Crew Profile

Gary Yuen

Hometown

Kailua, Oʻahu

Voyage(s)

Moananuiākea Voyage – Leg 4: Ketchikan to Prince Rupert, Moananuiākea Voyage – Leg 6: Vancouver to Seattle

Bio

Gary Yuen is among our veteran voyagers having first sailed on Hōkūleʻa more than 35 years ago when Hōkūleʻa returned in 1987 from the Voyage of Rediscovery through Polynesia to Aotearoa. Gary has voyaged many, many times since then, so itʻs no surprise that, when asked what Hōkūleʻa means to him, he simply replied, “life.” His hope is to see Hōkūleʻa live on through the youth growing and learning with her, and eventually taking on leadership roles.

Gary is retired and “enjoying life” now; hopefully that means he has more time to voyage on Moananuiākea, where he hopes “to see the progress of the younger people coming up”. Gary is known among crew to be an outstanding cook on board; whoever shares the deck with him knows theyʻll have his delicious meals to look forward to.

When voyaging, Gary aims to “absorb the whole adventure” of being at sea. And when heʻs back on land, he yearns “to be out there in the open.”