Kawika Kapahulehua
Encyclopedia
Elia Kawika David Ku'ualoha Kapahulehua (July 13, 1930 – May 17, 2007) was a Hawaii
an sailor who was the first to captain an ocean-voyaging canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti in modern times.
Kapahulehua was born on Ni'ihau, in 1930 and picked up the name "Kawika" as a young adult crewing catamaran
s on Waikiki Beach.
The famed 1976 voyage of the Hokule'a
was beset with problems, but ultimately successful. The goal was to see if a 62-foot-long, two-masted canoe that approximated ancient canoes could be sailed without navigational equipment on the 2250 nautical miles (4,167 km) journey. While navigator Mau Piailug
guided the ship, Kapahulehua had to deal with 6 of 17 crew members who quit their duties at sea.
A 1978 attempt in which he did not participate capsized after six hours and led to the death of surfer Eddie Aikau
.
In later life, he taught the Hawaiian language
, wrote vocabulary books, and officiated at traditional Hawaiian rites. Kapahulehua died in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an sailor who was the first to captain an ocean-voyaging canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti in modern times.
Kapahulehua was born on Ni'ihau, in 1930 and picked up the name "Kawika" as a young adult crewing catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
s on Waikiki Beach.
The famed 1976 voyage of the Hokule'a
Hokulea
Hōkūlea is a performance-accurate full-scale replica of a waa kaulua, a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe. Launched on 8 March 1975 by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, she is best known for her 1976 Hawaii to Tahiti voyage performed with Polynesian navigation techniques, without modern...
was beset with problems, but ultimately successful. The goal was to see if a 62-foot-long, two-masted canoe that approximated ancient canoes could be sailed without navigational equipment on the 2250 nautical miles (4,167 km) journey. While navigator Mau Piailug
Mau Piailug
Pius "Mau" Piailug was a Micronesian navigator from the Carolinian island of Satawal, best known as a teacher of traditional, non-instrument wayfinding methods for deep-sea voyaging...
guided the ship, Kapahulehua had to deal with 6 of 17 crew members who quit their duties at sea.
A 1978 attempt in which he did not participate capsized after six hours and led to the death of surfer Eddie Aikau
Eddie Aikau
Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau was a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. The words Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikaus full name means feeding parent, an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent, in the Hawaiian language...
.
In later life, he taught the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, wrote vocabulary books, and officiated at traditional Hawaiian rites. Kapahulehua died in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.