Crew Profile

Joey Mallott

Hometown

Yakutat, Alaska

Voyage(s)

Moananuiākea Voyage – Leg 2: Yakutat to Juneau

Bio

Joey is a General Contractor and CEO of Mallott’s Construction LTD. “My Tlingit name is Unda (do not know if this is the correct spelling) My Mother, Toni Mallott is Koyukon Athabaskan from Rampart and she was adopted into the Tsaagweid’i Clan of Kake by the late Tlingit leader Clarence Jackson. My father was Byron Mallott and was a clan leader of the Kwaashk’iKwaan of Yakutat.ʻ”

Byron led the effort that enabled the donation of Spruce logs for the hulls of the voyaging canoe Hawaiʻiloa in the early 90ʻs. When Hawaiʻiloa voyaged in Joey’s home waters of Southeast Alaska to honor the generosity of Alaska Natives, he was able to join crew on board. That lead to about 30 years of involvement with Hōkūleʻa, first four-years later on the voyage from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi four years, and on the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage in Aotearoa and from Rapa Nui to Tahiti.

“Hōkūleʻa is an inspiring, unifying, and a beautiful teacher of indigenous values, hopes, and dreams,” says Joey. “Through her voyages others feel her mana” and “their connection to the ocean.” He feels fortunate to now be a part of the Moananuiākea Voyage, saying “The Pacific Ocean is the largest feature on earth and is the conduit/connection of all” its people. “A voyage of this magnitude” hopefully can amplify the voices of indigenous people and bring attention to what they know well - the importance of keeping the Pacific healthy.

As a father of “three wonderful boys,” Joey says, when out at sea, “I crave to always make it home to them.” “When back home I miss the beautiful sunrises and sunsets of ocean life, the camaraderie of the crew, and being out of touch from the cellphone.”