Ka Paʻalana connects with Mālama Honua December 5, 2014

Thursday, December 4, 2014 — Partners In Development Foundation’s Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program along with ʻAha Pūnana Leo and Keiki Steps participated in a live-stream video chat hosted by ʻŌiwi TV with PIDF Director of Communications, Uncle Billy Richards, who is aboard the Hikianalia, a voyaging canoe accompanying the Hōkūleʻa on a journey around the world to learn, create global relationships, and explore how to care for our oceans and Island Earth. The crew of the Polynesian Voyaging Society invited the children at the Māʻili Community Learning Center to join them on their Worldwide Voyage to Mālama Honua, a Hawaiian concept that means to care for our Island Earth, as they sail throughout the historic Maori villages of New Zealand!

How is the weather? How long is the voyage? How do you prepare food and what do you eat? Are there any animals aboard the canoes? Were some of the questions asked by the children and their caregivers to Uncle Billy, crewmember and watch captain aboard Hikianalia. “It’s been very cold, we’ve been having to layer up, but it’s still a beautiful day!” said Uncle Billy. The voyage will continue for the next three and a half years, as crewmembers continuously swap in and out of the various legs while maintaining 14 sailors on each vessel throughout. “There are key personnel that have a specific purpose on each leg of the voyage,” said Uncle Billy. The crew is not traveling with animals this time, unlike Hokulea’s first voyage to Tahiti when they traveled with chickens and pigs.

Filled with joy and excitement, the children were very appreciative to participate in such a historical educational learning experience. Partners In Development Foundation hopes to regularly connect with the crew as they carry on their journey, providing more of their program sites to also have an opportunity to chat with the crewmembers of Mālama Honua!