1 |
Aloha! I don’t want to be a bother, but this is a surfer’s beach. You should dock your ship in the harbor. It’s just on the other side of the bay. |
2 |
Hello again, captain! Are you admiring our ship? We are sailing on Hokulea to Tahiti just a few days from now. We are still looking for a few crew members. Interested? |
3 |
Hokulea is a traditional Polynesian sailing boat. I bet you didn’t sail on such a vessel before. We can take you for a short fishing trip before our voyage, so you get a feel for it. |
4 |
This wooden double-hulled canoe called waʻa kaulua was built for the Polynesian Navigation Society. They are exploring the traditional navigation methods used in Polynesia. |
5 |
We will be trying to prove the theory that people from Asia settled in Polynesia using ships like these to cross the Pacific. There will be no motor. We will use just sails and a paddle for steering. |
6 |
I was chosen among the crew members for the first experimental voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti. Never before was a woman picked for such a journey. It’s an honor. |
7 |
We will be using no instruments for navigation. Just the stars will be our guide. We must have enough food to last a long voyage should we travel the Pacific for a long time. |
8 |
This voyage will be an adventure like none I have ever experienced. We are taking only things that our ancestors used. We can take a few harpoons to catch fresh fish, but no fridge is allowed. |
9 |
I am pretty good at fishing. Give me a fishing pole and half a day, and we won’t starve for a week. However, fishing on the open sea is a bit different. But I believe we will do fine. |
10 |
So I heard you will be joining us on the voyage tomorrow. We also recruited my friend Penny. We know each other from surfing. Don’t worry, we are fine sailors too. |
11 |
As I said, the Hokulea doesn’t have any motor. However, we will be using oil for lamps as we don’t have any electricity either. |
12 |
We are almost done boarding. The animals are here as well. I didn’t mention it? A dog and a pig are going with us. Finish your last shipment and get ready too. We are setting sail in an hour. |
13 |
Mau, our navigator, needs help with the steering paddle. He doesn’t speak English very well, but you are an experienced captain. I am sure you will figure out how to steer the boat. |
14 |
Mau is our specialist in the traditional navigation of the Polynesian people. There are just a few like him left, and he was the only one willing to share his knowledge for a price, of course. |
15 |
I am getting hungry. Where did we stash the fruit? I hope we took it with us. It won’t last long, but at least for a few days, we can enjoy the fresh produce. |
16 |
Haku, the dog, and the pig are here so we can find out how our ancestors managed to transport animals across the Pacific. The pig is running around crazily. We should have taken a pen to keep it in check. |
17 |
Haku is a Hawaiian Poi Dog, a breed that is already extinct. He was back bred to revive the ancestral breed. Let’s get the good boy something tasty. I bet he would like some fresh fish. |
18 |
I am not sure how the back breeding works. The scientists select some genes and try to breed an animal that resembles the wild ancestor. It must be difficult and expensive. |
19 |
There was an argument among the crew. It got pretty heated. Even some fists fell. Let’s get below deck until it calms down. We should fix the leaking tub anyway. Do you have the tools? |
20 |
The atmosphere aboard stayed pretty tense since the fight. Finally, we are getting close to Tahiti. I can already see the land. Once we get out, I want to collect some shiny rocks for my collection. |
21 |
Mau decided to return home to Micronesia. He won’t be coming with us back to Hawaii. That means we have to find a new navigator. Let’s ask the local sailors. |
22 |
Unfortunately, none of the locals are proficient in the ancient ways of navigation or they are not willing to share this knowledge. We will have to buy modern navigation equipment. |
23 |
I purchased an old chronometer in a second-hand store. However, it looks like it doesn’t work. Can you fix it? I don’t want to go back to the crew with useless equipment. |
24 |
Using the western navigation methods, we can sail back to Hawaii. The voyage was not a complete failure, but further trips will have to be made to collect more information. |
25 |
Let’s collect some more food for the trip back. We have to think of Haku and the pig too. They fared well on the voyage here, so at least we were successful in animal care. |
26 |
Using the compass and sextant, we can easily navigate back to Hawaii. Even the weather is pleasant. Hopefully, no further arguments will appear aboard this time. I still don’t know what it was about. |
27 |
We are already close to the Hawaii islands. The sea here is shallow, and we got grounded on a sandbank. We must dig out the sand from underneath us to free the boat. |
28 |
The boat is afloat again, and we can continue to Honolua Bay. Let’s pay attention not to hit any rocks. That could prove much more dangerous than a sandbank. |
29 |
Back in Honolulu! I can’t wait to buy dinner at my favorite beach bar. It was great, but the food supplies corresponding to the ancient diet were not very enjoyable. Care to join me for a meal? |
30 |
There will be further voyages on the Hokulea, but I won’t be joining them. If you are interested, stop by the office of the Polynesian Navigation Society. They are still looking for sailors. |
31 |
For now, I want to concentrate on my surfing career. I missed the waves. I hope you will join me sometime. When you have time, grab a surfboard, and let’s ride the waves together. |
32 |
How did you like surfing? It was fun, right? Join me for a drink in the evening. I still have some things I want to talk to you about. |
33 |
I am planning to get a captain’s license myself. On Hokulea, I was just a crew member, but now I want to captain a vessel on my own. I was hoping you could give me some tips during dinner. |
34 |
I plan to sail on canoes. I enjoyed the voyage on Hokulea. In the future, I might take part in a canoe race on the open sea. But I want to be able to sail on modern yachts too. |
35 |
So how are you doing anyway? I heard you are helping the Polynesian Navigation Society build traditional houses on one of the uninhabited islands. Their projects are fascinating. |
36 |
I love looking back at how our ancestors used to live and sail. It’s astonishing. Still, I am glad to live in modern times. Without technology, we wouldn’t be where we are. Don’t you agree? |
37 |
After I get my captain's license, I plan on getting my own canoe. Will you help me find the perfect boat or maybe even build one? Your expertise would be very appreciated. |
38 |
A few girls and I have signed up for a canoe ocean race. We are the first solely female crew to join such a competition. How about you get a few of your sailors, and we train together? |
39 |
Even if you don’t participate in the canoe race, I hope you will come to cheer us on. It’s starting tomorrow. The organizers are still looking for someone to donate the main prize. |
40 |
We didn’t win the race, but it was still fun. Some chocolate to refill energy is all I need as a prize anyway. Thank you for coming to cheer us on. I hope we will see each other in Hawaii again. |
Final |
Thank you for your help. Don't forget your reward, captain. |