Hometown
Papakolea, Honolulu, HI
Voyage(s)
Moananuiākea Voyage – Leg 15 | Hikianalia: Rarotonga to Aotearoa
Bio
It was off Oʻahu back in 2001 when Kekaulike first sailed on a waʻa kaulua. That was from Koʻolina to Haleʻiwa. He has since sailed on Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia several times and says he looks forward to the Moananuiākea Voyage “to travel the ancestral routes of Polynesian forebears, to play a small part in the perpetuation of a revived cultural practice that was once lost to time, and to motivate a younger generation to discover, connect and explore through voyaging.”
He says “I am inspired by Moananuiākeaʻs sheer audacity to connect the largest and most influential nation on the planet through science and indigenous wisdom to promote a healthier ocean. It’s a monumental task worthy of our attention and support.”
To Kekaulike, “Hōkūleʻa is a symbol of pride and hope, a connection to our heritage and a platform to shape our future. She is the needle that sews together a lei of peoples and nations throughout the Pacific and the world.”
When voyaging, Kekaulike says he misses “my ʻohana back home, the hustle and bustle of town.” But when he is back in his everyday life, what he misses about being on the waʻa is “my ʻohana at sea,” and “the solitude and perspective of being in the middle of the ocean.”
He says “I am inspired by Moananuiākeaʻs sheer audacity to connect the largest and most influential nation on the planet through science and indigenous wisdom to promote a healthier ocean. It’s a monumental task worthy of our attention and support.”
To Kekaulike, “Hōkūleʻa is a symbol of pride and hope, a connection to our heritage and a platform to shape our future. She is the needle that sews together a lei of peoples and nations throughout the Pacific and the world.”
When voyaging, Kekaulike says he misses “my ʻohana back home, the hustle and bustle of town.” But when he is back in his everyday life, what he misses about being on the waʻa is “my ʻohana at sea,” and “the solitude and perspective of being in the middle of the ocean.”