Apr. 13, 2016
Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth
After navigating through the interior waterways of Florida, Hōkūleʻa made a scheduled stop in Titusville, FL where crewmembers were able to connect ocean wayfinding with space exploration.
The crew visited Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center where Polynesian Voyaging Society president and pwo navigator Nainoa Thompson took the opportunity to speak to the NASA team on Hawaiʻi-born NASA astronaut Lacy Veach's contribution to space voyaging, and how Veach inspired the canoe's Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
"Coming to NASA for me has been an amazing celebration," Thompson expressed during a speech to a crowd of about 160 people that included both Hōkūleʻa and NASA crew. "I made a promise to Lacy back in '95 when we lost him, that we're going to go. It took us 22 years from the idea to actually leave, to get prepared to do something as dangerous as what we're doing now. Lacy is our navigator on this voyage, and for that, this is the most important two days for me."
The crew honored Veach along with Ellison Onizuka, another Hawaii-born astronaut for their extraordinary contributions to space voyaging, in an intimate ceremony onboard the canoe. Hōkūleʻa crewmembers conducted a star compass activity with local students, and pwo navigator Bruce Blankenfeld led a navigation presentation for the public visiting the center. Activities also included a tour of the NASA headquarters: Hōkūleʻa crewmembers visited the facilities where astronauts would get suited up before their flights, NASA's vehicle assembly building and the launch control center.
The voyage is now onto leg 19 of their journey. KS Executive Strategy Consultant Dr. Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni wrote a blog post reflecting on the many incredible experiences of leg 18—from historical firsts to meaningful encounters—that demonstrate the powerful impact of this voyage.
“It has truly been a privilege and honor for all of us to welcome Florida keiki, makua, and kupuna with open arms as they share tears, joy, and wonder stepping aboard the catwalk. For those getting to know the canoe for the first time, the message of Mālama Honua hit a strong chord, given the state of the waterways and fish environments in the area,” wrote Kanaʻiaupuni.
Read the full post on hokulea.com.
Since departing Titusville on April 8, Hōkūleʻa has been traveling north on the Intracoastal Waterway making overnight stops at Palm Coast and St. Augustine. This week, she entered the state of Georgia for the first time and docked in Brunswick with an overnight stay in Fort McAllister, before departing to continue the voyage up the East Coast. The next stop will be in Charleston as the Hōkūleʻa and crew are scheduled to be part of the Charleston Outdoor Festival in South Carolina on April 15. See the rest of the East Coast schedule.
During the voyage up the Intracoastal Waterway, Hokulea has sailed under several bridges and the crew has spotted various kinds of wildlife including manatees, pelicans, dolphins and flamingoes.
For more information about the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the Worldwide Voyage, visit www.hokulea.com or find the society on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google+. To see more Wa‘a Wednesday stories and much more about the Mālama Honua Voyage, go to the KS Online Mālama Honua page.
Hōkūleʻa crewmembers visited Florida’s NASA Kennedy Space Center
Hōkūleʻa crewmembers held a ceremony on the legendary voyaging canoe to honor the memory and contributions to space exploration made by Hawaii-born NASA astronauts Lacy Veach and Ellison Onizuka.
Hōkūleʻa has made its way through Georgia on the way to South Carolina.
Hōkūleʻa navigates the Intracoastal waters of the East Coast of the United States of America.
KS senior program manager Mark Ellis is one of the crewmembers on leg 19 of the Mālama Honua voyage.