
CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Kekaimalu Lee
Crew Profile: Kekaimalu Lee

PVS Member Since 2013
HOMETOWN:
Mililani, Hawaii
PRIMARY DUTY:
Cultural Protocol
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fisherman, sail repair, and navigation student
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
2017 Hawaiʻi Homecoming, Leg 24: New York to Virginia, Hikianalia Leg 11: Tahiti to Hawaiʻi, Leg 5: Samoa to Aotearoa
Kekaimalu Lee is originally from Mililani Oahu. Kekaimalu graduated in May 2014 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with degrees in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language. At 23 years old, he plans to attend graduate school and teach voyaging in the UH system.
Kekaimalu is inspired by veteran crew mates and feels that the legacy of the canoe was her first voyage in 1976. He is inspired that he gets to sail with some of those very first crew members who took her down to Tahiti in 1976. He looks forward to hearing their stories and reliving that legacy with them.
Kekaimalu was part of the Malama Hawaii statewide sail in 2013, in preparation for Malama Honua.
To him Hōkūleʻa represents a symbol of the Hawaiian people and culture. He thinks she also represents the catalyst that sparked the rebirth of Hawaiian culture. Kekaimalu is honored to be a part of this movement and hopes to see it continued in the future generations of Hawaiians.
While out to sea, Kekaimalu will miss meat the most, but when he comes back he will miss the sunrises and sunsets the most.
Kekaimalu is inspired by veteran crew mates and feels that the legacy of the canoe was her first voyage in 1976. He is inspired that he gets to sail with some of those very first crew members who took her down to Tahiti in 1976. He looks forward to hearing their stories and reliving that legacy with them.
Kekaimalu was part of the Malama Hawaii statewide sail in 2013, in preparation for Malama Honua.
To him Hōkūleʻa represents a symbol of the Hawaiian people and culture. He thinks she also represents the catalyst that sparked the rebirth of Hawaiian culture. Kekaimalu is honored to be a part of this movement and hopes to see it continued in the future generations of Hawaiians.
While out to sea, Kekaimalu will miss meat the most, but when he comes back he will miss the sunrises and sunsets the most.
Kekaimalu Lee: Related Posts
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Crew Blog| Kekai Lee: I Belong to the Sea
Apprentice Navigator Kekaimalu Lee describes the challenges of navigating so far on this leg, and how advice from his mentors have helped him persevere. -
Young Navigators Aboard Hikianalia Sight Land
A New Generation of Navigators Pulls Hawai‘i from the Sea -
Hikianalia Update | May 27, 2015
Kekaimalu Lee reports on navigation and sailing conditions on board Hikianalia en route to Hawaiʻi. -
Update | Hokianga Learning Journey
Crewmembers visit Tane Mahuta, a 2,000 year old kauri tree in Aotearoa. -
Blog | Kekaimalu Lee: Ka Ho'omākaukau ʻAna
I ka moana no ka iʻa, liuliu ʻia na pono lawaiʻa. While the fish is still in the sea, get your gear ready. Be prepared. -
A Lure of the Past
It's hard to just go out and look at the beauty of the islands and look at the beauty of the culture. You need to participate.