by Jonathan Salvador | Nov 19, 2025 | Crew Reflection
We were honored to have had the privilege to be welcomed at Mangahāwea. Even from a mile out, there was an indescribable aura surrounding this sacred place as Motorua grew larger with the closing distance. As we approached, we saw our Māori ʻohana waiting for us along...
by Jonathan Salvador | Jul 15, 2025 | Crew Reflection
In the Kumulipo, an ancient Hawaiian chant of creation, life begins in the depths of Pō, emerging first as coral, seaweed, and creatures of the ocean. Modern science tells us that over 3.4 billion years ago, photosynthetic microbes (ancestors of early phytoplankton)...
by Jonathan Salvador | Jul 12, 2025 | Crew Reflection
The night before our departure to Mo’orea, a quiet sense of heaviness settled over the crew and the community as we gathered for a final dinner in Mataiea. In just a short time, we had been embraced, cared for, and made to feel like family by our new ʻohana. The...
by Jonathan Salvador | Jul 9, 2025 | Crew Reflection
Ia orana! It is Wednesday, July 9th. I am on the deck of the Hōkūleʻa, sitting on a black pelican case typing on the keyboard, searching for the words to describe the experience we have had in Mataiea over the past few days. We never could have anticipated the...
by Jonathan Salvador | Jul 5, 2025 | Crew Reflection
As soon as we arrived in Papeʻete and made it to where Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia were docked, we were greeted by Faʻafaite crew members with, “Welcome home.” I didn’t think much of it at the time, I just knew that this was a very special time to be in Tahiti – the...
by Jonathan Salvador | Jun 23, 2025 | Crew Reflection
It was just before sunset, we received a radio call: “Hikianalia… Hikianalia… this is Faʻafaite.” All of our eyes lit up with excitement as we tuned in. Captain Archie Kalepa, with a big smile, responded: “Aloha Faʻafaite, this is...