CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Bruce Blankenfeld
Captain Bruce
Crew Profile: Bruce Blankenfeld
PVS Member Since 1977
HOMETOWN:
Niu Valley, Hawaii
PRIMARY DUTY:
Pwo Navigator
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Pilot, Sail Master, Kumu, Fisherman, Crew training coordinator and waʻa maintenance
Bruce Blankenfeld serves as PWO Navigator and crew training coordinator for the World Wide Voyage. He is employed as a foreman by McCabe Hamilton and Renny (stevedoring contractor) and is a long distance paddler and coach for Hui Nalu Canoe Club. His most recent voyage as captain and navigator was the 2009 training sail from Hawai‘i to Palmyra and back in preparation for Hōkūle‘a’s Worldwide Voyage. Bruce serves as a director of crew training for the voyage.
Bruce began his association with Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1977 by volunteering for the maintenance of Hōkūle'a while training for crew on day and night sails.
He was a crewmember when the canoe swamped after leaving Honolulu in 1978. In 1979, he again worked on repairing and maintaining the canoe for a voyage scheduled for 1980.
On the 1980 voyage from Tahiti to Hawai'i (2,500 miles, 25 days), he served as fisherman, a role he was well prepared for: as a child, he accompanied his father on fishing expeditions in Hawaiian water.
During the three-year voyage to Aotearoa and back (1985-1987), Bruce again served as Hōkūle‘a’s fisherman, from Rarotonga to Aotearoa (1,700 miles, 17 days); from Rarotonga to Tahiti (800 miles, 8 days); and from Aitutaki to Rarotonga, Cook Islands (1 day). He began his leadership training on the final leg of that voyage, serving as both watch captain and fisherman from Rangiroa, in the Tuamotus, to Hawai'i (2,500 miles, 27 days).
In 1990, he began formal navigation training with Nainoa Thompson and Mau Plailug, which included a nine-day sail on Hokule'a out of sight of land in 1991. On the 1992 voyage to Rarotonga, he served as an apprentice navigator on Hokule'a from Rarotonga, Cook Islands to Tahiti (800 miles, 8 day) and then as co-navigator, with Kimo Lyman, from the Tahiti to Hawai'i.
After many decades of sailing and navigating, in 2007, on Ku Holo Mau, the voyage to Satawal, Bruce was captain and navigator of Hōkūle‘a from Hawa'i to Pohnpei. He rejoined the crew for the sail from Chuuk to Satawal, where he was one of five Hawaiians inducted into PWO by Mau Piailug.
Bruce began his association with Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1977 by volunteering for the maintenance of Hōkūle'a while training for crew on day and night sails.
He was a crewmember when the canoe swamped after leaving Honolulu in 1978. In 1979, he again worked on repairing and maintaining the canoe for a voyage scheduled for 1980.
On the 1980 voyage from Tahiti to Hawai'i (2,500 miles, 25 days), he served as fisherman, a role he was well prepared for: as a child, he accompanied his father on fishing expeditions in Hawaiian water.
During the three-year voyage to Aotearoa and back (1985-1987), Bruce again served as Hōkūle‘a’s fisherman, from Rarotonga to Aotearoa (1,700 miles, 17 days); from Rarotonga to Tahiti (800 miles, 8 days); and from Aitutaki to Rarotonga, Cook Islands (1 day). He began his leadership training on the final leg of that voyage, serving as both watch captain and fisherman from Rangiroa, in the Tuamotus, to Hawai'i (2,500 miles, 27 days).
In 1990, he began formal navigation training with Nainoa Thompson and Mau Plailug, which included a nine-day sail on Hokule'a out of sight of land in 1991. On the 1992 voyage to Rarotonga, he served as an apprentice navigator on Hokule'a from Rarotonga, Cook Islands to Tahiti (800 miles, 8 day) and then as co-navigator, with Kimo Lyman, from the Tahiti to Hawai'i.
After many decades of sailing and navigating, in 2007, on Ku Holo Mau, the voyage to Satawal, Bruce was captain and navigator of Hōkūle‘a from Hawa'i to Pohnpei. He rejoined the crew for the sail from Chuuk to Satawal, where he was one of five Hawaiians inducted into PWO by Mau Piailug.
Bruce Blankenfeld: Related Posts
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Moananuiākea Film | December 6, 2018 @ Doris Duke Theatre
Catch an upcoming screening of the film celebrating the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage! -
UPCOMING SHOWS | Moananuiākea: One Ocean. One Canoe. One People.
Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and Oʻahu screenings of the film about the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage. -
Hikianalia and Crew Depart for Hawaiʻi
The crew has departed San Diego for the 2,200-mile voyage back to Honolulu -
WORLD PREMIERE | Moananuiākea: One Ocean. One Canoe. One People.
Join us for the world premiere for the feature-length documentary about the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage. -
Master Navigators Featured at Events During Hōkūleʻa’s Maunalua Bay Visit
Dockside canoe tours continue at Hawaiʻi Kai Towne Center until May 23 -
Worldwide Voyage | Panina Hoʻomaikaʻi
Hōkūleʻa returns to the waters of Kualoa-Hakipuʻu to celebrate the spiritual closing of the Worldwide Voyage. -
Mālama Honua Summit | Inspirational Speakers Series: Part 1
A gathering of leaders from throughout the Pacific discuss the legacy and future of voyaging traditions at the Mālama Honua Summit. -
Crew Blog: Believing isn’t necessarily Seeing
With near 100% cloud cover the past few nights, vigilant crew members must utilize all of their senses, "seeking into the darkness for what cannot be seen." -
Hōkūleʻa Update| May 22, 2017
The crew caught a large ahi and they made sure none of it went to waste! -
Hōkūle‘a Received and Celebrated in Mahina
Hōkūle‘a, Hikianalia, and their crews were welcomed by the Mahina community in Tahiti. -
Hōkūleʻa Nav Report & Photos Mar 20, 2017
Captain Bruce Blankenfeld is with us for today's navigation update -
Hōkūleʻa Mo‘olelo: The Pwo Ceremony
Exactly ten years ago, on March 17th, 2007, Pius Mau Piailug held a ceremony to initiate 16 of his students as Pwo - Master Navigators - perpetuating the ancient art of wayfinding. -
Eō Nāmāhoe!
The Kauaʻi community and voyagers throughout the Pacific celebrate Nāmāhoe's historic birth. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | July 23, 2016
The Worldwide Voyage arrives in Mt. Desert, Maine. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | July 2, 2016
The Worldwide Voyage reaches Woods Hole, Massachusetts. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | New York Liberty Challenge
Worldwide Voyage crewmembers participate in the annual canoe regatta along the shores of New York City. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | Hōkūleʻa Arrives in Historic Yorktown, Virginia
Hundreds gather to welcome Hōkūleʻa and her crew to the historic area. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | Charleston Community Outreach
Mahalo Charleston for welcoming us to your community! -
Hōkūleʻa Update | April 14, 2016 - Charleston, SC Arrival
Hōkūleʻa arrives in South Carolina to participate in the Charleston Outdoor Festival. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | Fernando de Noronha Sighted
After voyaging more than 4,000 nautical miles, Hōkūleʻa sights the island of Fernando de Noronha. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | Exploring St. Helena
The Hōkūleʻa crew spends a few days exploring the remote island of St. Helena. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | January 1, 2016
Mahalo Hōkūleʻa for 40 years of aloha, we all look forward to a happy new year sailing with you carrying the pride of Hawaii and the Hawaiian people around the world. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | December 30, 2015
Last night, a cold fog rolled in on us, the wind slowly died to 3-4 mph, and the ocean turned silver gray - it was like sailing in a cloud. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | December 29, 2015
Day 4 (December 27) was a good sailing day for both Hōkūleʻa and Gershon II. We are averaging about 7 knots on 15-20 mph SSE winds and small seas of 4 feet, with clear skies all day. It was a great day to fine-tune our steering skills. -
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Hōkūleʻa Update | 10 Days in Cape Town
Master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld reports on Hōkūleʻa's dry dock progress in Cape Town, South Africa. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | September 14, 2015
Hōkūleʻa successfully arrives in Mauritius, a 3,000+ mile journey across the Indian Ocean. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | September 10, 2015
Hōkūleʻa sights the island of Rodrigues, a way point en route to Mauritius. -
Hōkūleʻa Navigation Update | September 6, 2015
Hōkūleʻa captain and master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld reports on sailing and weather conditions en route to Mauritius. -
Navigation Update | August 31, 2015
Master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld reports on weather and sailing conditions from Hōkūleʻa en route to Mauritius. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | August 28, 2015
Master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld describes the course line and weather conditions for the 2,300 mile journey to Mauritius. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | August 19, 2015: Christmas Island Sighted
Hōkūleʻa sights Christmas Island after sailing more than 550 miles in the Indian Ocean using non-instrument navigation. -
Navigation Update | Course Line to Christmas Island
Master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld explains the course line used to sight Christmas Island. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | August 19, 2015
Hōkūleʻa and her crew are guided by signs from nature. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | August 17, 2015
Master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld reports on sailing conditions in the Indian Ocean. -
Hōkūleʻa Update | August 15, 2015
The weather here in Bali, Indonesia has been steady for some time and Captain Bruce Read more -
Hōkūleʻa Update | May 17, 2015
Crewmembers send their aloha as Hōkūleʻa leaves Coffs Harbor for Sydney. -
Getting Ready to Go
In addition to the navigator and apprentice navigators… each of the other crewmembers carry specific roles on board – there is a captain, watch captains, a safety officer, quarter master and cook just to name a few – all of whom have been training long and hard for this voyage. -
Crew Blog | Pomai Bertelmann: We are Led by a Great Man
In many ways he is the kaula - the rope that binds, the man who possesses many intuitive skills. He is one of a few who can harness the energies of the ocean, land, and sky and center them all on the deck of the canoe. -
Education Outreach - Tongatapu
You can see and you especially feel that we recognize and they recognize that the canoe is a common strand between people. -
Update | October 19, 2014
Last night at sunset, with a completely socked in horizon (all cloudy), crews still had Read more -
Hangout | Bruce Blankenfeld & Miki Tomita: Punahou School Kindergarten Class
Hōkūleʻa master navigator Bruce Blankenfeld talks with kindergarten students at Punahou School. -
Ask the Crew | Bruce Blankenfeld: Do the two waʻa stay in sight of each other?
Joanne from the Bishop Museum asks how Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia find each other after being separated at sea. -
Ask the Crew | Bruce Blankenfeld: What changes have been made to Hōkūleʻa for the voyage?
Easton from Waimea Middle School, Kamuela, asks how Hōkūlʻea has been modified for the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
