September 13, 2023 | Leg 7, Day 12.
Eureka, California.

The day after arrival, the Wiyot tribes-hired forester, Zack, was gracious enough to lead a band of us on a caravan road trip an hour north to the Prairie Creek Redwood Forest. The crew was able to witness the majesty of this national park almost immediately, as a pack of male elk lounged in the thicket right alongside the entranceʻs roadway. They were unbothered by the many folk taking their pictures, including the crew. Once stepping into the Redwood forest, it was tranquil and serene, as forests often are, and we were all fascinated with the 2,000 year old trees that towered above.

Nature always has a way of humbling us humans. The crew of Hōkūleʻa knows this well as we travel further south on the West Coast waterways toward San Francisco. It was a nice treat to feel the mana of Mother Earth while on land for a few days. Mahalo to the Wiyot tribe and the Eureka community for hosting us so generously.

– ʻĀina Paikai