Warm Weather and Warm Hearts-North of the Equator

By Jim Woods

I know the website is called Southern Woodenboat Sailing but I think your readers will be interested to hear my snippet of news from the eastern shores of Oahu, Hawaii.

Driving south on the east coast of this beautiful island on a family holiday, our road rounded a point to open a view over Kahana Bay - a shallow open bay protected from the east to south-east winds which were currently blowing at about 25 knots. Working its way back and forth across the bay was a small craft with what appeared to be a lateen sail. 

Having spent time in Indonesia, I immediately thought “Jukung” - the hollow log sailing craft with a single outrigger easily driven by a lateen sail. 

Off we went to investigate. There were two sailing vessels and a traditional paddling canoe. The custodians were keen to talk about their activities on the beach.

The group was named Ho’oulu ‘Āina.  A not for profit organization out of Kōkua Kalihi Valley on O’ahu and collaborating with Nā Kālai Wa’a from Hawai’i island. Their mission was learning and sharing the art of traditional canoe carving and sailing in Kahana Valley on O’ahu.

Whilst the discussion started around the small vessels, it quickly moved to much larger issues.

How do first nations peoples protect and encourage their traditional culture? Too big a question and too long a discussion for this short report.

How do parents and guardians get their kids off screens and into the real world? No doubt a shared issue across the world.

Ho’oulu ‘Āina were answering these big questions by getting their young folk (aged 8 to 15) to build traditional log canoes – both for paddling and sailing. The boats had been built through the pandemic and the entire group of perhaps 40 were camped on the shoreline for a week and having a ball with their new vessels – not to mention cooking traditional dishes over open fires on the foreshore.

I watched a young fellow of around 10 years sail the smaller, kid sized canoe and the adults on the larger one.

The larger canoe was rigged with a jib.. Not traditional but easier to tack - especially when fully loaded.

Values of patience, understanding and care of the environment, respect for established wisdom and extended family made for a memorable and warm-hearted day at Kahana Bay.

Jim Woods

Jim and the families watching the kids on the water.