Answering Questions We've Received

Mahalo nui loa iā kākou,

The questions youʻve been sending are great. Weʻll try to answer them all in a timely fashion. Although typing on the canoe can be challenging. Here goes…

Do you see evidence of pollution in the open ocean?
We have not seen signs of pollution in the open waters.  It is my understanding that most of the ghost nets, plastics, and other debris around Hawai‘i congregates north of the main eight Hawaiian islands due to the North Pacific Gyre. When we voyaged to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2004, we saw TONS of pollution, but down here to the south, we haven't seen any yet.   We'll let you know what we see on the atoll when we get to Palmyra.

What temperatures are you dealing with out there over night?
We don't have a thermometer on board so don't know the temperature, but it IS cold at night.  The north wind over the ocean's waters has a real chilling effect.  Most of us are okay with board shorts, but need three layers above the waist at night - a light shirt under a fleece pullover and a light rainjacket is the most common attire at night.

Has any one been seasick?
Three crew have been seasick, one crew has thrown up three times.  Feeling better with increased consumption of red vines and garlic.

How many more days are you expecting before getting to Palmyra?
Captain Bruce estimates five more days till we reach Palmyra.

Are you doing any experiments for schools on board?
A) Kama Hele is sending GPS points for Wai‘anae High School & Hālau Kumanaʻs geometry classes to engage in navigation excercises.
B)  Bird wathcing in partnership with US Fish and Wildlife: census of bird populations on Pamyra, over a specific area.  Interested in species and population density.
C)  Our watch captain Kaina is testing the effects towards general personal health of consuming one coconut a day.  A request from a school group.
D) Keeping a log of seabirds for general interest.

Do you get tired of being so close to one another all the time?
Only at moonrise does the crew get a little fiesty with one another (joke).  All 12 crew are getting along very well.  Yesterday and today there were a series of massage lines between crew to help relax sore muscles.  Everyone helps each other and the cooking and dishwashing is always a team effort.  In past voyages, there has often been one selected/designated cook.  For this voyage we are sharing this duty and this may be a key ingrediant for crew bonding.  Also, a component of the crew selection proccess accounts for a crew members ability to get along.

What is the water like so far away from land?
The open ocean has a beautiful dark blue color that appears to be bottomless.  There are large rolling swells from the northwest, north, and east all at the same time.

What do you miss most?
Everyone but one crew member misses their family.

Does traveling on Hōkūle‘a change how you look at things?
Sailing Hōkūle‘a changes how we look at the world.  Details to come later.

Hōkūle‘a this morning at sunrise. Photo Credit: Mike Taylor, First Mate Kama Hele