Aloha,
Today we had a most interesting and moving event at the Waikele Country Club, a Joint Meeting of the North Central Rotary Clubs. The outstanding guest speakers were members of Hawaii's own Polynesian Voyaging Society. The topic was their trip around the world on the Hawaiian Voyaging Canoes HOKULE'A and HIKI'ANALIA, using only the stars, birds, ocean and methods that our Hawaiian ancestors used. They were gone over 3 years, traveled thousands of miles in all sorts of conditions and changed crews about every 30 days.
This amazing feat took them to the south pacific islands,Tahiti, Australia,Bali, New Zealand, Galapagos, Africa, the east coast of the USA, through the Panama Canal, just to name a few. What was so heartwarming about this journey is that they visited the First Nation People, and indigenous tribes all along the way, and shared gifts, song, dance food and information on sustainability and culture. they educated and were educated, as depicted in a colorful 30 minutes video which mapped their trip.
We witnessed them catching fish from the ocean and enjoying a "five star meal". The challenges, such as avoiding an area because of pirates, but instead, encountering foul weather and high seas and mean currents. The exchange of song, dance, gifts all in colorful native garb brought home the joy of knowing "we are all one".
These educational and ambassadorial expeditions are funded primarily through donations and we are proud to say that the main sponsor is HAWAIIAN AIRLINES, transporting people, and supplies, as needed. It is truely a
group effort of PEACE abd GOOD WILL.
Linda C.