGE OF REDISCOVERY WITH HER PARTNER VIDEOGRAPHER CLIFF  WATSON.

THE PAIR WAS INVITED TO SAIL  ON HOKULEA ON THE LAST LEG OF THAT VOYAGE FROM TAHITI TO  HAWAII.

ELISA LATER SERVED AS PVS  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DURING THE 1990S WHEN THE CANOE MADE HER  FIRST VOYAGE TO RAPA NUI.

BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION, WE WANT TO SHARE A  BRIEF CLIP FROM POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY PRESIDENT  NAINOA THOMPSON.

WE ASKED HIM TO REFLECT ON THE  VERY BEGINNING OF HOKULEA.

NAINOA THOMPSON: 50 YEARS  AGO, HOKULEA WAS A PROJECT.

OUR FOUNDERS WERE JUST  GENIUSES.

I MEAN, THIS THE  AND HOW THEY HOW THEY CAREFULLY BROUGHT HOKULEA INTO  INTO A SOCIETY THAT DIDN’T HONOR HAWAIIAN THINGS, AND,  AND, AND, BUT THEIR, THEIR HOPE AND DREAM WAS, HOPEFULLY  WAS GOING TO BE A HAWAII’S CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA’S  BICENTENNIAL.

IT WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR ONE  VOYAGE, AND AND I WAS THERE AT DRYDOCK.

AND THEN WHEN WE WERE CONSTRUCTING HER, AND I  WAS REALLY YOUNG, I DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING, BUT I DO KNOW  WHAT RUST LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE WERE STAPLING THE HULLS  TOGETHER WITH STAPLES, AND AND THEN WE’RE PAINTING THE HULLS,  AND THE RUST STREETS ARE ALREADY COMING DOWN.

SO CLEARLY THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE THIS CONTRIBUTION IN THAT  ONE YEAR, 1976 SAIL IT TO TAHITI.

SAIL IT BACK.

THERE WAS NO PLAN NOR  VISION FOR ANYTHING AFTER THAT.

AND, AND SO THAT ‑ ALL THOSE SIGNALS ARE SAYING, THIS IS AN  EVENT, IT’S A PROJECT.

IT WASN’T A MOVEMENT.

IT WASN’T A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE.

IT WASN’T VIEWED THAT WAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN’T  NAVIGATE HOKULEA INTO THE FUTURE.

IT NAVIGATED US.

ALL WE DID WAS FOLLOW HER  POSSIBILITIES, OR HER POTENTIAL AND AND JUST  BELIEVING THAT SHE’S GOING TO TAKE US TO A PLACE BETTER THAN  WE ARE NOW, AND SHE HAS.

DR. YUNJI WANTED TO START WITH YOU.

TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

NAINOA THOMPSON SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING.

HE SAID AT THE TIME, SOCIETY  DIDN'T HONOR HAWAIIAN THINGS.

CAN YOU GIVE US SOME CONTEXT, WHAT DOES  THAT PENN MEAN I HAVE REFLECT ON THE   PERIOD WHEN HERB KANE GOT A HOLD OF ME.

WAS WORRIED ABOUT HAWAIIAN CULTURE BEING   FORGOTTEN, LOST, SHROUDED HE HAD HAD  GREAT IDEA OF WANTING TO BUILD A CANOE.

SAIL CANOE TO TAHITI AND BACK TO HAWAII WITHOUT  MODERN NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ALSO TO MAKE SURE  MEN AND WOMEN COULD SURVIVE SUCH A VOYAGE  AND ALSO SUPPOSED TO TO TAKE PLANTS AND   ANIMALS ON THAT VOYAGE.

AND IT CAME ABOUT.

WE HAD MEN AND WOMEN, WE HAD THE DOG,   PIG, AND HE ALSO TRAINED A BIRD TOO.

BUT I THINK LANDED THERE PAPETI AND PLANTS,   AT THE PAUL GAUGUIN MUSEUM IN TAHITI.

>>Lauren: WHAT DID PEOPLE SAY AROUND   THAT TIME ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE DOING?

>> FEW PEOPLE REALIZED INTENTIONS,   SELL SOME OF POSTERS AT, THE HOLIDAY MART.

SO WERE WE WERE THERE AND I WAS WITH MY   WIFE DD AND WITH KEALAKEKUA, WITH THE  HUINALU PADDLING GROUP AND HIS WIFE.

TRYING TO SELL HIS POSTERS THAT  HERB DESIGNED ONE DOLLAR EACH.

GUY CAME UP TO ME WHAT YOU GUYS TRYING TO DO.

>> EXPLAIN TO DO HIM, PURPOSE GOALS AND VISIONS   HE ROLLED HIS EYES UP YOU GUYS ARE NUTS.

THAT'S TRUE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT ANYONE WITH A VISION,  NOT NECESSARILY NUTS, NOT PSYCHIATRIC TERM.

IRRAMBLE BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT.

WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

>>Lauren: TALKING STUDIO CREW PUT COOL FOOTAGE.

VIEWERS AT HOME KNOW THAT WAS THE FIRST  LAUNCH OF HOKULEA BACK IN 1975 HERE IT IS.

YOU CAN SEE MORE JUST REMIND AFTER TONIGHT'S SHOW,  AS PBS HAWAII PRESENTS HOKULEA STAR OF GLADNESS.

DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THAT VERY  FIRST LAUNCH INTO THE WATER.

YOU SAILED WITH HOKULEA.

IN THE 80s.

HOW DID PUBLIC SENTIMENT MAYBE CHANGE  FROM DR. YOUNG WAS TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT AT THAT TIME.

>> I THINK BY THE TIME OUR TIME WAS,   IN THE 80s, WELL ESTABLISHED.

THERE WAS SUCH REGARD FOR HOKULEA.

AND AT THE TIME WE SAILED CALLED VOYAGE  OF REDISCOVERY WHEN HOKULEA WAS TRYING   TO RECREATED ANCIENT MIGRATORY VOYAGES  THAT CONNECTED THE POLYNESIAN TRIANGLE.

VOYAGES STARTED IN HAWAII, WENT TO TAHITI AND NEW  ZEALAND, SAMOA, FIJI AND THEN BACK HOME TO HAWAII.

BY THAT TIME, I THINK THERE WAS SUCH A  REAWAKENING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AS WELL.

SO WE HAD WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL  RECEPTION EVERYWHERE WE WENT.

ON OUR CREW, WE WERE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE THERE  WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE FROM EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT   ISLAND GROUPS WE HAD, MAORI AND FIJIIANS, SMART  PHONES, TAHITIANS ALONG WITH SAMOANS AND TAHITIANS   WANTED TO BRING THAT HOME TO HAWAII.

UNFORGETABLE AND THE EXPERIENCE AND LIFETIME.

AND MY PARTNER CLIFF AND I AT THAT  TIME, THEY HADN'T BEEN ON BOARD   DOCUMENTATION SINCE YOUR VOYAGE, BEN, IN A 76.

SO WE'VE GOT INVITED TO SAIL ON THE VOYAGE HOME.

QUITE SOMETHING.

>>Lauren: PRETTY EXCITING.

AS A JOURNALIST, WHAT WAS YOUR MESSAGE  OR WHAT CAN DID YOU WANT TO SAYRE WITH   THE WORLD ABOUT THE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING  SOCIETY WAS TRYING TO DO WITH HOKULEA?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY LARGER THEMES  OF JUST SHEAR GENIUS OF PEOPLE,   POLYNESIAN PEOPLE WHO COULD NAVIGATE IN THE  WAY OF THEIR ANCESTORS WITH ISIS OF NATURE.

I THINK THERE'S AN EVEN DEEPER  HUMAN STORY ABOUT THE SHEAR EFFORT.

YOU TWO KNOW THIS, YOU KNOW IT TOO BEN, IT  TAKES SO MANY PEOPLE TO SAIL THAT CANOE.

IT ISN'T JUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT SEA,  BUT PEOPLE ON LAND THAT MAKE THE VOYAGE GO.

PEOPLE WHO HOST.

I THINK REALLY   TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF THE VISION  THAT SO MANY PEOPLEINGER WILLING TO WORK   SO HARD MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> WONDERFUL POINTS.

SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSUNG HEROES AND HEROINS.

1972, 1973, '75, '76.

FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE WHO PREPARED THE  FOOD, THEIR NAMES TEND TO BE FORGOTTEN.

BARBER HELPED TO MAKE THE PADDLINGS GIVEN  TO IN A NATIONS THROUGHOUT POLYNESIA.

SO MANY PEOPLE.

THAT WERE IN THE BACKGROUND,   WHO WROTE THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS  LIKE SICILY LINDO REALLY UNSUNG HEROES.

HADN'T BEEN FOR THEM HOKULEA  WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED.

>>Lauren: GAVE ME CHILLS.

ALMOST HAVE TEARS FORMING.

SO MANY LESSONS WITH HOKULEA, INCLUDING SO  MANY HAND COMING TO TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

JONAH AND KAI, CURRENT CREW MEMBERS  HOW DOES HOKULEA HISTORY IMPACT YOU   IN THE LESSONS IT TAUGHT YOU.

>> ADDS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

STORIES AND PEOPLE ARE SO WELL DOCUMENTED.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE VOYAGING BECAUSE OF   ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU.

FIRST 50 YEARS I THINK WE'RE REALLY   REFLECTING ABOUT THOSE KEY FOLKS AND THOSE  MANY HANDS I REALLY MADE HOKULEA REALITY   AND WHEN I WAS BORN, HOKULEA WAS A FACT.

THEY ALREADY WERE VOYAGING WE KNEW THAT OUR   KUPUNA WERE NAVIGATORS AND EXTRAORDINARY SEAMEN  AND JUST NOW THAT THEY PUT ALL OF THAT WORK IN THE   FIRST YEAR, TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, I THINK THAT  RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO CARRY THAT FORWARD AND   KNOW THAT WITH WE ARE HE WE'RE ON THE CANOE, IT'S  BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US.

>> I WOULD AGREE 100% 50TH BIRTHDAY  SO IMPORTANT FOR US AT STUDENTS.

LEARNING ABOUT THIS WORLD TO TRY TO  UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY WHERE YOU COME   FROM AS A STUDENT AND KNOW YOU'RE STANDING  ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS OF THESE BIG,   BIG EFFORTS TO GET THIS CANOE TO IMPACT NOT  JUST PEOPLE ON THE CANOE EVERYTHING AFTER THAT.

HUGE RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS  THE PACIFIC, ACROSS WORLD.

RIGHT NOW, IMPORTANT TIME FOR US AS STUDENTS,  YOUNG PEOPLE, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY.

>>Lauren: DESCRIBE TO ME FOR THE TWO OF YOU,  YOU BOTH WERE BORN HOKULEA WAS ALREADY A THING.

LEARNED ABOUT IT IN SCHOOL.

FAMILY PROBABLY TOLD YOU ABOUT IT.

GET INVOLVED, FIRST TIME ON BOARD, WHAT WAS THAT  LIKE KNOWING ABOUT HOKULEA'S SIGNIFICANCE AND   HISTORY, WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND AND BODY?

>> I THINK JUST KNOWING AT THE END OF THE DAY,   THAT THERE IS JOB TO DO.

JONAH TALKED ABOUT KULEANA AND RESPONSIBILITY.

I THINK NOT ALLOWING THAT TO JUDGMENT AS WELL.

KNOWING THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING SAFETY SIDE,   CONTINUING ALL THE TRAINING SIDE AND  MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE HOLDING YOURSELF   ACCOUNTABLE ON THE CANOE, OF COURSE, BEAUTIFUL  AMAZING AND SO PRIVILEGED TO BE ON THE CANOE.

ALSO, WANTING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE  DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB TO KEEP   EVERYONE SAFE AND YOUR CREW MEMBERS SAFE.

>> I THINK ALSO, HOKULEA JUST LIKE A MAGNET.

PULLS PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS TO THE CANOE   AND THAT KIND OF FIRST TIME YOU  STEP ON, YOU KNOW THE HISTORY.

BUT IT'S KIND OF UNTANGIBLE FEELING  OF REALLY BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER.

JUST KIND YOU HAVE FEEL, I DON'T KNOW  IF THE MANA OF THE CANOE OR THE HISTORY,   BEING ON BOARD, ALWAYS KIND OF THAT SPECIAL  FEELING EVEN IF WE'VE DONE DAY HE SAILS   ALL TIME, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE CANOE.

STILL THAT FEELING, PERSISTS THROUGHOUT THE CANOE.

SHE HAS THAT MAGIC.

>> QUESTION THAT RAISED QUESTION   THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME SEVERAL TEAMS.

DID YOU HAVE MUCH OCEAN GOING   EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU WERE PADDLER?

I THOUGHT, MAINLY AS A PSYCHIATRIST,   I THOUGHT THAT YES, OCEAN EXPERIENCE IS  IMPORTANT BUT THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT PADDLING.

CERTAIN CRUCIAL THINGS ABOUT PADDLING   YOU GET EXPERIENCE WITH THE WATER.

YOU GET EXPERIENCE KEEPING IN SHAPE.

NOT ONLY THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT ANY PHOTOGRAPH OF  ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE, PADDLEING, THEY'RE IN UNISON.

YOU WORK TOGETHER.

PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST   IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT'S NECESSARY TO SPEND  TIME AT SEA, IN SUCH A LIMITED TERRITORY,   IS ARE YOU ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE?

>> THAT'S MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THINK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, YOU STEP  ON AT THAT CANOE AND YOU PUT YOUR   LIFE IN THE HANDS OF YOUR CREW MEMBERS.

WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE ANOTHER   YOU HAVE TO REALLY BELIEVE IN THE  PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SAILING WITH.

AND CARRY YOUR KULEANA TOO AS YOU WERE  SAYING, KAI, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

>>Lauren: I THINK SO MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS  WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS LIFE AT SEA LIKE?

AND BEFORE I LET YOU GUYS, I  WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE.

WHAT IS LIKE NOW AND EVEN THE  DIFFERENCES FROM SOME OF EARLIER VOYAGES.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE HAVE A CLIP  WE WANT TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS AT HOME FROM   LISA HE IS DOCUMENTARY.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS  ELISA YADAO: FOR 15 PEOPLE TO LIVE HAPPILY AND HARMONIOUSLY  IN FAIRLY TIGHT QUARTERS OVER THOUSANDS OF MILES, THAT TAKES  WORK AND THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE.

CHAD BAYBAYAN IS ANOTHER ONE OF HOKULEA’S VETERANS.

HE FIRST SAILED IN 1975 AND HAS THOUSANDS OF MILES UNDER  HIS BELT.

CHAD: IT’S GONNA SET THE  ATMOSPHERE FOR SAILING.

KIND OF LIKE THE WORK ETHIC ON  BOARD THE CANOE.

ELISA: WHAT IS THAT?

CHAD: WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WE’RE HERE TO SERVE THE  NAVIGATOR.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE PROJECT COMPLETED  OR GET THE SAIL COMPLETED – WE DO.

IF WE HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND STAY  ON A DOUBLE WATCH, THEN WE DO IT.

NOBODY CRIES ABOUT IT.

YOU JUST GET THE JOB DONE.

>>Lauren: WHAT'S THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

WATCHING THAT BACK?

I KNOW YOU ENJOYED YOUR  VOYAGING EXPERIENCE SO MUCH.

>> YOU KNOW, MOMENT BECAUSE  WE RECENTLY LOST KALAPA.

SO DEAR TO ME.

ASK ME THAT QUESTION AGAIN.

>>Lauren: I'LL GO TO YOU.

WHILE WE GIVE HER A MINUTE.

WHAT IS IT, WHAT DOES IT TAKE  TO BE A HOKULEA CREW MEMBER?

>> I THINK DR. BEN SPOKE, WORKING  TOGETHER IS THE BIGGEST THING.

AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TOGETHER ON  THE CANOE MOVE TOGETHER ON THE CANOE TO   GET ANYTHING DONE THAT'S CAPTAIN WANTS US TO GET  DONOR NAVIGATOR NEEDS TO SUPPORT THEM THINK THAT   IS REALLY WHAT IT TAKES.

MORE THAN ANYTHING.

MORE THAN ANYTHING.

>>Lauren: GIVE US A PEAK.

WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING ON  THE BOAT, HOW DO YOU SLEEP?

WHAT DID YOU DO TO PASS THE TIME?

YOU'RE AT SEA FOR LONG STRETCHES OF TIME   WITH NO WI‑FI, NO PHONE ON A BOAT DISCONNECT.

ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH TECHNOLOGY   THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO ON LAND.

IT'S DIFFERENT FEELING ON THE WATER.

BUT YOU'RE SLEEPING UNDER THE CANVAS.

ON A PIECE OF PLYWOOD AND INCH FOAM PAD.

THAT'S YOUR BED.

I THINK THAT SOUNDS UNCOMFORTABLE   BUT OUT AT SEA WHEN YOU DO HAVE TIME TO GET  DOWN INTO YOUR BUNK, IT'S A GOOD NIGHT'S REST.

COUPLE HOURS THAT YOU MAY GET.

>>Lauren: IS THE CREW REALLY CLOSE   IN HOW DO YOU PASTIME.

>>  >> FOOD IS THE BIGGEST THING BRINGS US TOGETHER.

FOR SURE.

REALLY GOOD COOK, HAPPY CREW.

THOSE MEAL TIMES ARE REALLY   IMPORTANT I THINK, MORNING, LUNCHTIME,  AND THEN IN THE EVENING AT DINNER.

WE ALL GATHER ON DECK AND I THINK THAT  THOSE MOMENTS ARE IT'S TIME WHEN THE   ENTIRE CREW IS TOGETHER.

NOT ON YOUR WATCH SYSTEMS.

AND YOU CAN LAUGH, YOU CAN ENJOY, THERE  IS TIME OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN   TOUCH WITH TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS  LIKE THAT THAT YOU HAVE ON LAND.

>>Lauren: WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE.

>> NICE TO HAVE INTERRUPTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, BURT BARBER DESIGNED  FOR ME SOME FISHING LURES.

200‑POUND TEST LINE ALWAYS HOOKED UP TO THE  BACK OF HOKULEA WHEN WE WOULD BE SAILING ALONG,   SOMEBODY FEEL A SITE SLIGHT JAR, DISTANCE ON  THE HORIZON THERE'S A FISH TOOK THE BAIT AND   FLAPPING UP.

WONDERFUL.

IN ADDITION TO PLAYING JOKES ON EACH OTHER.

FOR EXAMPLE, KAINOA WAS ASLEEP, HE WAS SNORING   AND SNORING WAS EVEN LOUDER THAN THAT WINDS.

SO I TAPED HIM.

WHEN I RETURNED, I GOT PUPULE.

>>Yunji: GET ME ON THE SHOW   AIDEN ASKED QUESTIONS OF KAINOA DO YOU  REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR HAWAII?

(SNORING) INTERVIEW WENT LIKE THAT.

SO A LOT OF JOKES PLAYED ON EACH OTHER.

>>Lauren: IF I CAN COME BACK TO YOU,  WE ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES?

EARLIER BEFORE WE STARTED, YOU WERE TELLING ME  THAT YOU WISH YOUR TIME AT SEA WAS LONGER AND IT   WAS QUITE A LENGTHY TIME AT SEA.

>> 28 DAYS.

I REMEMBER NAINOA SAYING, DOES  ANYBODY BUT ME CARE WHEN WE GET HOME?

I SAY, I DON'T THINK SO.

IT WAS JUST, YOU TOUCHED ON IT,   YOU'RE JUST AWAY FROM EVERYTHING.

I THINK PARTICULARLY NOW, VERY FEW   TIMES IN LIFE WHERE YOU CAN BE ABSOLUTELY  PRESENT IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BE.

TO STAY SAFE.

BUT SO TO HAVE THAT DEMAND ON YOU AND TO BE  ABSOLUTELY PRESENT IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL   PLACES ON EARTH, BECAUSE YOU'RE ON OPEN OCEAN WITH  JUST THE OCEAN AND SKY, AND PEOPLE YOU'RE WITH,   AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO COME HOME FROM THAT.

WHEN YOU GET OFF THE CANOE AND YOU GET BACK INTO   YOUR EVER EVERY,DAY LIFE.

IT'S HARD.

AND IT DOES CHANGE YOU.

>>Lauren: WHAT IS IT LIKE COMING   BACK HOME FROM BEING AT SEA FOR SO LONG?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LOGISTICAL   CHALLENGES OF THAT?

>> SEA LEGS IS ONE.

STILL BE ROCKING A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE WAKE UP AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ON THE OCEAN.

AND THEN YEAH, I THINK THERE'S ALSO  JC A BUSYNESS OF BEING ON LAND.

CHECK YOUR EMAIL, AND DRIVE  AROUND THROUGH ALL THE TRAFFIC.

YOU SPEND TIME OUT IN THE WATER JUST SO IN TOUCH  WITH KIND OF THAT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AROUND YOU.

THAT IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO KIND OF  REASSIMILIATE INTO LIFE ON ON LAND.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF  BECAUSE YOU GET BACK AND YOU'RE JUST EXCITED.

YOU COMPLETED SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IMPACT OF.

AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF   TO GET BACK TO THOSE REGULAR DAILY TASKS, THINGS  LIKE DRIVING, YOUR JOB, OF COURSE, OBLIGATIONS,   FAMILY AND ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE  ON TOP OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU DO GET BACK.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY KIND OF PATIENCE  WITH YOURSELF AND PACE YOURSELF BECAUSE   YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU JUST  WENT THROUGH INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>>Lauren: BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.

YOU'RE A PSYCHIATRIST.

YOU GIVE ADVICE FOR THE CREW MEMBERS  GOING OUT HOW TO ADJUST?

>> MENTIONED PROBABLY THE KEY ISSUE IS FOR  THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY.

I EVEN HAD SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL  TESTING FOR THE CREW.

IT WAS FUNNY.

ALL STOCK ANSWERS FROM EVERY ONE OF THEM.

I THREW OUT TEST.

FOR OBSERVATION THAT YOU COULD SEE   WHETHER PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING ALONG.

AS FAR AS OUR VOYAGE, YOU WE COULD HARDLY   WAIT TO GET BACK.

WE WERE TOLD, BY TO   SLOW DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE COMING HOME TOO FAST.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GOING TO WELCOME US HOME.

SO WE WERE SEARCHING AROUND TO WHERE TO ANCHOR.

DREDGED TO STEER TOWARDS KAPALAMA.

NEXT CORE FOR THE NIGHT.

NEXT MORNING SET SAIL FOR OAHU.

WE SAW ALL OF THESE CARS AND LIGHTS AND  HORNS HONKING ON THE SHORES OF OAHU.

THOUSANDS WELCOME US HOME.

IT WAS QUOTED THROUGH THRILL   THAT WAS SO EXHILARATING UNBELIEVABLE SO MANY  PEOPLE COME OUT THERE TO WELCOME US HOME.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO HEAR FROM  THE REST OF THE PANEL AS WELL.

WHAT IS THAT LIKE COMING HOME, AND MAYBE YOU COULD  TOUCH ON MAYBE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS.

FROM YOUR VOYAGING EXPERIENCE.

>> I THINK AS WHEN WE CAME HOME,   WENT FIRST TO HILO.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HILO.

SO THAT WAS QUITE SOMETHING  TO HAVE THAT BE THE PLACE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED, BUT MY MOM  BECAUSE I WAS WORKING FOR THE TELEVISION STATION,   MY NEWS DIRECTOR GOT A BOAT TO  COME OUT AND MY MOM WAS ON IT.

AND IT WAS JUST SHE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE  OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I SAW WHEN I CAME HOME   AND THAT WAS JUST AMAZING.

SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

BUT THEN SO THEN FROM HILO, WE  WENT TO KALAUPAPA AND TO KUALOA.

COME TO KUALOA AND SEE ALL  THE PEOPLE, SORT OF SCARY.

JUST YOU KNOW, SO MUCH STIMULATION.

AFTER BEING OUT ON THE OCEAN FOR SO LONG.

SO IT WAS INTERESTING REACTION.

>>Lauren: DO YOU BOTH   HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS WELL?

OR A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

>> I THINK REALLY ENJOYED ARRIVALS.

I THINK ONE OF MY MEMORIES WHEN I WAS 2017,   STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, WENT HOKULEA CAME BACK HOME  FROM THE WORLDWIDE VOYAGE, I REMEMBER STAND ON THE   ROCKS MAGIC ISLAND, SENSE OF ESCITEMENT AND PRIDE  WHEN YOU SEE THE KOA KNEW COMING IN SAILS OPEN AND   KNOWING THAT INCREDIBLE JOURNEY THAT YOU SPENT ON  THE LAST 3 YEARS FEEL A PRIDE FOR HOKULEA AND ALSO   JUST HAWAII AND BEING HAWAIIAN AND I THINK THOSE  ARE INCREDIBLE BEING MOMENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE   REALLY AMPLIFIED DURING THE ARRIVAL CEREMONIES.

>>Lauren: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A   CREW MEMBER TO FEEL THAT.

I HAVE SEEN IT HAVEN'T SEEN   IT IN PERSON, SEEN VIDEO CLIP.

GET FULL BODY CHILLS.

IS THAT LIKE FOR YOU GROW UP LEARNING ABOUT  IT, SEEN IT, HOMECOMING YOURSELF IN PERSON   BEFORE BECOMING CREW MEMBER.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO ACTUALLY   EXPERIENCE IT AS A CREW MEMBER?

>> I THINK JOY OF FAMILY.

SEE THE VIDEOS OF CREW MEMBERS  COMING HOME AND HUGGING PEOPLE.

THERE'S JUST EMBRACE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DIRECT   FAMILY BUT THEY'RE FAMILY.

IN THAT WAY.

SO COMING HOME, I GOT THE JOY OF SEEING SOME OF  MY REALLY GOOD FRIENDS OFF THE COAST OF KONA.

ASANO SUMMERTIME, MARITIME  INTERNSHIP ON THE SHIP THERE.

SO HAPPENED TO BE THERE, AND THEY  CAME ON BY AND THEY SAID, HELLO AND   I DIDN'T HUG THEM BUT THERE WAS THAT JOY, THAT  RELATIONSHIP OF A REALLY MISS SEEING YOU GUYS.

HELLO AGAIN.

WE CAME TO OAHU.

ANCHORD IN MAUNALUA BAY.

MY MOM RIGHT THERE, MENTIONED   SOMETHING ABOUT MOMS.

HEY, I'M HOME.

I'M SAFE.

I THINK JUST SEEING EMBRACE AND ALL   THE OLD VIDEOS AN ARCHIVES, SAME FEELING.

I THINK SO.

>>Lauren: I HAVE A QUESTION.

LITTLE HARD TO TRANSITION.

TO ONE OUR VIEWERS WANTS ME TO TOUCH ON IT.

BARBARA.

YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT I THINK RESONATES SO  MUCH WITH PEOPLE, ABOUT HOKULEA IS ABILITY AND   PURPOSE BUT ABILITY TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES.

DR. YOUNG ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE   WAS THE LOSS OF EDDIE AIKAU.

YOU WERE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING   SOCIETY PRESIDENT, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT  HOW DO YOU MOVE PAST THAT PROBABLY PEOPLE OUT   THERE THINKING, IT'S TIME TO JUST STOP.

>> I HAD A JOURNAL LEADING UP TO IT.

STILL REMEMBER WALKING AROUND ON MARCH 16,  1978, AND I TOOK THAT PICTURE OF EDDIE BUT   EVERS LOOK STRAIGHT AT ME.

EDDIE LOOK TO THE SIDE HERE.

HE DID LOOK TO THE SIDE.

AND I SNAPPED PICTURE WHICH IS   USED QUITE OFTEN SHOWING EDDIE AIKAU.

THAT NIGHT, I GOT A WORD FROM   KIP KAUKA WHO WAS OUR PERSON WHO GO GET  THINGS DONE.

HE CONTACTED ME HOKULEA SWAMPED.

RUSHED DOWN THERE.

AND I HAD MY JOURNAL RIGHT WITH ME THERE THAT   FIRST HELICOPTER IN, NAINOA, SECOND HELICOPTER  IN, BUDDY MCGUIRE, ALL OF THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.

THIRD HELICOPTER.

KAWIKA AND COUPLE OF OTHERS DECIDED   TO REMAIN, WITH HOKULEA AFTER SHE CAPSIZED.

AND I STILL REMEMBER KAWIKA TELLING ME,   KAWIKA, TELLING ME THAT NAINOA TOO,  BOTH SAID THINGS GOING FOR EDDIE.

HE JUST WON THE LONG BOARD CHAMPIONSHIP.

GOOD SHAPE.

HE HAD A SURFBOARD.

KNIFE AND HE HAD A FLASHLIGHT.

BUT THE ANGUISH, STAGES OF EMOTIONS THAT YOU  GO THROUGH OF DEPRESSION, ANGER, BARGAINING.

HOPE, UNTIL FINALLY,  REALIZING THAT EDDIE WAS LOST.

WE MET AT THE WASHINGTON PLACE WITH  GOVERNOR ARIYOSHI AND HE WAS SO HELPFUL.

I REMEMBER HOW THRILLED I WAS HAPPY  I WAS WHO HE SAID, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

I ASKED HIM, I SAID, CAN WE GET THE HAWAII  AIR GUARD OUT FOR US TO LOOK FOR EDDIE?

HE PICKED UP THE PHONE RIGHT THERE.

AND THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HELPED US.

SO POET SAID, OFTEN THOUGHTS TOO DEEP FOR TEARS.

WORDSWORTH WERE WRONG.

NEVER THOUGHTS E TOO DEEP FOR TEARS E TOO DEEP FOR TEARS.

TRYING GATHER MY THOUGHTS.

HOW DID YOU MAKE THE   DECISION TO KEEP GOING AFTER THAT EVENT?

>> JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TRAUMA YOU FACE IN LIFE.

AFTER PERIOD OF TIME, YOU DO REALIZE  THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT ANY MORE.

COAST GUARD TOLD US THAT THEY  WERE GIVING UP THE SEARCH.

WE REALIZED WE HAD TO GIVE IT UP AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS INSPIRATION FOR HOKULEA TO HOIST  SAILS AGAIN, AND TO SAIL INTO THE FUTURE.

>>Lauren: WHAT WOULD YOU MAYBE ADD TO SOME  PEOPLE WHO MAY BE, WHO THOUGHT AFTER EVENT   LIKE THAT, HOKULEA SHOULDN'T CONTINUE?

>> I THINK HOKULEA HAD TO CONTINUE.

PARTICULARLY FOR EDDIE.

BECAUSE IF IT ALL STOPPED,   WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR NOT RIGHT, AND IT WAS  THE PRIDE OF PEOPLE AND THE PRIDE OF STATE,   AND THEN OBLIGATION REALLY TO CONTINUE.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW,   YOU ALL KNOW THIS BEING PART OF HOKULEA.

IT'S ALWAYS ITERATIVE AND ALWAYS GOTTEN BETTER.

GOTTEN SO MUCH SAFER.

MANY THINGS CHANGED AFTER THAT VOYAGE FOR   BETTER AND YOU SEE THAT, I SEE IT IN THESE YOUNG  PEOPLE, HOW THINGS HAVE EVOLVED FOR THE BETTER.

I THINK WE HAD TO.

I DON'T THINK THERE   WAS A CHOICE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PINKY THOMPSON.

FOR HIS VISION AND PINK I AND LAURA THOMPSON BOTH,   BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING.

AND WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE THE VOYAGING   SOCIETY AND HOKULEA SUCCESSFUL.

>>Lauren: SPEAKING OF SAFETY,   I KNOW SO HARD TO MOVE ON FROM THERE.

KAI, JONAH, SAFETY EVER A CONCERN   FOR EITHER OF YOU BEFORE YOU BOTH BECAME  CREW MEMBERS' SAFETY WHEN YOU PREPARE FOR   A VOYAGE SAFETY IS ONE OF THE TOP CONCERNS,  THAT'S REALLY SO IMPORTANT IN OUR TRAINING.

WE HAVE AMAZING SAFETY OFFICERS AND LEADERS LIKE  ARCHIE KALEPA PUTS THROUGH RIGOROUS TRAINING   SOMEONE GOES OVER BOARD, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

NOT KIND OF A PANIC, JUST REACTING AND STAYING   CALM OPERATING SAFELY AND QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

REALLY PUSH SAFETY AS WITH YOU ONE OF THE   MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE CANOE  ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GO DEEP SEA.

>>Lauren: IS THERE AN ELEMENT OF NERVES LIKE  KAI YOU CAN STILL SPEAK ON LAST QUESTION.

WERE YOU NERVOUS BEFORE THE  LAST VOYAGE, I WAS NERVOUS.

I HAD A HARD TIME GRAPPLING WITH THE  THOUGHT OF GOING PAST KALAHEO, CHINA WALLS.

OVER DONE OVERNIGHT SAIL YOU  BELIEVE IN YOUR TEACHERS.

THEY'VE DONE IT SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

AND SO THERE IS THIS PART OF PUTTING   THAT FEAR ASIDE AND KNOWING YOU'RE GOING TO BE  WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT THIS CREW DONE IT BEFORE.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY TRUST PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS.

>> I THINK NERVES TOO, KAI AND I WERE  IN 2021, WENT TO THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA.

DID THAT FIRST.

NAVIGATION RUN.

SMALL GROUP OF FIVE, YOUNG NAVIGATORS  ALL YOUNG 20'S AT THE TIME.

AND WE WERE GOING TO TAKE TURNS  WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO   FIND NEHOA NEXT ISLAND RIGHT AFTER NIIHAU.

NERVES, FIND THE ISLAND AND BE SUCCESSFUL   INTERESTING THING WAS NAINOA CAPTAIN  REALLY DOESN'T CARE IF WE FIND ISLANDS.

CARED ABOUT HOW WE TAKE CARE  OF EACH OTHER ALONG THE VOYAGE.

THAT IS SO CRITICAL WITH HOKULEA  VALUES WHEN YOU'RE ON THE CANOE AND   THOSE ARE REALLY DRIVING WHY WE'RE VOYAGING.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO GET TO VIEWER QUESTIONS.

JUST TALKING ABOUT NERVES,  DR. YOUNG, YOU'RE A DOCTOR.

ON YOUR VERY FIRST VOYAGE, WERE YOU NERVOUS?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

OF COURSE YOU TRY TO COMPENSATE IT.

OH, NO.

DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

REALLY DEFENSE MECHANISMS.

OF COURSE YOU'RE SCARED.

YOU'RE WORRIED.

SOME OF THOSE NIGHTS ARE PRETTY DARK.

WET, THOSE WAVES CAN BE UP TO 20 FEET HIGH.

SCARY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SAFETY   MEASURES PUT IN PLACE WHICH ARE IN PLACE TOO.

OF COURSE WE WERE IN A RUSH TO BUILD HOKULEA,   TO GET HER DOWN TO TAHITI.

SO SAFETY MEASURES WERE   NOT AS STRINGENT AS THEY ARE TODAY.

>>Lauren: GET SOME OF OUR VIEWER QUESTIONS.

JEFFREY ASKING, LET ANYONE CHIME  IN WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS QUESTION.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, IS THE HOKULEA MADE FROM THE  SAME MATERIALS AS THE ANCIENT HAWAIIANS USED   AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?

>> IT'S NOT.

AROUND I THINK IT'S ALL THE  THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S ITERATIVE.

NEEDS TO BE SAFE.

JUST NO WAY THAT YOU COULD HAVE A CANOE THAT  COULD GO SOME, MANY MILES IF IT WAS BUILT   OUT OF THE SAME ORIGINAL MATERIAL.

THERE WAS A, REMEMBER HAWAII LOA,   THAT WAS BUILT OUT OF TRADITIONAL  MATERIALS IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY.

SHE DID SAIL.

BUT NO HOKULEA DEFINITELY OF MODERN CANOE   PATTERNED AFTER TRADITIONAL VOYAGING CANOES.

>> HERB KANE WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THINKING ABOUT HOW TO OBTAIN  NATURAL MATERIALS, HUGE LOGS,   BUT HE COULDN'T DO IT.

HE KNEW HE HAD TO DESIGN  AND HE DID DESIGN THE SEA WORTHINESS OF CANOE THAT   COULD MAKE IT IN TIME FOR THE BICENTENNIAL  COMMISSION AND BE READY TO SAIL IN 1976.

BUT WE DID HAVE CRITICISMS OF  THAT FROM SOME PEOPLE IN TAHITI.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE MADE IT OUT  OF THE NATURAL MATERIALS TO MEET THAT DEADLINE.

WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD A CANOE, DESIGN,  EVEN WITH THE CLAW FIGURE OF THE SAILS.

WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT ON TO OUR SAILS.

AND EVEN THE SAILING MATERIALS, ABLE TO GET   THOSE MANUFACTURED IN THAT TINY ATOLL.

POLYNESIAN ATOLL.

IN MICRONESIA.

DID NOT USE IT ON THE WAY BACK BUT WE CAN HAVE.

>> EVEN WITH KIND OF THE CANOE TODAY, 50  YEARS LATER BALANCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL   TECHNIQUES AN MODERN MATERIALS AND CANOE  STILL LASHED TOGETHER WITH ALMOST 6 MILES   OF LINE AND TRADITIONAL PATTERNS THAT  MAU BROUGHT US TO HAWAII AND TAUGHT US.

STILL REALLY KIND OF HOLDS THAT TRUE  ESSENCE OF POLYNESIAN VOYAGING IN HAWAII.

HAWAIIAN VOYAGING CANOE.

WOODEN DEVELOPS ANY KIND TO   STILL BE SAILING 50 YEARS LATER, KIND OF SHAPE.

ACCOMPLISHMENT SHOWS DEDICATION ALL OF OUR   CREW MEMBERS.

>>Lauren:   HAVE ALL OF YOU ON THE VOYAGING HAVE NIGHTS.

WAVES WERE 20 FEET HIGH, MAYBE REALLY ROUGH WATER,   AND WAS KIND OF DICEY SITUATION?

HEAD NODS.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

TERRIFYING?

YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT TO DO   AND YOU'RE CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED?

>> TERRIFYING I'M NOT A SAILOR.

I WAS ON BOARD AS A REPORTER.

AND LIKE SO THERE'S THAT.

NOT I'M NOT AN OCEAN PERSON.

AND FOR MY PARTNER, CLIFF, WITH A CAMERA,   SHOOTING, VERY HARD TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE.

AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT CAMERA.

YEAH, I FELT IT WAS TERRIFYING.

>>Lauren: I CAN IMAGINE FROM   SOMEONE NOT EXPERIENCED SAILOR.

WHAT ABOUT FOR THE REST OF YOU.

>> WE MADE A HALE IN THE MIDDLE YOU FOLKS DID TOO.

EVERY NIGHT WATCHING TIME FOR ME TO SLEEP, I HAD   MY HAND ON ONE OF THE BAMBOO RAILS THERE.

I NEVER CHANGED POSITIONS WHERE I   SLEPT SAME PLACE.

IF HOKULEA FLIPPED,   SLIDE MYSELF AND RESCUE MYSELF.

>>Lauren: PRETTY WILD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT   YOU HAVE TO DO TO ADJUST TO LIVING SITUATION.

ISN'T REALLY QUESTION.

DANIEL WROTE IN, HOPING MAYBE  DR. YOUNG OR LISA CAN CHIME IN.

HE'S SAYING HOKULEA BUILT A BOND  WITH MICRONESIA THROUGH PAPA MAU.

HIS COMMENT.

MAYBE IF ONE   YOU HAVE HERE TONIGHT CAN EXPAND ON THAT.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT, EASIEST WAY TO GET TO ONE   OF THE ISLANDS IN MICRONESIA MARKS.

AMAZING CHART.

MARSHALLS.

USED WITH SHELL AND   BAMBOO STICKS ALL OF MICRONESIA, FIND PEOPLE WHO  ARE SOMEWHAT REASONABLY EXPERIENCED WITH SAILING.

BUT OF COURSE, MAU WAS THE BEST.

LET OTHERS ANSWER FOR THAT.

REALLY BROUGHT TOGETHER A LINK  BETWEEN HAWAII AND MICRONESIA.

>> VERY WELL KNOW THAT AS STUDENTS OF  NAVIGATION, YOUNG NAVIGATORS, GIFT FROM SATOWAN.

THROUGH PAPA MAU, UPLIFTED, ALL OF  THIS VOYAGING IN THE PAST 50 YEARS.

AND SO REFLECT ON THAT, 50TH BIRTHDAY.

SCHOOL IN SATOWAN PROVIDED ALL OF THIS   LEARNING SO VERY THANKFUL.

>> I THINK THAT'S HAVING MAU   COME TO HAWAII AND TEACH NAVIGATION TO NAINO AND  MANY OTHER NATIGATORS GOT TRAINED, FOR ME AND KAI   TO BE ABLE TO LEARN NAVIGATION AND VOYAGE AND I  THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GENEOLOGY OF HOKULEA,   MAU IS REALLY UP THERE AS THAT SPARK OF KIND  OF WHAT ALLOWS NAVIGATION TAUGHT IN SCHOOL TOO.

WITHOUT PAPA MAU AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE  THAT KNOWLEDGE FROM SATAWALL TO HERE.

WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

>>Lauren: AS A JOURNALIST,   WHAT DID YOU LEARN HOKULEA CHANGED  RELATIONSHIPS HAWAII PEOPLE ON BOARD   CREW MEMBERS AND THOSE PLACES AROUND THE WORLD?

>> I THINK BEN TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

IN THE EARLY DAYS.

I THINK PEOPLE DID NOT SEE,   THERE OF SOME SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT HAWAIIANS  WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST THEIR CULTURE.

THE LANGUAGE WAS NOT PROMINENT.

CULTURAL PRACTICES WERE NOT PROMINENT.

AND THEN HOKULEA CHANGE THAT.

AND IT ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR   VOYAGING CANOES TO BE BUILT AND MAINTAINED AND  THE SAME KIND OF MOVEMENT TO HAPPEN IN OTHER   PLACES THROUGHOUT THE POLYNESIAN TRIANGLE.

AND TODAY, WE LOOK BACK AND YOU DON'T, IS IT   HARD TO IMAGINE A TIME WHEN THERE WASN'T  THIS JUST ABUNDANCE OF VOYAGING CANOES.

BUT HOKULEA REALLY MADE THAT POSSIBLE I THINK AND  SO NOT ONLY DID HAWAIIANS FIND THEMSELVES BUT IT   HELPED OTHER NATIVE PEOPLE TO THAT AS WELL.

AND THE TIES ARE VERY STRONG AND VERY REAL.

YOU GUYS WELL KNOW,.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO HEAR, WHAT WAS   YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT ONE OF YOUR RECENT TRIPS.

>> MAYBE PLACE THAT YOU WENT AND WHY.

>> YOU THINK FOR ME, STARTED  MOANA NUI AKEA JUNEAU, ALASKA.

SAILED UP NORTH TO YAKATAT.

SMALL FISHING TOWN OF 500.

AND HOME OF BYRON MALOT AND FAMILY  AND CRUCIAL IN DONATING LOGS FOR   HAWAII LOA ALASKA FOREST TO HAWAII.

>>Lauren: SORRY DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT.

>> YOU'RE JUST IN SUCH A FOREIGN  ENVIRONMENT FOR A VOYAGING CANOE.

SAILING PAST GLACIERS SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAINS.

AND HAVING THE CONNECTION WITH THE   ALASKAN NATIVES AND YAKUTAT.

HISTORY BECAUSE OF HAWAII LOA   AND BECAUSE OF THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM  AND JUST BEING ABLE TO KNOWING THAT YOU'RE   YOUNGER GENERATION JUST CONTINUING THOSE  CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HAWAII AND ALASKA.

ALL VERY MEMORABLE AND SALMON  WAS REALLY GOOD UP THERE.

>>Lauren: I CAN IMAGINE.

FOR YOU, WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT.

>> I HATE TO BE REDUNDANT.

MY TIME IN ALASKA.

LEG 3, WENT FROM JUNEAU TO KETCHICAN.

WAY THAT ALL OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE   GATHERED THEIR FOOD AND PREPARED  THEIR FOOD WAS FASCINATING TO ME.

HERE IN HAWAII, WE ALSO TRYING TO  KIND OF RESTORE THOSE PRACTICES.

SO TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAY THAT EACH PLACE  PREPARED OR CAUGHT AND THEN PREPARED THEIR   FOOD AND FED MANY PEOPLE ONE OF THE  FAVORITE THINGS DURING THAT VOYAGE.

TALK STORY AND HEAR ABOUT THEIR METHODS.

HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR PLACE.

>>Lauren: SUPERCOOL.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT  EVENTS CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING, THIS WEEK?

>> YEAH.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, HER BIRTHDAY.

WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE AT KUALOA  FIRST WENT INTO THE WATER 50 YEARS AGO.

STARTING AT 8:00 A.M. CANOE SAIL INTO KUALOA.

CREW WILL COME TO LAND AND HAVE  A CEREMONY FROM CAN 9 TO 11:00.

REALLY KIND OF BE INSPIRED BY THAT FIRST CEREMONY  OF WHEN THE CANOE FIRST WENT INTO THE WATER.

THEN THERE WILL BE PART OF CITY'S CANOE  FESTIVAL WA'A FESTIVAL AFTER THAT.

VENDORS, FOOD, MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AND JUST DAY TO   KIND OF CELEBRATE HOKULEA, BUT ALSO CELEBRATE JUST  ALL THE AMAZING THINGS SHE'S DONE IN 50 YEARS.

NEXT NIGHT HEADED DOWN TO CONVENTION CENTER.

UNDER BRIDGE.

BIG FUNDRAISER GALA WORKING HARD TO PLAN.

SOLD OUT FOLLOWING MONDAY PUBLIC   CANOE TOURS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

PUBLIC CAN COME DOWN STEP ABOARD HOKULEA BEFORE   WE FINISH OFF AT BISHOP MUSEUM FOLLOWING FRIDAY.

I THINK THAT'S THE 14TH.

THAT WILL BE ANOTHER DAY WHERE HOKULEA HULLS  WERE BUILT AND BEFORE GOING OFF TO KUALOA.

KIND OF SERIES OF EVENTS AND A LOT MORE.

THERE'S A LOT OF MEDIA GOING ON TO CELEBRATE.

JUST REALLY EXCITING AND 50  SUCH A BIG NUMBER REALLY.

>>Lauren: YEAH.

>> GLAD TO DO IT BIG.

>>Lauren: CAN ANYBODY GO.

>> PUBLIC AROUND FREE.

>>Lauren: STARTING MONDAY, ANYBODY WATCHING  PUBLIC VISITORS WANT TO SEE HOKULEA IN PERSON?

>> 3:00 TO 6:00 P.M. ON THE BOTTOM OF GRAND  STAIRCASE ON AT ALL WAI CENVENTION CENTER.

>>Lauren: BARBARA ASKED ABOUT  THE EDDIE AIKAU QUESTION.

NOT GOING TO BACK TO IT.

WROTE IN A NICE COMMENT.

SAID, MAHALO FOR HEARTFELT WORD.

FOR EDDIE AND ONGOING HOKULEA VOYAGES.

ON THIS LIVE PROGRAM.

GAVE A LITTLE HEART MOJO.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS NICE.

WANTED TO READ IT OUT LOUD.

HARD TOPIC.

>> MANY THINGS YOU   FORGET OVER THE YEARS MEMORIES ARE REFRESHING.

NEVER CAN COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE.

REMEMBER SITTING NEXT TO GOVERNOR  ARIYOSHI FINISHED THE CEREMONY.

I HAD PONDERED WHOLE DAY, ABOUT  GETTING INSURANCE FOR THE WHOLE CREW.

AS USUAL, WITH ANY MAJOR PROJECT  LIKE THIS, WE HAD NO MONEY.

SO AT THE LAST MINUTE, I THOUGHT WE CAN'T DO IT.

CAN'T DO IT.

SUDDENLY GOT UP TO.

RAN TO THE TELEPHONE AROUND THE CORNER WE WERE   HAVING THE CEREMONY, AND CALLED INSURANCE COMPANY.

SAID, I'LL PAY FOR IT.

LET'S INSURE EVERY CREW MEMBER.

EDDIE WAS INSURED.

GAVE THE MONEY TO THE FAMILY.

NOT MUCH.

TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF EDDIE'S LIFE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE UNKNOWN STORIES   OF THAT DAY ON MARCH 16, 1978.

>>Lauren: WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME LEFT   OF A WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU BIGGEST  TAKEAWAY FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH HOKULEA?

WHAT HAS HOKULEA TAUGHT YOU IN ITS  JOURNEY OR YOUR JOURNEY WITH HOKULEA?

WHOEVER WANTS TO START.

>> I THINK YOU KNOW, WE FORGET AS HUMANS,   WHAT OUR PLACE IS IN THE UNIVERSE.

AND IT'S A VERY SMALL, SMALL PLACE.

THE WORLD IS LARGE AND BEAUTIFUL.

AND NATURE IS SUPREME AND WE ARE NOT.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE  BIGGEST LESSONS THAT I TOOK.

>>Lauren: SINCE WE STARTED WITH LISA.

GO JONAH.

AROUND THE TABLE.

>> I THINK I WOULD   SAY JUST THE GENIUS ANCESTORS AND KUPUNA.

CENTURIES VOYAGING ACROSS THE PACIFIC.

CARRY ON THAT LEGACY, KEEP OF ART AND VOYAGING AND  NAVIGATION ALIVE SUCH A GREAT LESSON AND BRINGS A   LOT OF LESSONS TO MY LIFE.

EVERY TIME I VOYAGE,   STEP ON THE CANOE AND THINK, WOW.

SMALL LITTLE SPACE HAS DONE SO MUCH.

AND THEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT PAST THAT.

WHAT OTHER CANOES ARE OUT THERE?

NOT JUST VOYAGING CANOES, WHAT OTHER  THINGS ARE BEING LAUNCHED OUT THERE,   EDUCATION OR CULTURE, SCIENCE, CARING FOR  THE EARTH THOSE ARE THE THINGS I THINK   ABOUT SUPERTHANKFUL FOR AND EXPERIENCE HOKULEA  BRINGS BRINGS ALL OF THAT VISION INTO ONE PLACE.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE THINKING  THAT WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PAST,   PRESENT AND FUTURE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY  MUCH FOR HAVING ME REPRESENT ANCIENT HISTORY.

REFLECT ON WHAT WAS JUST SAID.

THINKING THAT FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD HOKULEA   GET READY FOR THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

NEXT THING REPRESENTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE,   IS THAT HOKULEA REALLY REPRESENTS  A SYMBOL TO SAVE PLANET EARTH.

EVERY ONE OF US ARE DESCENDANTS OF  PEOPLE MIGRATED HERE, MIGRATED OURSELVES.

REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE IN HAWAII AND EVERY PEOPLE  HAD TO MEET EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES EXCRUCIATING   CONDITIONS TO MAKE LANDFALL HERE IN HAWAII.

AND THEY DID IT.

WHAT A WONDERFUL LEGACY HAWAII, HOKULEA IS.

TO REACH FOR US HORIZONS MAKE SURE   WE CAN STILL REACH LAND.

>>Lauren: WE'RE AT 50 YEARS.

WHERE DO YOU ALL SEE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING  SOCIETY AND HOKULEA MAYBE 50 YEARS FROM NOW?

>> I THINK THAT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER.

BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU GO 50 YEARS BACK, IT WOULD   HAVE BEEN HARD TO ENVISION HOKULEA TODAY.

THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DONE.

I THINK MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE  HOKULEA REPRESENTS POWER OF A DREAM.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN THAT DREAM.

SO WHERE THAT DREAM TAKES YOU,   THAT'S WHERE WE'LL BE IN 50 YEARS.

>>Lauren: I KNOW IT'S A HARD QUESTION.

I'M CURIOUS, DO YOU HOPE HOKULEA  IS STILL AROUND IN 50 YEARS?

OR MAYBE LESSONS DO YOU WANT TO SEE  NEXT GENERATION TAKEAWAY FROM IT?

50 YEARS FROM NOW?

>> STILL   SAILING.

>> BUILT TO VOYAGE.

GREAT AT IT TOO.

>> YOUNG GENERATION   THAT I SEE, TEENAGERS, 12‑YEAR‑OLDS TRYING  TO STEER CANOES SMALLER CANOES AT FESTPAC.

READY TO GO.

THEY WANT TO GO.

THAT LIGHT IN THEM IS THERE'S A FIRE THERE.

SO CONFIDENT THAT 50 YEARS STILL BE SAILING.

>> SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE THE BAR  CONTINUING TO RAISE EVERY GENERATION.

AND JUST HAVING THE NEXT GENERATION OF  VOYAGERS AND NAVIGATORS JUST ON ANOTHER   LEVEL THAN THE ONE THAT CAME BEFORE IT.

JUST CONTINUING TO IMPROVE AND RISE AND EVEN   THOSE LESSONS OF HOKULEA AND MISSION OF WHY WE  VOYAGE AND MALAMA HONU, HAVING IMPACT IN HAWAII,   ALSO GLOBALLY AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHAT I  ENVISION NEXT 50 YEARS TO BE FOR HOKULEA AND PVS.

>>Lauren: COUPLE OF MINUTES.

FOR KAI AND JONAH.

SUNSCREEN YOU BOTH WERE INSPIRED BY HOKULEA  IN SCHOOL, FOR ANY YOUNG FOLKS WATCHING,   ALSO MIGHT BE INSPIRED MAYBE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL  AND THEY WANT TO LEARN HOW DO WE GET INVOLVE,   HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN HOKULEA AND  MAYBE SOME DAY BE LIKE KAI AND JONAH AND   DR. YOUNG AND LISAMENT WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

>> I THINK JUST TO CONTINUE TO SEEK KNOWLEDGE.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOYAGING,  THERE'S TONS OF CONTENT AND DOCUMENTARIES   AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT VOYAGING.

BUT ALSO, JUST GETTING OUT IN THE WATER, JUST   RECONNECTING WITH THE OCEAN AS BEST AS YOU CAN.

EVEN JUST PLACES.

WE ALL KIND OF HAVE OUR OWN VOYAGING CANOES AND  ALL NAVIGATORS OF OUR OWN VOYAGES AND BEING ABLE   TO FIND SOMETHING THAT REALLY INSPIRES  YOU AND PUSHES YOU TO FIND AN ISLAND.

IF YOUR MISSION IS VOYAGE IS TO MAKE HAWAII OR  COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE, THAT'S REALLY KEY FOR   HOKULEA AND PVS WHAT WE HOPE INSPIRE.

>>Lauren: HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED,.

>> CONNECTION.

TALK ABOUT IT.

INSPIRED, TALK ABOUT IT WITH FAMILY FRIENDS.

CONTINUE THAT INSPIRATION  AND IT WILL FIND ITS WAY.

ALWAYS SAY THAT I THINK JONAH MENTIONED,  ON HIS FIRST LEG, THAT YOU FEEL THIS   FEELING OF LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

AND SO ARRIVING TO AN ISLAND, YOUNG PERSON,   BE ASPIRED, GET CONNECTED, ARRIVE IN THE RIGHT  PLACE YOU NEED TO BE TO DO THAT MEANINGFUL WORK.

>>Lauren: YOU HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE  GENERATIONS PARTICIPATE IN HOKULEA JOURNEY.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

>> MY GENERATION WAY BEFORE THESE HERE.

THAT OUR GENERATION IS IN  RETIREMENT ABOUT TO RETIRE.

OR PRETTY WELL SET UP FOR LIFE ALREADY.

MONEY IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

SO I TELL THOSE WHO ARER ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN  THE RETIREMENT YEARS, TO GIVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

TO THE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY SO HOKULEA  CAN CONTINUE TO SAIL ON AND INSPIRE MORE AND   MORE YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME NAVIGATOR AND SAILORS,  NOT ONLY ON HOKULEA NUMEROUS MORE CANOES BUILT   IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

>>Lauren: BEAUTIFUL.

I LOVE THAT.

GREAT NOTE TO END ON.

I ALSO WANT TO READ BEFORE WE GO, COMMENT  FROM WITH YOU OUR YOUTUBE VIEWERS.

BENJAMIN.

LOVE AND ALOHA TO   ALL OF CREW MEMBERS.

OF HOKULEA.

SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO ALL  OF HAWAII AND THE WORLD.

THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SAY GOOD‑BYE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WE DO HAVE FEW MORE MINUTES LEFT.

WE WANT TO SHOW YOU BEFORE WE WRAP UP,   WANT TO SHARE ONE MORE INSIGHT  FROM PVS PRESIDENT NAINOA THOMPSON.

ALSO ASKED HIM AGAIN, SHOWED HIM AT THE BEGIN  BEING OF THE SHOW, WHERE DO YOU SEE HOKULEA AND   POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY 50 YEARS FROM NOW  AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ON THAT QUESTION.

NAINOA THOMPSON: YOU KNOW, FROM MY GENERATION SIDE, IT’S  NOT OUR KULEANA TO DEFINE THAT.

IT’S YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEED TO DEFINE THAT.

YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY THAT ARE NOW CONNECTED  GLOBALLY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH OUR VOYAGE,  MOANANUIAKEA, THEY CAN LAUNCH 50,000 CANOES WITH YOUNG  PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE CANOES, AND I’M NOT  TALKING ABOUT SAILING CANOES ON THE OCEAN.

I’M TALKING  ABOUT IDEALS.

I’M TALKING ABOUT BELIEFS.

I’M TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LOOK AND BE  INSPIRED BY TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THAT THEY CAN NAVIGATE  THE EARTH TO A BETTER PLACE.

OUR JOB IS TO CREATE THEM THE  PLATFORM TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN.

AND IT’S IN ITS IT’S BURIED IN THE HISTORY OF AND THE LEGACY  OF HOKULEA, BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHALLENGES WENT THROUGH, ALL  THE DECISIONS HAD TO BE MADE, ALL THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WERE  ON THE PLANET, HAD TO COME TOGETHER.

SO, SO I THINK THERE’S A STORY THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT DREAMS  CAN BE REAL.

VISION IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW  YOUR DESTINATION IN LIFE.

THE NEED TO BRING YOUR COMMUNITY  TOGETHER NOW THAT IT’S GLOBAL AND YOU CAN AND SO I THINK WE  HAVE, WE HAVE THIS LEGACY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON’T  FORGET.

AND WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

MAHALO FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS,  DR. BEN YOUNG AND KAI HOSHIJO, AND JONAH APO AND ELISA YADAO.

NEXT WEEK, HAWAII’S HOME INSURANCE CRISIS.

THE LATEST ON THE EFFORTS TO STABILIZE THE MARKET AS  SOARING RATES NOT ONLY LEAVE SOME PEOPLE UNINSURED BUT ALSO  CREATE A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO BECOME HOME‑BUYERS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON  PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.