Crew Blog | Al Nip: Community Education Day on Maui

Before traveling to Molokai, Hikianalia spent time on Maui; while there, Maui Nui crewmembers engaged in outreach and crew training.  See below for a blog by crewmembers Al Nip about the Community Education Day in Lāhaina.

Crew blog by Al Nip

With a brisk Kona wind blowing onshore in Lāhaina, Hui o Waʻa Kaulua and the Polynesian Voyaging Society hosted a successful “Community Education” day at Kamehameha Iki Park.

With the overall theme of “Mālama Honua” (Caring for Island Earth), organizations such as Polanui Hiu, Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve, and Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Program came together with Hui O Waʻa Kaulua and Polynesian Voyaging Society to share why we should all be taking care of our lands, our oceans, and our Island Earth. Polanui Hiu focuses on taking care of our fragile reef and ocean environment, especially to preserve our native fish, heʻe, and limu for future generations. The Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve team works to protect that valuable ecosystem that runs from mauka to makai on Maui. The Maui Nui Seabird Recovery project aids the effort to save Maui Nui’s seabirds, especially the ʻUaʻu (Hawaiian Petrel), ʻUaʻu kani (Wedge­tailed Shearwater), Aʻo (Newell’s Shearwater), and the Akeʻake (the Band ­Rumped Storm ­Petrel); a vital part of the natural environment, seabirds also play an important role in Polynesian navigation and wayfinding (click here to learn more).

Education and outreach activities were hosted by Maui community members Linda Castro Nakagawa of Polanui Hiu, Daniel Tanaka of Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve, Jay Penniman of Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, and WWV voyaging crewmembers Kala Baybayan and MaryAnna Enriquez of Hui o Waʻa Kaulua. Kala Baybayan drew great interest from all with her “kukulu o ka lani” (star compass) exhibit, from casual passers­by, to students from Project Venture and Sacred Hearts school in Lahaina who specifically came to learn more about voyaging and navigation from Kala and members of Hui o Waʻa Kaulua. In addition to learning common knots including the bowline, clove and half hitches, and reef knots, participants learned about the ways crewmembers and scientists are using technology at sea to study water quality and biodiversity, bringing science and math to life for all learners.

Johnsen U., a fifth grader at Kamehameha Schools Maui, asked if he could swim out to Hikianalia with his boogie board as he had a strong desire to visit the waʻa. The reply was, “on this day, it’s not safe for anyone to paddle or swim out to the canoe; however, your day will come.” You never know who will be the next crew member, navigator, or captain. Maybe Johnsen will be one of the lucky and brave few?

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