August 16, 2023 | Leg 6, Day 9.
Salt Spring Island.

Crew call for the Kolea’s crew was at 8:00 this morning to head down to Victoria to scout the different conditions along the way. Moani was at the helm with Kapena Bruce, Tom, Shoko, and I accompanying. I brought along the camera with hopes of capturing some good footage or a picture or two of the marine mammals native to the area: otters, porpoises, orcas, grey whales, etc. Unfortunately, the pair of porpoises we saw off our port side proved shy subjects and disappeared as soon as we saw them. We were able to make it south to Victoria in good time, passing Sydney in seemingly a blink of an eye. On the return journey we made sure to swing by Fulford harbor to witness the famous church and the mountain that reminds the Rolands of Diamond Head. The similarities immediately resonated with me and with the heat wave that’s hitting the area it really did remind me of home.

After our return, the crew participated in small tasks such as laundry and organization. The head of the marina, Ian, was kind enough to lend us the use of his laundry facilities for free. He’s been a fan of Hokuleʻa since the maiden voyage and we had a long discussion of its history. He was also kind enough to gift us a white cedar paddle and plank that he had carved and been gifted from the Haida Gwaii while stationed there as a Coast Guard Medic. The aloha of the locals here is incredibly heartwarming.

Afterwards, crew dinner was at 7pm. We took the opportunity to spin the waʻa and then sat down to eat and talk about the history of migration across the pacific. All in all a very full day that seemed to fly by. Fair winds and following seas everyone, a hui hou.

-Hulukoa Nunokawa