Today the crew got to tour Stradbroke Island with some of the native elders as our guides. We started by visiting Brown Lake or Burimma, which is very sacred to Quadamooka people. The elder Evelyn spoke to the crew about the struggle and survival of her people, which was a very familiar tale. Later we had lunch at the North point of the island, commonly know as The Point, which had very beautiful beaches and wild kangaroo roaming around. After that, we went to Dunwich State School where the crew gave a short presentation to the students and teachers followed by a question and answer session with Captain Bruce Blankenfeld. The school was then invited to visit and explore Hōkūleʻa. A small collective of crew also went to the Yulu-Burri-Ba Health Center, which is dedicated to native health. The day ended with a gorgeous sunset, which in turn gave birth to a chilly evening, currently around 52° Fahrenheit. The crew is happy and excited for this Australian adventure.
Hōkūleʻa towing to Minjerribah.Pelican at low tide in Minjerribah.Hōkūleʻa arrived in Minjerribah at low tide.Hōkūleʻa arriving in Minjerribah.Hōkūleʻa arriving in Minjerribah with several Quandamooka youth on board in yellow vests.Hōkūleʻa tied up at The Little Ship Club.Crew offering protocol to the Quandamooka people of Minjerribah.Locals welcoming crew on land.Patrick and Randall offering a welcome dance for crew and canoe.Crew participated in a smoking ceremony as an act of welcome and cleansing.Crew participated in a smoking ceremony as an act of welcome and cleansing.Crew participated in a smoking ceremony as an act of welcome and cleansing.Crew participated in a smoking ceremony as an act of welcome and cleansing.Crew participated in a smoking ceremony as an act of welcome and cleansing.Quandamooka Elder, Aunty Ev, gave a welcome speech to crew.Crew talk story with Quandamooka after welcome ceremony.ʻAnakala Maui with Hōkūpaʻa and ʻImiloa at Minjerribah.Hye Jung with cutout Stanley at Minjerribah.Sunset on MInjerribah.Moani explains how the tricing lines work to a guest Quandamooka ranger.A young ranger coils up the sheet line.Tomiko checks the sail.Kawika, Haunani, and Moani let the guests steer while posing for the picture.Keala and Quandamooka ranger get ready to pull up the sail.Darren enjoys his time saling with the Hokulea crew.Irish and ranger coil up the lines.Two Quandamooka Youth Rangers sail to their home island of MinjerribaKamaki observes the harbor and Hokulea gets closer to the dock.Keala stays attent awaiting docking.Captain Bruce talks to the the rangers about Hokulea history.Visiting a museum on Stradbroke Island.Brown Lake is a sacred space for the Quandamooka.Elder Evelyn blesses the crew by flicking some of the water from Brown Lake on the Hokulea crew.Tomiko touches the sacred waters of Brown Lake.Heidi looks out at the North point of the island.Kawika greets the kids of Dunwich State School.An Australian student picks up on a Hawaiian hand greeting very quickly.Captain Bruce explains a chart map of the region of Australia that the crew is in and how they came to cross over from Cleveland to Stradbrook Is.Bruce goes over the intended sail plan around the world using the class globe.One of the local wildlife, the famous Australian kangaroo.Kangaroo hop.Kangaroo chew.Hand-truck push-carts!Flying FoxesLocal KoalaPatrons watch and participate in open canoe tour.Docked in Dunwich.Moani and some youth.Ready on the tricing!Huki! Huki! Huki!
Written by ʻĀina Paikai
