By Léo Azambuja

The crew of Nāmāhoe lands at Kalapaki

The crew of Nāmāhoe lands at Kalapaki

Nā Kalai Waʻa o Kauaʻi, or The Canoe Builders of Kaua‘i, was founded 20 years ago by John Kruse, Dennis Chun and Patrick Aiu. Since then, they have worked tirelessly to build a voyaging canoe on the island.

The double-hulled Nāmāhoe was unveiled on the morning of Sept. 11 at Nawiliwili Harbor. After a brief ceremony, the canoe was towed to waters just outside the shoreline of the nearby Kalapaki Beach, where it was greeted by hundreds of people.

A day-long ceremony ensued to celebrate the historic moment for Kaua‘i. Named after the constellation Gemini, the Nāmāhoe (twins in Hawaiian) was built with modern materials, but its design follows traditional Polynesian double-hulled canoes.

Visit www.namahoe.org for more information.

John Kruse, right, and Dennis Chun
Kepa Kruse
Makai Mycynek
John Kruse
Angela Hoover and Hoku
Sandi O’Shaugnessy, left, and Angela Babcock
Moira Finefrock, left, and Erika Hahn
Marty Kuala, left, and Jeri Di Pietro
Marlo, surf instructor at Kaua‘i Beach Boys
Randy Ortiz
Paul Massey
Chandley G. Jackson
Chandley G. Jackson
Pam Brown and Lincoln Gill
Stephanie Karlson and Sol Kahn
The Nāmāhoe
Several outrigger canoes escort the Nāmāhoe to Kalapaki Bay
Hundreds greet the Nāmāhoe at Kalapaki Beach
Hundreds greet the Nāmāhoe at Kalapaki Beach
Hundreds greet the Nāmāhoe at Kalapaki Beach
The younger Nāmāhoe crew greet the elderly crew at Kalapaki Beach

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