T O N G A
In the spring of 2017, Kamoauli co-founders Rob, Koa and Nelson along with friends Anu and master woodcarver Uncle Tione, embarked on a trip to Tonga to procure the H.M. Salote - a traditionally constructed wa'a kaulua made almost entirely from Tongan cedar wood. After sailing her around Tonga, they packed her up into the last Matson container to leave Tonga and shipped her back to Hawai'i. They brought her back for rebuilding to fulfill the founder's vision of creating a unique, indigenous platform for cultural education. Please visit the picture gallery to view the photos from this historical mission.
R E B U I L D
From May to August of 2017, H.M. Salote was disassembled and rebuilt into Kamoauli in one-hundred days at The Phoenician shipyard at Kalaeloa. When H.M. Salote was first hoisted onto blocks and taken apart in dry dock, she only had five 'iako (crossbeams) that connected the two hulls and provided support for the top deck. She had no railings, no canopy frame, no benches, no crash bulkheads, no fiberglass reinforcements for the stern, and no fore-beam or motor mounts. By the end of the rebuild, Kamoauli has all of these features and more. She now has fourteen 'iako and a forebeam hewn from Hawaiian cedar...making her far more durable, seaworthy and comfortable for sailing Hawaii's coastlines and waterways.
The all-volunteer crew worked an average of ten hours a day, with occasional sixteen to eighteen hour shifts when particular tasks required it. For the entire summer of 2017, the only day no work was done at all, was June 18th - Father's Day. Other than that, for ninety-nine days, there was always at least several volunteers working on some task or another at the shipyard. Many also came and worked late afternoons and evening shifts after having worked their regular day jobs. Neighboring shipyard workers often assisted and gave tips and advice during the rebuild. Family and friends brought food, drinks and ice daily to keep the workers fed and well-hydrated in the hot summer sun. It took many hands and numerous hours of dedication and hard work to complete the rebuild of Kamoauli. Visit our picture gallery to see snapshots of this great labor of aloha!
The all-volunteer crew worked an average of ten hours a day, with occasional sixteen to eighteen hour shifts when particular tasks required it. For the entire summer of 2017, the only day no work was done at all, was June 18th - Father's Day. Other than that, for ninety-nine days, there was always at least several volunteers working on some task or another at the shipyard. Many also came and worked late afternoons and evening shifts after having worked their regular day jobs. Neighboring shipyard workers often assisted and gave tips and advice during the rebuild. Family and friends brought food, drinks and ice daily to keep the workers fed and well-hydrated in the hot summer sun. It took many hands and numerous hours of dedication and hard work to complete the rebuild of Kamoauli. Visit our picture gallery to see snapshots of this great labor of aloha!
H U A K A 'I
In Hawaiian, Huaka'i means mission, and after the long process of rebuilding Kamoauli to make her seaworthy for Hawaiian waters, the next phase of our mission was to become experts at sailing her! From the Fall of 2017 to the present day, the crew have been regularly conducting training sails to practice safety and emergency drills and handling her in various weather and ocean conditions. We have also taken numerous organizations and groups on tours to share the mo'olelo (legends, history and myths) of the coastlines and waters aboard our one-of-a-kind educational platform.
To date, Kamoauli has hosted educational excursions for organizations and groups including: UH West O'ahu's Anthropology class; UH Manoa's East-West Center Pan-Pacific delegation; the faculty and administration of Island Pacific Academy; the Hawaii Technology Academy 'Ukulele Club; the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center; Instructors and students from the Hawaii Maritime Academy; the Malama Learning Center; executive members of the E Ala Voyaging Academy; as well as a number of folks from the Wai'anae's farming community including Kahumana and Ma'o Farms.
View our picture gallery to see some of the photos we took on these various excursions in the past year.
To date, Kamoauli has hosted educational excursions for organizations and groups including: UH West O'ahu's Anthropology class; UH Manoa's East-West Center Pan-Pacific delegation; the faculty and administration of Island Pacific Academy; the Hawaii Technology Academy 'Ukulele Club; the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center; Instructors and students from the Hawaii Maritime Academy; the Malama Learning Center; executive members of the E Ala Voyaging Academy; as well as a number of folks from the Wai'anae's farming community including Kahumana and Ma'o Farms.
View our picture gallery to see some of the photos we took on these various excursions in the past year.
P Ō K A ‘Ī
March 17, 2018 was our official community launch event held at Poka'i Bay, Wai'anae. With music and hula performances, tours of the canoe, lots of food and community booths, a good time was had by all as Kamoauli was officially introduced to the Wai'anae community.
L A W A I ' A
In June of 2018, Kamoauli entered the annual Ko 'Olina Fishing Tournament off the Leeward coast of O'ahu. Using both trolling poles and handlines, the crew caught some 'Ono, Kawakawa, 'Ahi and an 'Omilu. While none of the fish were big enough to place in the tournament standings, the Captain and crew nonetheless received a great prize for the days work - fresh fish for dinner!
S E L A M O K U
"Kelo, kelo, sela moku! kelo, kelo no Hawaii nei! -- Sail on, sail on sailors, sail 'round beloved Hawai'i!, "
As goes the refrain of Reverend Dennis Kamakahi's Hawaiian sailing anthem, Sela Moku...so too does Kamoauli sail on!
As goes the refrain of Reverend Dennis Kamakahi's Hawaiian sailing anthem, Sela Moku...so too does Kamoauli sail on!
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