What We Didn't Tell/Show You of Hawai'i

After leaving Maui we sailed along the northern shore of Moloka'i. We wanted to see the incredible waterfalls falling through the steep canyons. 2011 is a drought year for Hawai'i, and its summer, so there weren't a lot of waterfalls but what we saw was great. 

Kalaupapa - the site of Hawai'is Leper Colony

In the center of the north shore of Moloka'i is a peninsula which creates a protected anchorage and a very isolated place to live. In 1848 the state of Hawai'i purchased this area and in 1866 began exiling victims of Hansen's Disease (Lepers) to the area. Although a treatment was available in 1930 some afflicted people chose to stay in the colony. Today approximately 60 people still live there.

Northwest end of Moloka'i

Papohaku Roadstead

Moloka'i may be the most Hawai'ian of the islands - it has the largest percentage of native Hawai'ians. Of its 7,400 permanent residents, almost half are at least 50% Hawai'ian blood. Moloka'i has been virtually ignored by developers and only one small resort has been built at the Papohaku Roadstead. We anchored here one night and watched a few people stroll along the lovely beach and climb over the rocks. This was a nice alternative to the "Club-Med" type resorts on the other islands.

We ran into our share of squalls.

Our last anchorage in Hawai'i was the Kane'ohe Bay Yacht Club on O'ahu.


Chinaman's Hat Island in Kaneohe Bay on O'ahu





The incredible land forms of Kane'ohe Bay

 


Kane'ohe Bay Yacht Club



Kane'ohe Bay Yacht Club was our favorite with its beautiful lawns, pool, palm trees and friendly people.

Sonia's beautifully executed med moor put us next to our new friends on Cadence.

Sonia was facinated with some striking red-headed birds that perched near the boat. They turned out to be a red-crested Cardinals also known as the Brazilian Cardinal.

Bishop Museum located in Honolulu.

We spent an entire day at the Bishop Museum. This is the building housing Hawi'ian artifacts and models of marine animals. In the center is an example of the double canoe, totems and a typical "precontact" Hawai'ian house.

There were some really unusual items which I thought would be interesting to share.

These Hawai'ian capes are bright red and yellow. They are made from the feathers of the red iiwi bird (Vestiaria coccinea) and the yellow feathers of the oo bird (Moho spp.) . At first I was very disturbed at the idea of killing so many birds to make these but then I read that the birds weren't killed. The Hawai'ians developed a way to catch the birds and pull out some feathers and then let them go.

 These head pieces are also made from bird feathers.

 



"This ahuula belonged to Queen Emma and was worn when a child at the Royal School. It is made up of red iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea) feathers and black and yellow oo (Moho spp.) feathers. It has a background of red iiwi feathers. Two pairs of yellow oo crescents, one pair running close to the neckline. Two pairs of yellow oo half crescents are on both the left and right front edges. A band of yellow oo runs along its lower border. A thin band of alternating black and yellow oo sections run along the neckline. Its net backing is made of olona (Touchardia latifolia) fiber."

from the Bishop Museum website: http://bishopmuseum.org/

This prized symbol of chiefly rank in old Hawai‘i is made of a carved whale tooth, also known as whale ivory, strung on thick strands of finely braided human hair.

I found it odd that there were so many of these on display and we typically think of Hawai'ians having long hair. All the pictures in the museum of women showed them with short hair.

The Hawaiians were fierce warriors. They didn't have metal so their weapons were made from wood and animal parts.

"Some of the most fearsome weapons in the arsenal of a Hawaiian koa (warrior) were ones studded with the niho niuhi, the teeth of the man-eating shark. The handles were typically of hard wood, such as kauila, and slots were scored into them to imbed the teeth. The teeth were fastened to the handle by lashings pulled through small drilled holes."

from the Bishop Museum website



This sperm whale model hangs from the ceiling. 



The back side of the sperm whale model showing it's mouth.






We were told that the whale that surfaced next to our boat was probably a sperm whale. The sperm whale reaching up to 69' and 58 tons is a toothed whale. They feed at great depths ( up to 10,000 feet) where they consume bottom-dwelling sharks, squid, octopus, large fish and other sharks.

Adjacent to the Hawai'ian Hall is the Castle Memorial Building that houses special displays. We were fortunate to catch a really interesting one.

Dinosaurs Unearthed - Feathered Discoveries

"In the last decade, the discovery of feathered dinosaurs in Liaoning Province, China has shifted popular thought and caused paleontologists to re-evaluate the appearance of theropod dinosaurs around the world.
The fossils discovered in Liaoning were exceptionally well preserved, which has allowed scientists to draw significant conclusions about feathers, color, and environmental influences.

The discovery has drawn the fascinating connection between ancient dinosaurs and modern birds. Scientists have found that feathers first evolved as a means of warmth and display and later became specialized to the extent that flight was possible."

from: http://bishopmuseum.org/exhibits/onexhibit.html

 Life-size animated models demonstrated the new concepts of what scientists think dinosaurs looked like.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Bishop Museum and agree that it is a must see if you visit O'ahu.

Now we are safely back in Blaine and preparing to head north to Telegraph Harbor on Tethis Island in Canada for the All Catalina Rendezvous.

I will be making one more blog entry - a wrap up of our route, our milage, what worked and didn't and what broke! Don't miss it.