Hōkūleʻa crew celebrates the holidays in Caribbean waters
From Maui Now
Crewmembers aboard the historic vessel Hōkūleʻa celebrated Christmas Day at sea while in transit to Panama where they will clear customs before crossing the Panama Canal.
With approximately a week to go before Hōkūleʻa reaches Panama, the crew took the opportunity to decorate the canoe with festive trimmings to get into the holiday spirit while they spend the holidays away from their families and loved ones.
“Not many people get to celebrate the holidays while at sea on the deck of Hōkūleʻa during this epic around-the-world voyage,” said Hōkūleʻa captain and Pwo navigator Bruce Blankenfeld. “As much as we’d love to be home in Hawaiʻi with our loved ones at this time of year, we are all truly honored to be sailing Hōkūleʻa to share our Mālama Honua message with communities around the world.”
Hōkūleʻa was sailing along the coast of Cuba on Dec. 25 and will arrive in Panama around December 31, where the crew will possibly ring in the New Year. Once she re-enters the Pacific Ocean, Hōkūleʻa will make stops in the Galapagos Islands, Rapa Nui and French Polynesia before her sail west back to a celebratory homecoming at Magic Island in June 2017.
For more on this story and video go to; http://mauinow.com/2016/12/27/hokulea-crew-celebrates-the-holidays-in-caribbean-waters/
