The ceremonies scheduled for the Iosepa voyaging canoe's return were to begin at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, May 29, but 9:00 a.m. rolled around and the canoe was nowhere in sight. (Pictured: a growing crowd awaits the Iosepa's docking)
Leilani Miller, BYU–Hawaii alumna, reported that the ship was still an hour away. The calm air and low tides that morning caused for a late start and a slower journey but the Iosepa was able to come into Laie bay with it's sails up.
Several VIP guests were aboard the Iosepa from Kahana Bay to Hukilau Beach, including BYU–Hawaii's President Steven C. Wheelwright and Vice President Max L. Checketts. Hawaii Reserves Inc. President, Eric Beaver, and Polynesian Cultural Center's Vice President of Human Resources, John Muaina, and Hawaiian village manager, Raymond Mokiao, also had the honor of riding Iosepa.
As Laie community members greeted each other with hugs, kisses and alohas, the crowd slowly gathered in under the shade of trees and tents to talk story during the wait for Iosepa.
Polynesian Cultural Center senior manager and Hawaiian cultural expert, Cy Bridges, said, "There is a lot of history here. A lot of families have been here for generations."
Uncle Ahi Logan said that he comes from one of the original 119 families who lived in Laie when King Kamehameha conquered and united the Hawaiian Kingdom. He said, "We need to be more supportive of the BYU–Hawaii crowd. The way to do that is to have activities together. The kupuna [elders] are making it a point to work more often with the BYU–Hawaii community."
Iosepa crew members enjoy the sunset after a long day of service at Kalaupapa
Laie community member, Aunty Ipolani Thompson, announced next month's Laie Days celebration and said that it will be a time for everyone, including those returning for the summer, to gather together as a community.
Aunty May Au, Uncle David and Aunty Ulu Keawe Beirne told how they were at Kahana Bay as greeters for the Iosepa and its crew the night before. Along with Kahana community members, they delivered the crew's dinner, offering food donated by valley residents, including kalua turkey, fruit, rice and haupia.
Aunty Gladys Pualoa-Ahuna said that this gathering, this voyage of the Iosepa, was a combination of a lot of work. She spoke of the significance of the canoe, remarking that it is a means for Hawaiian traditions to be continued. She said it is one of the best tools for teaching the younger generations about Hawaiian culture and how people traveled from island to island. "What greater lesson can there be than going out on the canoe? It's a floating classroom," she said.
With a quiver in her voice and a tear welling in her eye, Aunty Gladys continued, "It's so beautiful to see [the Iosepa] on the horizon. For me, it represents our kupuna, our ancestors. This wa'a [or canoe] was named after Joseph F. Smith who started the Church on Maui and brought the people to Laie. When I see the boat, I think of George Q. Cannon, Jonathan Napela, [William] Uaua, and [K. H.] Kaleohano, who were some of the first members and leaders of the Church in the islands. I think of our ancestors who raised taro and lived on fish from the bay to survive."
Therese Cummings sang from the shore along with her Hula Halau O Kekela Kupuna and students from Na Kamalei School. She said, "I get involved with a lot of the community. This is a beautiful thing for Hawaii. If the next generation doesn't learn from the ones before, the knowledge is lost."
Aunty Emma Ernestburg said, "It's wonderful, just wonderful, to be here and see Iosepa come in." Emma has worked with the Boy Scouts, arranging with Uncle Bill Wallace for the Scouts to take tours of Iosepa.
Finally, the ship was in (Pictured right: crew members steer Iosepa to Moloka'i). Conch shells were blown from shore and return signals came from Iosepa. Kale Kaui, BYU–Hawaii's Hawaiian Club President, chanted to welcome the returning seafarers back to shore. Kaui was asked to chant after he got to the event, while everyone was waiting for Iosepa to arrive. He said, "I originally came to Iosepa's homecoming to support the cause and represent the Hawaiian Club. I came in my surf shorts and slippahs," he said, "I felt inadequate and a bit out of place, but I did [the chants] out of respect for Uncle Cy and Aunty Kela."
"First, I did 'Oli Aloha,' a common traditional chant of welcome given when two people haven't seen each other for a while. I then went into 'Hiki Mai,' a chant written by Uncle Cy Bridges, which speaks of the flowers, [representing] students or children, of Laie coming forth in the dawning of a new day. It symbolizes our receiving of enlightenment here at BYU–Hawaii. I created the last part of the chant for the crew as they came ashore, as a personal touch, to share a part of my personal aloha with them," said Kaui.
Once the crew reached shore and the crowd was seated, the presentation began with Director of the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Studies, Hiagi M. Wesley, presiding. Performers, representing the different islands from the Polynesian Cultural Center, offered dances, songs, and chants. Among the cultures represented were Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, Aotearoa, and Samoa. Children, Na Kamalei students from Punaluu, presented the voyagers with leis. Students from Kahuku High School presented their yearbook page dedicated to Uncle Bill Wallace.
Uncle Cy chanted and spoke of the Iosepa as a vessel for first-hand experience and learning, a classroom on the water. President Wheelwright gave a big, "Mahalo," to all those participating in the program and the event closed with a song by the community kupuna, a benediction and, of course, a feast provided for attendees by BYU–Hawaii Food Services.
President Wheelwright (pictured above right with group, post-Iosepa) said that the opportunity to ride on Iosepa was an exciting highlight of his presidency thus far. "I had the great privilege to spend a few hours sailing with the captains and the crew and other guests [of Iosepa], and then welcomed the Iosepa to its home port. My father loved sailing and had a sailboat when I was a young man. I learned to love sailing. The Iosepa brought back all those memories. Plus, the many wonderful events that surrounded the preparations, the ohana participation, the sailing, and the safe return of those involved, made [this] an extra special event," said President Wheelwright.
Mike "Kekoa" Bay, one of the students on the Iosepa, said, "Our voyage was one of the best learning opportunities I've had at BYU–Hawaii. Most of the things we learned were life lessons applied while we sailed, and while we worked to serve the people we visited in Moloka'i. We had such a great time getting to know and serve the people in Kaunakakai, and we were able to enjoy our time at Kalaupapa. These experiences can never be explained in words to people, but the memories and the impact they had in our lives will be lasting. It was hard to return to Laie, and even harder to take Iosepa out of the water, but the mission of Iosepa was accomplished for this voyage. I just hope and pray that many other people may have the opportunity to serve on future voyages."
Vice President Muaina (at right with President Wheelwright, Vice President Checketts, and Iosepa crew) said, "I was most impressed with the detailed understanding of the operation of Iosepa by students of the Hawaiian Studies program. They understood their area of responsibility and assumed their role. Under the leadership of their Captain and co-captain, the students of Iosepa responded graciously and respectfully. They kept a keen eye to detail in the mastering of the canoe; their youthfulness took second place to their enthusiasm, which was like that of ancient mariners of Polynesia.
"…To be at the whim of nature, utilizing the winds and currents for a short time, gave me an appreciation for the modern conveniences which we are all blessed with [and] appreciation for the ancients who gave so much to travel the vast oceans of the Pacific to provide commerce amongst themselves and…to provide for their loved ones. It is a journey of skill and knowledge; however, I believe faith was required. I believe all the students manifested to each of us [that they] acknowledged the Creator of All in arriving safely," Muaina said.
--Photos courtesy of Monique Saenz & Ian Nitta