Mālama Wa‘a 2010-2011
Rebirth: Hōkūle‘a for the Next Generation, by Mike Taylor
Hōkūle‘a is being reborn. An icon for Hawai‘i and the Pacific, Hōkūle‘a will be stronger, lighter, more stable and just as beautiful when she returns to the water later this year. The refurbished and rebuilt Hōkūle‘a will be a gift of cultural pride for future generations, and continues to be a classroom for current generations.
Hōkūle‘a came out of the ocean and into drydock in September 2010 at the Marine Education and Training Center (METC) on Sand Island, Honolulu.
Hōkūleʻa’s dry dock is well underway, with more than 5,000 volunteer hours donated as of August 1, 2011. When Hōkūle‘a was hauled from the water in September 2010, the wa‘a was tired and worn, showing her age. She had sailed tens of thousands of miles of open ocean since her last major overhaul in 2002-3. To ensure Hōkūle‘a remains solid, safe and strong for the next 35 years, PVS leadership planned and initiated the most extensive renovation of the canoe since she was launched in 1975. This renovation is intended to support the Worldwide Voyage (WWV) – Mālama Honua; Hōkūle‘a will be in the best shape of her life.
For the first time, Hōkūle‘a has been taken completely apart – no two pieces remain attached to each other. Under the leadership of navigator Bruce Blankenfeld and the technical guidance of Bob Perkins, head of METC, every aspect of the canoe was opened and inspected for damage and water-rot.
Bruce talking with the volunteers
Bob working on the left hull
We found significant rot caused by 35 years and 140,000 nautical miles of exposure to seawater. All rotted wood and compromised structural components have been replaced, most notably the bulkheads that provide great strength to the hulls and separate the individual, watertight cargo holds. Newly replaced ring frames between each set of bulkheads provide additional hull strength. The fiberglass on both hull bottoms has also been renewed.
Dryrot has beencut out of the hull and new bulkheads have been put in place. Bulkheads create watertight compartments inside the hulls and add strength. With new construction methods not available when she was built over 35 years ago (1973-1975), Hōkūle‘a should be lighter and stronger for the upcoming voyages.
After this dry dock, the hulls will be the only original pieces of Hōkūle‘a that remain. Even new ‘iako (cross beams) were fabricated in Maine and finished by PVS volunteers. They will make Hōkūle‘a two feet wider and more stable for the WWV. Replacement masts, spars, cleats and deadeyes (doughnuts) are ready.
Eight new ‘iako (crossbeams) arrived from Maine, where they were fabricated at John Williams Boat Co. Two feet longer than the old ones, the new ‘iako will allow for a two-foot wider deck.
We look forward to lashing in September (approximately six miles of line will be used to tie all of Hōkūle‘a’s pieces and parts back together – no nails), and are trying to be back in the water this November. When we do re-launch Hōkūle‘a, the wa‘a is going to be more beautiful and stronger than ever.
Sanding canoe parts. Hundreds of volunteers come to help restore the canoe and more than 5,000 volunteer hours donated as of August 1, 2011.
About the Writer: Mike Taylor is a Hōkūle‘a Captain-in-training for the Worldwide Voyage and a lead volunteer in the dry dock effort.