KIALOA, the maker of high quality, professional outrigger paddles has jumped in to help The Earth Trot Project by offering to donate paddles to the community of Kalaupapa. The company will be sending the paddles out from their headquarters in Bend, Oregon in time for our voyage which is tentatively planned for the last weekend in October.
At this point, paddlers have been very excited about the project and making the journey over to Kalaupapa. The excursion may prove to be quite a challenge if the winter swells arrive before or during the crossing from Maui to the North Shore of Moloka’i. It is in the winter months when the sea on Moloka’i's North Shore becomes extremely violent and taking an old canoe out in conditions where wave heights can be upwards of ten feet will certainly provide a challenge for the crew.
Accompanying the Kamali’i, Uncle Kimokeo Kipahulehua has shown an interest in making the journey as well. Kimokeo, an international activist in Hawaiian culture and preservation has been working with us to make sure we are completely prepared for the journey. His crew and potentially several others will be escorting the Kamali’i from Maui to Moloka’i. After the boat is given to the community, Uncle Kimokeo, his crew and the rest of the crews will be continuing the journey the rest of the way around Moloka’i before making it back to Maui.
Here’s Kevin glassing the canoe.