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The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the University, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 70 years.
The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. What began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine and is now a magazine published 8 times a year with a website and a social media presence. Today, a staff of more than 20 students work to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.
Iosepa is not simply a waʻa—it is a classroom without walls, a chapel without pews and a metaphor for the journey each of us is on. Though carved from strong wood and guided by kilo hōkū, what truly gives Iosepa his spirit are the hands that carry the hoe, the feet that press against his deck, and the hearts that choose to voyage with purpose.
Every sail represents a journey, and every sailor reflects a part of us. Behind the symbolic essence of Iosepa are stories often left untold— stories of hardship and hope, hoaloha and faith, love for ʻohana, and devotion to community and legacy. Behind each successful journey are individuals who have labored, learned and sacrificed—those whose lives have been changed because they chose to step aboard.
This is Iosepa. A wa‘a that doesn’t simply symbolize heritage but carries within him hundreds of stories from those who have sailed. Some found clarity in the horizon’s ocean breeze after seasons of uncertainty. Others speak of it as a kuleana—one that binds tradition to testimony, faith to culture and belief to covenants. And there are those whose lives were redirected after sailing through impulsive weather, a reflection of how unpredictable life itself can be.
The stories in this issue spotlight these voyagers. Everyone, in their own unique way, has been transformed during their time aboard. That is what this magazine hopes to capture: the change that happens when we step onto something sacred—with open hearts and a soul
longing to learn, serve and live more fully.
Sailing with Iosepa is not just about mastering wind, current or navigation. It’s about remembering where we came from, honoring the journey we’re on and choosing where we’re headed. It’s about learning how to adapt, how to move forward when the seas are rough, how to trust the stillness of a moment and how to honor the generations whose dreams still ride the waves.
Here at BYU–Hawaiii, where cultures converge with purpose and reverence, the voyage aboard Iosepa is one of spiritual connection— linking voyagers to their kupuna, to each other and to God. As you read through this issue, you’ll feel that connection in every word, every reflection and every image. You’ll feel the heartbeat of a canoe that doesn’t just cross miles—but crosses memory, heritage and hope.
To all who have sailed, taught or prayed with Iosepa: this magazine is for you. Your stories lift others. Your testimonies inspire us and your voyage is far from over.
Mahalo for sharing your makani with us.
John Andrew Quizana Editor-In-Chief
TEAM
John Andrew Quizana Editor in Chief
Jessika Santoso Managing Editor
Hiroki Konno Lead Photographer
CJ Shinihah Notarte-Orr Managing Editor
Samantha Faith Satorre Copy Editor
MEMBERS
Myco Chillian Marcaida Multimedia Journalist
France Valerie Lucillo Multimedia Journalist
Linda Laulu Multimedia Journalist
Gene Cymmer Ramirez Multimedia Journalist
Ice Cesario Graphic Designer
Cho Yong Fei Graphic Designer
Cyrelle Briz Graphic Designer
Caleb Galotera Photographer
Guen Ysanth Ramirez-Platon Illustrator
Shaping
Voyagers
Part
A Hawaiian voyager’s sacred duty
Through his voyage on Iosepa, Kala Haverly says he reconnected with ancestral heritage, embraced spiritual stewardship, and navigated life’s challenges with aloha and faith
BY JOHN ANDREW QUIZANA
On a campus where cultures converge and tides of tradition meet, the Iosepa canoe stands not only as a symbol of Hawaiian heritage, but also as a living classroom for spiritual growth, cultural reconnection and personal transformation, according to Kala Haverly, a sophomore political science major from Hau‘ula. He said his time on the wa‘a has been more than a student experience; it’s been a rediscovery of purpose, identity and legacy.
What began with a profound sense of cultural urgency eventually led Haverly to board Iosepa, he said. While serving a fulltime mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic in 2023, he heard news of the devastating Lāhainā wildfires—a moment he described as a turning point. “It wasn’t just Iosepa I felt was calling me,” said Haverly. “It was the Hawaiian culture itself—a strong, undeniable pull to live and act more as a Hawaiian.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Haverly said he recognized a personal responsibility to live louder—to carry on the values and voices of his ancestors who were no longer able to speak. A few months later, when his father invited him to join the Iosepa crew, he said yes without hesitation, he added.
Growing with the wa‘a
Haverly said he grew up immersed in Hawaiian culture. “I grew up speaking Hawaiian. I grew up living and doing Hawaiian cultural values, dancing hula and singing Hawaiian music. I have been doing that since I was young,” he said. While serving in the Dominican Republic, Haverly said he had to learn how to live with the people—understanding their way of life, embracing their culture and walking alongside them. So when he returned to Hawaii, he said he felt he had to do the same. “After my mission, I told myself I’d do everything the way the natives did,” he said. “I wanted to be like them, to learn from them. And in doing so, I had to relearn a lot of the Hawaiian ways.”
After essentially relearning how to “walk” culturally, he said he began to understand that the experience was preparing him not just to live his culture, but to explain and teach it to others. “And that’s exactly what we do on Iosepa: we teach people what we do, why we do it and what it means to us,” he said.
Ancestral presence
When asked if he ever felt the presence of his ancestors while voyaging, Haverly said he has experienced such moments both during training and while out at sea. He recalled one particularly powerful experience while sailing to Lāhainā. “We thought we were heading to a different port,” he said, “but right before we went in, we found out we were going to Lāhainā Harbor. We all knew what had happened there, and everything became solemn. We could all feel it—this was something significant.”
Being in that space, he said, made a deep spiritual impression. “You are where you need to be. If your ancestors were alive today, they would be doing what you’re doing. They’d be here, trying to bring light to these people at this time.”
“That,” he added, “is how I stay connected to them—by doing the work they would have done and walking the path they’ve laid before me.”
Voyaging as a metaphor
Haverly compared voyaging to life, using a lesson he learned during a particularly formative year. “Something I learned that year was you can always control your sheet lines,” he explained, referring to the ropes that adjust sail angle and speed. “If you want to be safer and take it slower, you can just close your sails and take things that are harder a lot more easily.”
He said the same principle applies off the wa‘a. “In life, you can always change how much is on your plate. Let go of certain things, and your life isn’t going to be as hectic.”
Reflecting on the most important value he’s learned from voyaging, Haverly emphasized the power of caring. “On the wa‘a, you can’t get rid of these people,” he said. “If they’re mad, it’s your problem. If they’re sad, it’s your problem. You need their help to move the boat, to do whatever. You care about what’s important to them, and you help them navigate the ocean.”
That principle, he added, mirrors life and aligns with his faith. “It alludes to the gospel. We are all brothers and sisters. And if you care about those around you—if you love them— your life will be so much better.”
Lessons in leadership
As an anchor watch captain, Haverly said the weight of responsibility initially felt overwhelming. “If something bad happens, it’s on you,” he said. “It’s not really on the crew. It’s on you.”
However, he shared that through faith and self-trust, he gained confidence in his role. “As I trusted in the Lord, I trusted in myself,” he said. “I just went on and did it. I realized, like, wow, I really can trust myself to be a leader. It doesn’t matter if problems come up—I can handle it. I will know how to make informed and inspired decisions.”
To Haverly, stewardship is more than just a duty—it’s a path to growth. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, I have to be afraid because if I mess up, I’m gonna be in trouble,’” he explained. “Stewardship is also empowering. Because I was given that responsibility, I was able to grow my leadership skills.”
He added that genuine leadership begins with love and vision. “If you care about people— if you truly love them and see them as Christ sees them—you start to understand not just their problems or difficulties, but their strengths,” he said. “You’re able to realize, ‘Hey, this person is really good at this, and I need that.’”
Legacy and the voice of Iosepa
Haverly said he often thinks about his future children when sailing. “I know one of the crew has definitely heard me say, at least once, ‘In 20 years, our kids will be sailing Iosepa,’ or ‘In 10 years, we’ll be telling our kids about Iosepa.’”
He shared the legacy he hopes to leave. “I want my kids to know, ‘Hey, I’m Hawaiian, and sailing Iosepa is part of who we are.’ Even though we might be Polynesian, sometimes people see Iosepa as ‘those trained guys.’ But to me, this is our community. The canoe belongs to our people,” he expressed.
When asked what Iosepa might say if it could speak, Haverly smiled and said he imagined it would be grateful: “Thank you for sailing me. Thank you for taking me to places I’ve never been before. Thank you for helping me bring light to others.”
Then, with a chuckle, Haverly added, “And he’d probably ask, ‘So, when are we doing this again?’”
To Haverly, Iosepa is more than a canoe— it’s family. “He brings people together and just wants to be out there,” he said.
Advice to cultural navigators
To those striving to preserve or adapt their culture, Haverly shared his perspective. “There is a higher culture—the gospel culture. Anything that is true, that builds upon the gospel and helps you live the gospel better, is truth. It is important and valuable not just to you, but to God,” he said.
He added, “I feel the Spirit most strongly when I do those cultural things that also support the gospel. So I invite people: if you’re trying to preserve your culture, take what is good and supports the gospel, and live with that.”
Haverly extended the same advice to those learning a new culture. “It’s the same thing: take what’s good and leave the rest. You’re making your own way of living the gospel. How you feel the Spirit matters to God, and it matters to you. Keep what’s good. Keep what works.”•
A photo of Kala Haverly taken by Hiroki Konno at the Iosepa Learning Center. Page Design by Ice Cesario.
More
than heritage or curiosity, three BYU–Hawaii students share their unexpected moments and inner promptings
led them to sail with Iosepa
BY JESSIKA SANTOSO
Being placed in a class outside the major, hearing a friend’s heartfelt testimony and getting lost at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) were three very different moments that tied Moanilehuakaualeima‘ohulani Shimose, McIntyre Horito, and Yu Bruna Yamamoto to Iosepa. Yet each student felt something similar: an intangible spirit surrounding the canoe that drew them in. Through sailing with Iosepa, the students said they found healing, let go of pride and stepped into something deeper: a journey not only across the ocean but into identity and connection.
Waves that mended
Yu Bruna Yamamoto said her story started in her academic advisor’s office. A senior in social work from Brazil, Yamamoto shared her advisor registered her for the Malama Wa‘a – Sea Responsibility (HWST 380) class or the “Iosepa class” for Winter 2025 to balance out the busy semester of Culture Night. The class was initially just an elective to fill credits—unrelated to her major or graduation plan— but it became something much more. “I started learning how to heal from Iosepa. I got a lot of encouragement from that class,” she said.
That moment of enlightenment, combined with support from her classmates, gave Yamamoto the courage to apply for her once-in-alifetime sailing opportunity, she shared. As non-Polynesian, Yamamoto said she has been wanting to understand the roots of Polynesian culture. Through Iosepa, she said she began to see how the canoe served as a bridge, connecting people not only to the ocean but to their ancestors. Interestingly, she shared her ancestors also sailed a boat from Japan to Brazil in search of a better life. She said her ancestors’ relentless effort to escape poverty allowed future generations like her to exist. In a similar way, she said,
“Polynesians placed their trust in themselves to cross the ocean.”
Yu Bruna Yamamoto
“PCC is proof that they found islands because we all have all these cultures today,” she explained.
For Yamamoto, Iosepa marked a new beginning as it was an “experience for me to leave my past behind …, like my sadness, my trauma and to keep going,” she shared. She spoke with admiration about the mental strength it must have taken for ancient wayfinders to explore without modern tools like phones, maps, or electricity. “They needed to be connected to the ocean and to God to trust themselves that they could find islands,” she continued. That same trust, she said, helped her shed limitations she had placed on herself. “As they did everything from their mind, so can we. We have so much power within us.”
Sailing with an open heart
Horito, a Hawaiian studies senior from Utah and Hau‘ula, first helped with Iosepa alongside his father in Summer 2023. However, his heart was not in it until his friend’s testimony changed everything. “My friend and a BYUH alumnus, Tai Gonzales, shared about caring for the canoe and his feelings connected to it. It brought him closer to God,” Horito shared. This conversation transformed Horito’s perspective on
Shimose’s favorite photo of Iosepa smashing through the waves. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
coming to Iosepa and encouraged him to come “every single time” for all the training, starting Jan. 2024. As the concept of Hōkūleʻa or double-hulled canoe is also familiar to Horito, it pushed him to further explore its impactful foundational sailing. Unlike other wa‘a or canoe, Horito said
Iosepa carries “a special spirit” that connects him to both culture and God.
McIntyre Horito
“Iosepa’s mission is not just to serve as a floating classroom, but to help gather Israel. It makes me want to be a better person and grow closer to God,” he continued. As much as Horito wants to connect more with his Hawaiian heritage through sailing with other wa‘a, he said he would always be grounded to Iosepa. Horito said Iosepa helped him build meaningful connections and let go of pride. When he arrived in Moloka‘i and Maui, he was able to serve the community. “I knew people by name there and considered them my family.” On one hand, Iosepa humbled him, whether by other crew members or his experiences on the water. “We prioritize safety at the utmost level. We have a very high standard, so that requires a lot of humility,” he explained.
From lost to lead
Shimose, a freshman of anthropology and Hawaiian Studies from Hilo, Hawaii, shared her first encounter with Iosepa was “accidental”. While trying to find the PCC’s sustainability farm, she got lost and instead arrived at the Iosepa Learning Center. She said, “There is something special about [Iosepa], so I kept coming back every Wednesday, the work day, to volunteer for Iosepa and eventually sail with it.”
On her first inter-island sail with Iosepa, from Moloka‘i to Lāhainā, Shimose surprised even herself. Though she’d grown up around voyaging through her father, she’d never truly connected
with it until she started tying knots on deck. “This is so cool. I knew how to do it without being told. I get it now.” After the voyage, Shimose said she playfully teased her father, whose furthest voyage had only been to Kona, Hawaii. “I beat you, Dad,” she shared with a laugh.
Sailing across the seas feels like a combination of Shimose’s entire life, she said. Her deep connection to Hawaiian culture—growing up in a Hawaiian immersion school, speaking Hawaiian fluently and dancing hula since she was three—prepared her naturally for voyaging. “So for wa ‘a, it’s like all of these different parts of my life, blending them altogether.”
Voyaging’s living truth
To describe the overall sailing experience, Yamamoto shared a quote from the Iosepa devotional on June 22, 2025:
“People who were related to Iosepa were meant to be related to it, to be on Iosepa and to help Iosepa.”
Yu Bruna Yamamoto
She said it was a special connection she hadn’t realized she’d made until after the voyage.For Shimose, voyaging transformed her perception of Polynesian voyaging. What once seemed like an “old tradition done by my ancestors is now something I can do too. It’s not just in the past; it’s in the present.” She added she believes if people put in the effort to understand this heritage, they’ll see the results.
Meanwhile, this voyage confirmed what Horito learned from a kupuna in FestPAC Hawai’i 2024.
“The ocean never divided us, but it actually connects us,”
McIntyre Horito
recalled Horito. He continued, though there are many differences among Polynesian and Austronesian peoples, which he referred to as cousins, “We’re able to come together and celebrate through voyaging.”•
Iosepa sailing on the open ocean. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee. Page Design by Cyrelle Briz.
BYUH students reflect on how physical readiness, mental strength and spiritual grounding prepared them to become voyagers aboard Iosepa
BY GENE CYMMER RAMIREZ
The shift from being a student spending most of their time on campus to being a voyager who spends days in the middle of the ocean is not easy, and therefore requires physical, mental and spiritual preparation to become masters of the sea, said BYUH students. Wade Utai, a student crewmember of Iosepa in charge of documentation, said, “Being out in the middle of the ocean without any way back to shore can be a scary thing.”
Shaping the body
For Kaleb James Martin, a junior from California majoring in business management with an emphasis on marketing, preparing to become a voyager doesn’t start when one is chosen, he shared. He said it begins with how one lives and responds to life itself. “My preparation is based on things that have already happened in the past,” he said as he emphasized his lifestyle of regularly being in the water.
Swimming and surfing are big parts of Martin’s everyday life, he said, and so being
a voyager wasn’t an impossible transition. “There wasn’t anything intentional that I had to do because I was usually in the water and was always physically active,” he said. Martin shared even his work as a landscaper contributed to his preparation, as it always kept him in shape. His preparation paid off when his main role on Iosepa was to keep watch and make sure the boat was sailing well, he said.
Utai, a sophomore from Utah majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and anthropology and cultural sustainability, said before someone passes as a voyager, they must first pass examinations and tests. “You must pass a swimming test and have a quick visit with a doctor to ensure you’re in good physical condition,” he shared.
Utai said he did normal workouts such as walking and mainly being comfortable in the ocean as exercises to prepare himself. “If someone were to fall overboard, they would need to remain as calm as they could
so I would go to the ocean and become comfortable being in an area where I could not touch the ground,” he shared.
For the next voyagers of Iosepa, Martin recommended they be accustomed to being physically active even before the sail. “You end up burning a lot of calories, so work yourself up,” he said. A voyager is constantly shifting their weight because of the movement of the boat, he shared, and one must have more than enough energy to maintain that balance and keep themselves upright. Martin said a preparing voyager must know what their body needs in terms of food and water.
Sharpening the mind
“Being out in the ocean can be scary. It’s important to take care of your mental wellness because while you are out in the ocean, there is no turning back,” Utai shared. He said he prepared himself mentally by understanding the risks of voyaging and attending the training sessions they had about sailing Iosepa. “Every week, they held work days where you could
Crew members hauling Iosepa’s lines to secure the sail.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
volunteer at the canoe to learn and help maintain it,” Martin shared. He said these work days taught him how to tie knots and how rigs worked.
“It is mentally difficult,” said Martin. He shared being a voyager requires a person to be fully prepared to accept different changes and unsure conditions, from winds to waves. One never knows what’s going to happen, he said, which is why confidence is important.
A voyager’s confidence in their own abilities is not enough, Martin shared. “While I was learning about the canoe and how to sail in those work days, I was also growing my faith in the captain and the crew members,” he said. By learning with them and learning from them in practice sails and similar exercises, he shared he felt even more excited to go on the voyage. In one of the training sessions, Utai said their crew had to collectively think of a way to safely open a sail because of an issue with one of the lines. “These training sessions helped me acknowledge that my crew is there to strengthen and support me.”
Martin said the best way to mentally prepare for the voyage is to understand all you can about voyaging. “Mental preparation is very much tied to physical preparation,” he said, as he referred to learning how to become a voyager directly means practicing on the water. “Self-awareness is the key to voyaging and life itself,” Utai shared. He said once someone becomes a voyager, they must be ready to completely commit themselves to the voyage and believe that the destination is worth the difficulty.
Iosepa’s sail basking in sunlight.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
Strengthening the spirit
“Voyaging is taught all throughout the scriptures, as Heavenly Father commands His children to go and find new places,” Martin shared. He said spiritual preparation is just as important as mental and physical preparation for a voyager. If a voyager isn’t spiritually ready, he shared, they might miss out on things they can learn from Heavenly Father.
Martin said daily prayer was an important part of his preparation. “I asked Heavenly Father if being part of the voyage was the right thing to do,” he shared. He said going to the temple once a week, partaking of the sacrament and reading the scriptures wasn’t necessarily there solely for the voyage, but it elevated the experience nonetheless.
“In the scriptures, Heavenly Father’s children who went on voyages experienced great blessings and miracles and it is the same today.”
Kaleb James Martin
“I asked Heavenly Father to teach me spiritual lessons while on the voyage and because of that, the voyage became more of a spiritual journey,” Utai shared. Throughout the semester, Utai earnestly prayed for the Spirit to expand his knowledge on voyaging and how he could use his experience to grow his testimony.
Martin said the next voyagers who sail on Iosepa must expect to learn important truths from Heavenly Father as they sail. Utai said he thought of the ancient prophets who included Heavenly Father in their journeys.
“Nephi and his family were blessed as they crossed the ocean because of Nephi’s spiritual preparation,” he shared.•
A photo of the Iosepa crew on a church pulpit.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
Page design by Cyrelle Briz.
Aboard Iosepa, three BYUH students overcome fear, doubts and relentless waves through faith, preparation and unity
BY SAMANTHA FAITH SATORRE
As the wa‘a kaulua Iosepa surfed through choppy waters, the crew members said they came to a realization—experiencing the ocean from the shore is far different from being right at the heart of its vastness. Three BYU–Hawaii students who joined this year’s sail said this journey taught them it was not just the sea that demanded courage—it was also their doubts, their responsibilities in the crew and the duty to preserve the voyaging culture with honor. They said through faith, preparation and the bond they shared as crewmates, they confronted fears both physical and emotional and returned to land transformed.
“When you begin to face your fears, they transform into experiences. And those experiences, in time, become your strength,” said Kevin Merrill Louis, a sophomore from India studying business management with a finance concentration. As the 2025 voyage’s quartermaster, he emphasized the light and spirit carried by Iosepa. “When I was on the sail, I saw that light. I saw that people’s lives were changed by it,” he expressed.
Belongingness
Louis, a canoe guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), said his knowledge of Polynesian culture and traditional voyaging
was sparse and used to rely heavily on the script provided at his job. He said although the voyaging culture seemed to have called out to him from day one, the idea of participating in it was something he considered intimidating. “I always had this passion to know more about sailing, but I also had a fear of not belonging there,” he expressed, saying he thought it was a space solely for Polynesians or those who took Hawaiian studies classes.
Louis said this fear lingered for a long time—it kept him from attending the outreach events and training sessions conducted at the Iosepa Learning Center despite repeated invitations from his friends.
“I felt out of place. I was overcome by the fear of not knowing anything, especially when it seemed like everybody knew exactly what they were doing. I didn’t even know what a knot is,” he recalled.
What shifted his perspective, he shared, were the experiences he gained after he began opening himself up more to the culture. He said he took an introductory Hawaiian studies class where he had the opportunity to board the Iosepa at the PCC. “For the first time, after
It doesn’t matter where my roots are, it doesn’t matter what culture I’m from—I can be part of this culture, too.”
Kevin Merrill Louis
one year of just looking at this beautiful vessel, I got the chance to stand on top of it. I felt so enlightened,” he expressed.
In addition, he said witnessing the crew’s spirit firsthand was another turning point for him. He said the Iosepa crew once came to their ward to teach them the song Pule Maluhia, the Hawaiian version of Secret Prayer, for a stake conference. “The spirit they shared was so immense to me, and it meant a lot. And they were all so friendly and fun,” he expressed. He said at that point, Kahiamaikalani Walker, a fellow student and crew member, was able to encourage him to join their activities every Wednesday.
Louis said he later on got involved in more events and activities related to Polynesian voyaging—such as the 50th anniversary of Kohulea, the mother of all canoes, where he was allowed the honor of blowing a conch shell to it, and the Ko‘olauloa ‘Ohana Wa‘a Training Camp, where he gained essential knowledge on voyaging life. “I felt a strong sense of belongingness. It doesn’t matter where my
roots are, it doesn’t matter what culture I’m from—I can be part of this culture, too,” he expressed. He said despite having no ancestral ties to it, he finally let go of all his qualms and let himself love voyaging life.
Duty and adequacy
For Julian Dallin Obando, a senior from the Philippines studying intercultural peacebuilding and communication, media and culture, the experience of stepping onto Iosepa for the first time was an overwhelming mix of excitement and anxiety. “You have that fear of forgetting what you learned and what you trained for because of the pressure to fulfill your responsibilities,” he shared. But he said that fear was matched by his deep desire to contribute as a capable crew member.
“The canoe doesn’t have an engine or a rotor, so I had to make sure that I do things right and I don’t mess up,” Obando expressed. The Iosepa crew, he shared, navigated the open ocean with nothing but ancestral knowledge, training, faith and trust in each other, and
The wa‘a kaulua Iosepa facing the open sea.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
that was already more than enough. Every maneuver, every knot and every decision relied on their skills and teamwork, and he said he found that wonderful.
Meanwhile, Iliana Lopez, a junior from California majoring in elementary education, focused on encouraging others to stay present and embrace the experience even when fear starts to set in.
“Breathe it all in, because there’s a lot of scary things out there. And if you let fear stop you, then you’re not letting yourself have amazing experiences,” she said. Lopez shared she grew up with salt water and sunshine as her constant companions, making the voyaging life feel like a natural extension of her upbringing. She shared, however, that although she was thrilled to board Iosepa and experience the ocean differently, she was at the same time plagued by thoughts of inadequacy. “But I also had to get over that because when things have to get done, there is no room for that feeling. In any aspect of our lives, we have to let go of
feelings like that because they’re not true,” she expressed.
Similarly, Obando said the things they learned from the open ocean mirror the skills and attitude they would need on land. “We try to learn as much knowledge and skills as we can to gain the confidence to face challenges. And when the storms arrive, we are prepared,” he shared. He said overwhelming fear can paralyze people, but the right amount can stimulate growth and drive them to try harder.
“During moments of doubt, it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. And we learn through those mistakes. We need to embrace that.”
Faith and bond amid menacing waters
According to Lopez, the waters could be rough and unpredictable during the sail, and Iosepa often had to take on wave after wave. She said the canoe, low to the water and made of wood, would rise and fall with relentless
waves, making it incredibly difficult to steer the hoe—a large paddle used to guide canoes.
“I think that was the most real part. Everyone was all hands on deck and very, very locked in,” she recalled. She said through teamwork, trust and intense focus, they were able to push through one of the most challenging legs of the voyage.
Lopez said despite the chaos, they managed to make the right decisions for the safety of the canoe and its crew members. Moreover, no one got seasick and everyone worked in sync to adjust sails, secure lines and keep the vessel steady. “Seeing everybody work together grounded me. Many hands make light work,” she expressed. “I trust my captain and crewmates. I trust them and their abilities. It was both crazy and exciting.”
On a similar note, Obando reflected on their captain’s leadership and how his demeanor kept the crew grounded even amidst strong winds and waves. “He wasn’t panicking, so why should I? It was reassuring.
“During moments of doubt, it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. And we learn through those mistakes. We need to embrace that.”
Julian Obando
An albatross flying over the Hawaiian seas.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
His countenance showed us we had nothing to worry about,” Obando shared. He said in high-pressure situations, a leader’s composure is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire team.
Meanwhile, having grown up in a city six hours away from the nearest coast, Louis said he carried a deep fear of dark water— something he had to overcome through deliberate effort. He said he would often hit the campus pool and enter the ocean at night with his supportive friends to prepare for the voyage. “The fear of water was always there, but it faded when I put my efforts into learning how to swim,” he shared.
Louis also said he found reassurance in the leadership of their captain, whose calm and cautious nature made it clear that Iosepa and the crew would never find themselves in unnecessary danger. “He’s so safe he doesn’t even want a single scratch on Iosepa,” he shared. He said the faith he had in the captain, crew and canoe helped him face the open sea with courage.
In contrast, the vast ocean is a fascinating and special place for Lopez. And in facing its vastness, she echoed Captain Mark Ellis’ words, “As long as you remember where you’re from, you’ll never be lost because you know you always have a home to return to.”
She said she was also inspired by how the navigators of the past ventured the ocean with nothing but their knowledge of the natural world. “They just learned everything that they could about the natural world, and nature is perfect. Holding onto the things I know about how nature works helped me feel grounded instead of afraid,” she said. •
A crew member manning Iosepa’s sail.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
Page design by Cyrelle Briz.
“As long as you remember where you’re from, you’ll never be lost because you know you always have a home to return to.”
Captain Mark Ellis
A CANOE LIKE NO OTHER
While rooted in the shared tradition and purpose of Polynesian voyaging, crew members say Iosepa’s gospel-driven mission and academic foundation set him apart from other canoes
BY SAMANTHA FAITH SATORRE
While many voyaging canoes feature sharp hulls that slice through ocean waves, the wa‘a kaulua Iosepa rides the sea’s vicious surges with his round hulls. In Jerusha Magalei’s words, “he flows,” and etched on his frame are stories not only of ancestral heritage but of gospel-centered individuals who make his odysseys across the Hawaiian seas possible today. “Iosepa is different because we’re part of the university, and we focus on the gospel. We educate students in both secular and spiritual ways,” Magalei explained.
Magalei, an assistant professor in BYU–Hawaii’s Faculty of Education & Social Work, is a daughter of William “Uncle Bill” Wallace III, the person who founded the university’s Hawaiian studies program and spearheaded Iosepa’s creation. This relation, she said, made her attachment to the double-hulled
voyaging canoe natural. “My role is to help maintain the stories and history of Iosepa— how it began, how he got his name and the records of his sails,” she said.
Essential to this role, she shared, is recognizing Iosepa’s place in the larger network of Polynesian voyaging. Iosepa, according to her, descended from the spirit of other canoes—namely Hōkūleʻa, the mother of canoes, and her daughter, Mākali‘i—and is therefore guided by the same values embraced by his predecessors. “The values are the same because they all come from the same knowledge. Iosepa was trained by Mākali‘i, who was trained by Hōkūleʻa. There’s a genealogical tie,” Magalei explained.
Hōkūleʻa’s website states, “Embedded in the story of Hōkūleʻa and the culture that created her is the story of a 2000-year-old relationship with special islands and the sea.”
Similarly, Magalei said Iosepa plays a special part in the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s ongoing quest to restore this ancient story that was almost lost—a legacy described by the website as “a story of survival, rediscovery and the restoration of pride and dignity.”
Driven by the gospel and ancestral wisdom
Kahiamaikalani Walker, an applied mathematics and Hawaiian studies senior born and raised in Laie and Hau‘ula, voiced a thought shared by every other crew member—Iosepa can be easily distinguished from other canoes because he carries the gospel of Jesus Christ. “It is not a requirement to be a member of the church to be onboard Iosepa. But to be on Iosepa, you do need to recognize that he is a vessel of the Church of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Iosepa’s gospel-centered nature, Walker
shared, fills their voyages with spirit and emotion. “There’s so much love and peace felt,” he expressed. Although he acknowledged that other canoes can evoke the same emotions, he emphasized Iosepa’s power to name and define these profound sensations. “With Iosepa, we can easily recognize that it’s the love of God— the Savior’s power. I would say that’s the biggest difference,” he explained.
Walker noted not only Iosepa’s religious affiliation, but also the vessel’s connection to BYU–Hawaii. “To my knowledge, Iosepa is the only voyaging canoe owned by a university. There’s no other place like it,” he shared. These associations, according to him, give Iosepa unparalleled guidance and strength. “Many people assume religion pushes us away from our ancestors. In reality, especially as we pursue these voyages, we are brought even closer to them.”
Magalei expressed similar insights on Iosepa’s intrinsic ties to the gospel. Citing “The Birthing of Iosepa,” a documentary film by Director Daniel Skaf about the double-hulled voyaging canoe’s creation, Magalei outlined four core principles that guided the vessel’s conception. “Turn your hearts to your ancestors; have faith in yourself, those around you and in the Lord; find a sense of self and positionality; and spread the light of Christ through service,” she listed, reiterating William Wallace III’s words in the film.
Magalei said the first principle is rooted in indigenous cultures across the Pacific. Turning to the past and seeking ancestral wisdom, according to her, is deeply ingrained in their communities. “If you want to be successful in life, turning to them and seeking their knowledge will help you,” she explained.
The second one, she said, is vital to the
success of any voyage. “When you’re on top of Iosepa, everything you do requires not just thinking about your ancestors but having faith that you have the capacity and ability to do great things,” she stated. Braving the vast ocean, she stressed, calls for faith in themselves, in their ancestors and, above all, in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Magalei said the third principle urges voyagers to answer questions that delve into their identities: “Who are you? Where do you stand? What is your role on the wa‘a, in class, in your family or in the world?” Iosepa, she said, may be Hawaiian in concept and design, but its spirit resonates with people from all walks of life. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Hawaiian— our last sail had students from all over the world. I loved that,” she expressed.
The fourth one, according to Magalei, is tied to Iosepa’s mission. “In the dedicatory prayer, Elder M. Russell Ballard said Iosepa is a missionary. He has a spirit of his own. When people see him, or when the crew comes into a community, they bring a different light. They serve and educate.” This mission, she said, is reflected in this year’s voyage when the crew visited and uplifted communities through providing basic needs and offering cultural entertainment.
Different hulls, one highway
The islands and the seemingly infinite sea, according to Walker, have shared a special relationship since times immemorial—the waters served not as partitions between lands but as a freeway for bold spirits. “There was one
point in history when the ocean was a highway. People were sailing back and forth thousands of years ago,” he shared. Today, he said, voyaging canoes may differ in form, but they remain united in purpose—to connect people and revitalize the time-honored tradition of pilgrimages across the vast sea.
“At present, Iosepa stands as the only actively sailing all-wooden double-hulled voyaging canoe,” Walker said. This quality, he continued, sets Iosepa apart from other modern canoes that incorporate fiberglass and hybrid materials. “What’s more, his creation involved many cultures. The logs are from Fiji, the master carver is Tongan and it takes an entire community to support him,” Walker added. This spirit of community, he noted, is evident in the dedication of those who
“Voyaging has always been the act of connecting with each other. Connection is the ultimate goal.”
Kahiamaikalani Walker
maintain, prepare and sail with Iosepa—about 30 people attend weekly workdays, and approximately 90 people took part in this year’s voyage, he said.
In addition, Walker emphasized the significance of Iosepa’s round hulls—a defining feature of Hawaiian canoes. “In Micronesian or Melanesian vessels, you’ll see sharp hulls that help them track through the water. But because Hawaii’s waters are rough and waveheavy, we favor round hulls,” he shared. This design, he explained, allows the canoe to smoothly ride the ocean’s swells.
But in terms of training crew members and the values they prioritize in each voyage, Walker and Magalei said all canoes are similar. “Voyaging has always been the act of connecting with each other. Connection is the
ultimate goal,” Walker stated. Both at sea and in the bustle of preparation, they are building an intimate relationship with each other, with their ancestors, with the culture and with Iosepa himself. “When you sand the hulls, you’re connecting with the canoe. As you do the lashings, you come to know him more intimately. That relationship matters. It’s what makes you a good candidate to sail on Iosepa,” he explained.
“So Iosepa, overall, helps us look back— what it was like for our ancestors, using the same materials and methods to feel the ocean. We use our senses and faith,” Magalei shared. She said the renaissance of Polynesian wayfinding, pioneered by master navigators like Mau Piailug and Nainoa Thompson, is something the entire voyaging society continues to carry forward.
In the pursuit of reviving an art that had been slipping away, Walker said, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was founded in 1973. “At the time, many involved in voyaging felt a deep sense of disconnection—from their ancestors, from the ocean and from the practices that once defined their identity,” he shared. The first successful voyage, he noted, marked a turning point. He said it became clear that voyaging couldn’t be a one-time event where they sail once and then have the canoe sheltered as a museum artifact. “We recognized how disconnected we were, and we knew we needed this practice back in our lives. That’s why Iosepa should be sailing as often as he can,” he expressed•
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee. Page design by Ice Cesario.
TIDES OF BONDS
Like brave ocean tides tighten the knots of a voyager’s sail, the Iosepa sailing experience weaves friendships that anchor the spirit
In the rhythm of paddles and chant, three BYUH students discovered not just new places, but a deeper sense of belonging, freedom and purpose. Wade Utai, McIntyre Horito, and MoanilehuakaualeimaʻOhulani Shimose found themselves shaped not only by the wind and waves, but by shared sacrifice, soulful songs and the quiet devotion of becoming family on and off the canoe.
Lifted by the canoe
Utai, a junior in anthropology and cultural sustainability and intercultural peacebuilding from Utah, shared the community he found on Iosepa lifted him from a low point, both on and off the canoe, by offering him a sense of freedom and belonging. As someone who’s “very big on
BY JESSIKA SANTOSO
freedom”, he said he deeply yearned for those feelings amid different complexities of life and school, especially during the fast-paced Spring semester. With Iosepa, “I could feel free from the stressors—or even with the stressors, I’m still free,” he explained. Just as crucial to him was the sense of belonging: “It provides me a certain amount of perspective, a certain amount of purpose,” he shared.
The tide of friendship, Utai shared, extended beyond the crew to the communities they visited along the way. At each landing, the crew would chant Hiki Mai and sing Hawai‘i Aloha, creating what Utai called a meaningful cultural exchange. “It’s like entering someone’s home. Through chant, I share who I am, and they respond by sharing who they are,” he explained. This voyaging routine, he said, helped him to build connections wherever he went.
For Horito, a Hawaiian studies senior from Utah and Hau‘ula, that emotional grounding came through family. Sailing this year with his sister, Michaela Horito, and their father, he said this journey drew them closer. “We were able to strengthen our relationship and trust. I feel more open with being who I am and being able to rely on them when I need help,” he explained.
The voyager’s true north
Utai said the sail affirmed the kind of friend he is with and without the canoe: one who sees fellow voyagers not just as friends, but as family. “[As a family], you dedicate almost everything to the canoe and in turn, you also dedicate your time and effort to each other,” he explained. Utai connected that idea of sacrifice and commitment to covenant-making in the temple: “Just as Heavenly Father shapes us when we dedicate our time, efforts, and talents to build His kingdom, voyaging shapes who you
With Iosepa, “I could feel free from the stressors—or even with the stressors, I’m still free.”
-Wade Utai
become as you learn and grow through it.”
The experience also shifted how Utai values relationships. “Because of voyaging, I don’t want just surface-level friendships,” he said. Now, he looks for more than casual greetings and small talk—he values connections where seeing someone brings genuine excitement and conversations pick up right where they left off, Utai explained. When asked whether he’s the same person on and off the canoe, Horito said one trait stands out across both: responsibility. “People trust you to carry things out for the safety of the wa’a (canoe). It’s the same in life; people depend on you,” he continued. While Horito and Shimose, a freshman of anthropology and Hawaiian Studies from Hilo, Hawaii, described themselves as largely the same on and off the canoe, they noted they became more focused and safety-minded while voyaging, with less time for play.
A photo of crew members adjusting the sails of the canoe. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee. Page design by Ice Cesario.
Tied by Iosepa
Shimose and Utai shared theirs and other members’ paths would never have crossed if it weren’t for Iosepa. “I wouldn’t have had a reason to know them on a more personal level,” she shared. Utai said anyone who’s interested in voyaging would be “almost immediately accepted” when joining the crew. That shared interest to always show up for Iosepa, Utai said, has evolved into lasting friendship. Shimose described her fellow voyagers as an extension of her own family that is full of aloha (love), malama (care) and kuleana (responsibility).
For Horito, Iosepa has strengthened his relationship with one of his kumu or teachers: Alohalani Housman, the Dean and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, Jonathan Nāpela Center for Hawaiian & Pacific Studies. “I feel like our relationship has changed from teacher and student to something greater; I see her as a family now,” he said. Horito expressed his gratitude for the chance to work alongside community members who become lifelong friends he hopes to sail with for the rest of his life.
The echoes they’ll carry
If Iosepa were ever to stop sailing, Utai said he would fight to preserve the relationships and memories built aboard the canoe. One of them was when their speakers failed and the crew filled the silence with singing together. “I’m a person who holds memories close to my heart. Years from now, I’ll still talk about that moment with the same person because we bonded so deeply,” he said.
Horito said he will always fondly remember dancing and teaching hula as part of the crew. “It’s amazing to visit different places and represent the crew through hula. Sometimes we mess up, but it’s okay. We just laugh and enjoy it,” he shared.
For Shimose, her best interaction during the sail was having conversation in Hawaiian with fellow crew members since most of them speak the language. She said she hopes to still be involved with voyaging in years to come•
A photo of crew members playing instruments in the canoe. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee. Page design by Ice Cesario.
Hawai’i Aloha
Written by the Reverend Lorenzo Lyons
Composed by James McGranahan
E Hawaiʻi e kuʻu one hānau e Kuʻu home kulaīwi nei
ʻOli nō au i nā pono lani ou
E Hawaiʻi, aloha ē
Hui:
E hauʻoli e nā ʻōpio o Hawaiʻi nei
ʻOli ē! ʻOli ē!
Mai nā aheahe makani e pā mai nei
Mau ke aloha, no Hawaiʻi
E haʻi mai kou mau kini lani e
Kou mau kupa aloha, e Hawaiʻi
Nā mea ʻōlino kamahaʻo no luna mai
E Hawaiʻi aloha ē (hui)
Nā ke Akua e mālama mai iā ʻoe
Kou mau kualono aloha nei
Kou mau kahawai ʻōlinolino mau
Kou mau māla pua nani ē (hui)
O Hawaiʻi, O sands of my birth
My native home
I rejoice in the blessings of heaven
O Hawaiʻi, aloha.
Chorus:
Happy youth of Hawaiʻi
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Gentle breezes blow
Love always for Hawaiʻi.
May your divine throngs speak
Your loving people, O Hawaiʻi
The holy light from above
O Hawaiʻi, aloha. (chorus)
God protects you
Your beloved ridges
Your ever glistening streams
Your beautiful flower gardens. (chorus)
LĀHAINĀ, MAUI:
The voyage’s soulful stop
Out of all Iosepa’s docking spots, BYU–Hawaii student and alumnus say Lahaina is closest to their hearts as the place fosters personal and cultural connections
BY FRANCE VALERIE LUCILLO
After sailing to the shores of O‘ahu, Moloka‘i and Maui, Iosepa crew members Jeremy Brown and Kala Haverly said their favorite docking spot was Lāhainā, Maui—a place where they felt a personal connection to the land and its people, drawing them closer to themselves and their culture.
Haverly, a political science sophomore from Hau‘ula, said seeing Lāhainā people’s willingness to lend a hand helped him reconnect with his Hawaiian heritage, especially in times of loneliness. “Through this experience, I felt deep connections with people I had just met. And they’re strong experiences—strong connections that will forever help me,” he expressed.
Maui and the sense of community
Brown, a Winter 2025 graduate from Utah, said Maui was his favorite stop, especially since he was there the longest. “Many of the crew members had family there. Their families brought us food, talked to us and helped us do outreach programs,” he explained. Sailing to Maui, he shared, allowed him to build meaningful connections with people.
Brown said being in Lāhainā was the most significant part of their time in Maui. “We had permission from the harbor master to dock right in the area where the fire happened years ago. It was closed to the public but they asked us to come because of the voyaging canoe,” he shared. He said it was inspiring to witness the love, care and support within the Lāhainā community. “It was humbling to see how the
community has healed and continues to do so,” he expressed.
Healing, Brown said, is just as important as having a sense of community, belonging and connection, especially in the face of disaster. “Looking at the community now and what they’re doing to change and heal, I realized it parallels our personal life and how we live the gospel—we also face challenges and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do now to change and heal?’” he said.
Brown also said Iosepa helped him deepen his focus on Christ, strengthen his faith and better understand himself. “Being around these people, especially those whom I share the same values with, helped strengthen myself and my own values,” he shared.
Despite having no Polynesian ancestry, he shared the strong sense of community he felt through the familial and ancestral connection shared by those on the voyage. “It was cool to witness these people’s strong connection to the place and how they were affected by it. I wanted to feel that connection for myself, too,” he expressed.
He also said the Iosepa crew supported Opi‘iliani canoe crews in an outreach program in Maui. “They were high school students doing summer voyaging. We got to talk to them, and we gave a presentation about the Iosepa and who we are,” he shared. Brown said they also answered various questions from other crews, ranging from sailing to outreach. “I think that helped me understand why I was there. We were able to learn together as we taught each other,” he shared.
A photo of Iosepa in Lahaina. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee. Page design by Ice Cesario.
Maui and the search for personal and cultural connection
Sharing the same favorite docking spot as Brown, Haverly said the destination he cherished most throughout the voyage was Lāhainā, Maui. He said they had originally planned to go to Maula, a coastal area north of Lāhainā, but plans changed. “Our captain said we were going to Lāhainā Harbor. It was special for me to have Iosepa bring me to Lāhainā, especially after the fire,” he expressed.
He described the experience as deeply spiritual. “We were going to a sacred place so we had to focus, respect the people there and bring light to them,” he shared. He said the community was very loving and supportive. “It was really humbling to see the people and the remnants of their houses. It was a privilege to see them rebuild their homes,” he shared.
Haverly said one spiritual experience he will always remember involved his crew member’s sister. He said after a tragedy at BYUH where a student was lost while sailing, the entire crew was feeling down. “The wind in our sails was taken out, as some people might say, because we went from having this joyous moment to grieving what had happened at school,” he recalled.
While processing the events that transpired, Haverly said his crew member’s sister showed him a painting she was working on. “It was a beautiful image of Lāhainā where everything was lush and green. She told me: ‘This is the hope that we have for the future. Although there are trials, the hope for our future after everything is gone is that we can choose to make it something more sacred than it was,’” he recalled. That perspective, he said, helped him realign his focus on prioritizing the land and its people.
Returning to Lāhainā after his mission, Haverly said their experiences symbolized the true spirit of the voyaging tradition. He said whenever they talked to others about their voyage and how they docked in Lāhainā, many were surprised as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Iosepa: voyagers of faith. That is our title. And through that sacred vessel, we can be a light in moments of darkness, bringing the light of Christ to people who deeply need it,” he shared.
“Being around these people, especially those whom I share the same values with, helped strengthen myself and my own values.”
-Kala Haverly
Words of encouragement
Haverly said he encourages individuals, especially the youth, to try hard things and pursue what is culturally meaningful to them. “It does not have to be voyaging if that’s not your thing. But in a gospel-centered culture, anything good that aligns with gospel principles should be understood and embraced,” he said.
He emphasized they can deepen their faith by finding aspects of their culture that support gospel principles. “That’s how it is for me. My voyaging does increase my faith. Being on the water, being on land, seeing these places that are important to me, getting to know these people, connecting with them and serving them bring me closer to Christ and His gospel,” Haverly explained.
Brown echoed the same sentiment, saying he would encourage anyone to experience voyaging. He said doing so will help them learn how to confront challenges, work with a team and understand themselves more deeply. “There’s value in connection, community, but also in working hard, learning and growing,” he said.
He said voyaging pushes people outside their comfort zones. “I didn’t have a lot of sailing experience before I did this. But because of this, I’ve been given many opportunities to be involved in different boats, which opened many doors for me,” Brown shared•
While Iosepa is anchored, crew members enjoy snorkeling in the sea
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee Page Design by Ice Cesario
BYU–Hawaii students find deeper meaning through service, heritage and life lessons aboard Iosepa
BY LINDA LAULU
Sailing aboard Iosepa isn’t just an academic or cultural exercise; it’s a personal journey rooted in service, ancestral connection and the pursuit of life lessons extending far beyond the ocean, shared three BYU–Hawaii students who crewed the Iosepa. They said experiences aboard the vessel shaped and deepened their understanding of service, purpose and commitment to preserving Polynesian traditions and values.
A dream realized through action
Rory Pilkington, a junior from Australia majoring in business management, with concentration on finance said sailing on the Iosepa was the fulfillment of a vision he first had as a missionary. “During my mission, I had a dream of me on a double-hulled canoe smashing through ocean waves,” he shared. “And once I was given the opportunity to make it become a reality, I leapt at the chance.”
According to Pilkington, he first stepped onto Iosepa during the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FESTPAC) in 2024 while the canoe was stationed at Kualoa. He said he has been involved with the Iosepa and the voyaging community ever since. Although the only event he joined this year was a community outreach at the canoe house, Pilkington said the Iosepa continues to reshape his view of what service truly means.
Pilkington said sailing aboard the Iosepa helped him see service in a new way not just as a way to lighten someone’s load or brighten their day, but as a deeper, ongoing commitment to caring for the earth. Instead of trying to be a “one-time hero,” he said the experience taught him the importance of becoming a lifelong steward of the environment.
He added that Iosepa’s purpose goes far beyond physical voyages. “With Iosepa, you have a mission and a purpose. You’re there as a group, honoring the ancestors and all those who have gone before, not just
A photo of Raj Ravi David Jerry while working in the Iosepa Learning Center. Illustrations by Guen Ramirez.
going for a ride out in the ocean like with other vessels,” he added.
Pilkington continued by echoing a sentiment shared by PCC President Alfred Grace. “I think President Grace said it best when he said, ‘Iosepa is to the Polynesians what the handcart is to the pioneers,’” he shared.
Lessons at sea and on land
Robecca Salleh, a junior from Malaysia majoring in health and human science, said her journey began long before the canoe set sail. “I have worked at Iosepa Learning Center since my first semester,” she shared. “All the learning and training while working there inspired me to join the voyage and apply the things I’ve been trained on.”
She sailed with the Iosepa during its recent voyage from O‘ahu to Moloka‘i and Maui. She said along the way, crew members taught the community about traditional voyaging and ancient navigation methods. She described the experience as “very productive and memorable.”
Reflecting on the journey, Salleh said the services they offered were not one-sided. As a crew member, she helped teach the community about the Iosepa canoe, traditional Polynesian navigation and the
importance of connecting with ancestors. “I realized while I was giving service to the community, I was also receiving service. It was a mutual thing. The more I gave, the more I received. Service is a work of God,” she shared. She said the more she shared with others, the more she learned about her own family history and strengthened her testimony of temple work.
Citing Mosiah 2:17, she said, “King Benjamin was right when he said, ‘When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.’” Salleh also recalled the guidance she received from Captain Mark Ellis during their return to the harbor. She echoed the captain’s words saying, “Sailing on any canoe teaches valuable life lessons because it involves making constant decisions, each with consequences, and when you choose to stay on the right path, you will be blessed.”
She said she believes the canoe offers more than a voyage, it teaches values that ripple through the lives of everyone who steps aboard.
“Iosepa gave a valuable life lesson and advice to the community,” she said. For Salleh, “sailing with purpose” means doing things with set goals and keeping the end in mind.
Bridge between generations
Raj Ravi David Jerry, a senior from Malaysia majoring in business management with an organizational leadership and human resources concentration, said it was the questions asked by guests in the Iosepa Learning Center that motivated him to sail. “Most guests asked if I had been sailing with the Iosepa,” he said. “This inspired me to join the crew and sail out. Iosepa sailed last year and I missed the opportunity to sail, but this year, I was able to join.”
For Jerry, Iosepa became a cultural bridge. “It brings the community together by educating them and connecting them with their ancestors,” he said. “It bridges the younger generations with the older.”
He said the voyage also reshaped his understanding of service. “From my perspective, service helps me understand that we need each other,” he shared. “It is a universal language that unites all of us together.” The Iosepa, he continued, carries with it a spiritual legacy. “Iosepa brings the spirit of aloha to the world, which fulfills the vision of the Polynesian Cultural Center.” •
“With Iosepa, you have a mission and a purpose. You’re there as a group, honoring the ancestors and all those who have gone before, not just going for a ride out in the ocean like with other vessels."
Rory Pilkington
Page design by Cyrelle Briz.
An alumnus, community member and student say they connected with nature, celebrated the Hawaiian culture and found family during Iosepa’s 2025 voyage
BY FRANCE VALERIE LUCILLO
Amid the open ocean, crew members said Iosepa becomes more than a double-hulled voyaging canoe—it becomes a sacred vessel that delivers good tidings to different shores. It also becomes a sanctuary and a bridge between different generations and communities, said members of the BYUH ‘ohana and local community.
Scott Muhlestein, an alumnus of BYU–Hawaii from O‘ahu, said one of the best things about Iosepa is it brings the community and students together. “I feel like there’s often a divide between the community and students because we’re not always interacting with each other, but Iosepa is a great opportunity to make friends and reconnect with both BYUH and the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC),” he shared. He said through Iosepa workdays, he has learned more about Hawaiian culture, which made him feel connected to the land and community to better serve his neighbors.
Learning from community members and alumni’s experiences
For Julian Dallin Obando, a senior from the Philippines studying intercultural peacebuilding and communication, media and culture, one of the things that stood out during this year’s sail was the presence of alumni and community members in every training and workday. By working alongside these people, he said he realized that Iosepa needs people from all professions. “There’s a misconception that you need to be a Hawaiian studies major to join Iosepa. But I learned from alumni in different professions that we need different experiences, talents and skills to bring Iosepa together,” he said.
Obando said he appreciated the opportunity to sail with them because it allowed him to ask questions not just about sailing but also about other things, such as problem-solving and even cooking. “It humbled me to see how our alumni interact, deal with challenges and find solutions,” he expressed. He said their guidance helped him prepare thoroughly for the voyage.
He recalled a particular interaction with an alumnus they called Uncle Lono, where they discussed how Iosepa had not sailed for the past eight years due to logistical issues. “[Uncle Lono] compared Iosepa’s pause with our lives. He said we’ll experience pauses—just as Iosepa did—where we will also go through times of refinement and preparation to become seaworthy again,” he said.
Obando connected that message to his own experience with personal health. “Just like Iosepa, I did not let the pause stop me. I also went through a lot of refining—getting myself together and surrounding myself with people who helped me become better,” he said.
“[Uncle
Lono] compared Iosepa’s pause with our lives. He said we’ll experience pauses—just as Iosepa did—where we will also go through times of refinement and preparation to become seaworthy again.”
Julian Obando
Obando also said he had to coordinate with alumni and other people, because his participation in this year’s sail did not come so easily. He said he had to balance work and classes while preparing for the voyage. “It was in the middle of the semester when Iosepa sailed, and I was really worried about how I could manage everything. But I’m grateful that all of my professors were BYUH alumni who were supportive of my schedule,” he said.
Because of these experiences, Obando said he’s fully committed to coming back and participating in Iosepa’s next voyages. “Right now, we’re doing workdays every week to learn as much as we can, because we tend to forget, right? But we come together to learn from and teach each other,” he said.
Obando said this spirit of community was what alleviated his initial hesitation to join the voyaging crew. He said when he first interacted with them, he was greeted with the warmest aloha and a strong sense of family, rooted in the bond they shared through the canoe. “When you’re part of the Iosepa crew, your family expands, not only in Iosepa itself but in the whole wa’a or canoe world. You meet many people along the way as you share the mission of the sacred canoe and relate with each other’s experiences,” Obando shared.
Learning
from students on equal grounds
For Scott Muhlestein and his brother, Chris Muhlestein, they believe there is much to learn from the younger generation. “Participating in
“Participating in Iosepa made me feel like I’m in the position of being mentored while also standing on equal grounds with the students.”
Scott Muhlestein
Iosepa made me feel like I’m in the position of being mentored while also standing on equal grounds with the students,” Scott Muhlestein said. Mentoring, he shared, is not something he does out of obligation. Rather, he said he believes in the power of connection—where both teaching and learning happen through engaging with the students.
“One of the things I learned from being around students is that in the canoe, everyone should be on the same page by listening to the captain,” he said. Failing to do so, he stated, can lead to danger and confusion. “I also learned some skills from [the students] to sail: tying knots, opening a sail and ways of navigation,” he shared.
As a BYUH alumnus, Scott Muhlestein said alumni involvement contributes to Iosepa’s legacy and provides valuable learning experience. “One of the most valuable lessons we learn at BYU–Hawaii is to serve others. I believe Iosepa is a powerful opportunity to put that into practice,” he explained.
Similarly, Chris Muhlestein, a community member from O‘ahu, said the opportunity for practical and spiritual collaboration with other people inspired his involvement with Iosepa. “I find it refreshing to know my neighbors and make new friends through Iosepa. It’s such an open and inviting group where students, PCC employees and the community play an important role,” he said. Chris Muhlestein said it reminded him of the people described in Acts 4:32, who were of “one heart and one mind.”
“I am not a guide. I still have so much to learn about the wa‘a. Older people tend to get stuck in their ways while younger people usually have flexible minds, and I admire people like that,” he expressed. Having sailed from O‘ahu to Moloka‘i this year, he said working with the students before and during the voyage was deeply rewarding. “We are united by the same purpose. There’s a lot of joy in spending time together, especially in Moloka‘i,” he shared.
Chris Muhlestein said he often found himself learning from the students, many of whom were accomplished voyagers. “I was also secretly absorbing any Hawaiian language I could during the trip as a lot of the crew, especially students, were fluent speakers,” he explained.
He also expressed his gratitude for the open-minded leadership that allowed everyone to participate. “It takes a village to care for such a large wa‘a like Iosepa. I don’t think it would be possible without everyone helping out,” he said.
Learning about Hawaiian culture
Scott Muhlestein said joining the Iosepa voyage during FestPAC 2024 and participating in Iosepa’s workdays this year helped him realize the importance of understanding the culture and language of the place he calls home. “Being with Iosepa challenged me to deepen my connection with Hawaiian culture and give back to the community that has given me so much,” he shared. “I never really connected with the culture as deeply as I wanted to, until now.”
Similarly, Chris Muhlestein said helping with Iosepa’s voyages made him reflect on his responsibility to the culture and community. As a Caucasian living in Hawaii, he said he sometimes felt like his presence
might unintentionally take something away from the culture. “But the truth is, I care deeply and want to dedicate my time, energy, and resources to perpetuating Hawaiian culture,” he said. He described his time with Iosepa as a way to give back to a culture he feels indebted to.
Their adoptive sister, the brothers added, is from the Marshall Islands, so they consider the experience even more meaningful. During FestPAC 2024, Scott Muhlestein said he had the chance to show the Marshall Islands’ ambassador the canoe. “Marshallese people have a rich history of voyaging,” he said, “which closely relates to Hawaiian culture.”
Despite the distance between the Micronesian and Polynesian islands, Chris Muhlestein said, they are more connected than they seem. “Sometimes it feels like the world wants to fragment us into different cultures and beliefs—but it can’t. In the end, we’re all brothers and sisters. I want to show that to everyone,” he said.
Connecting with God, nature and with others through Iosepa
Scott Muhlestein said being involved with Iosepa is a spiritual experience that strengthens his connection with God. “Iosepa is a dedicated canoe with a missionary purpose, and everyone in the crew, especially those who sailed, can feel the spirit while working there,” he shared. “Being in the ocean, whether through surfing or sailing, makes me feel closer to the natural world created by the Lord.”
As a former English major, he said his interest in Romantic poetry stems from his attachment to nature and experiences with Iosepa. “This type of poetry inspired me because it is focused on connecting with nature, which means connecting with God, too. I think Iosepa is a good example of that because it allows us to focus on spiritual things while getting closer to the natural world,” he explained.
While embracing nature helped Scott Muhlestein grow closer to
God, he said it also inspired him to join the Iosepa crew. “I always wanted to give back to my community and learn more about Hawaiian culture. That’s when I reached out to Professor Ulysses Funaki, and he said I can help take care of Iosepa as it is preparing to sail again,” he shared. Muhlestein said he was able to help out during the workdays at the Iosepa Learning Center, which is open to both community members and students.
Muhlestein said if he were to share one lesson with the younger generation about voyaging with Iosepa, it would be “to mālama the ‘āina.” He emphasized the importance of teaching youth the Hawaiian concept of mālama—a sense of responsibility and care—and its deep connection to the ‘āina, or land. “God has created this land to serve us—to provide food and shelter for us. And as we take care of it and respect it as its good stewards, it will give back more than what we gave. Iosepa will help us, especially the younger generation, do that,” he explained.
Words for future voyagers
For younger generations interested in joining Iosepa, Obando said everyone’s talents are valuable in every sail. “Come be part of [Iosepa]. Each of us has something unique to offer, whether it’s singing or dancing,” he said. Through Iosepa, he added, individuals can grow and find success in life as they learn from each other’s experiences. Similarly, Chris Muhlestein said even individuals who do not have any sailing experience should join. “Join us because [Iosepa], or any other wa’a, is a great place to learn.” In addition, Scott Muhlestein said the younger generation should get involved in the community. He said in today’s world, especially among the younger generation, people are often distracted by technology and social media. “Because of that, we tend to focus more on ourselves, making it harder to look outward in the community. But connecting with the people around us and forming new relationships is just as important as connecting through technology,” he explained. •
Iosepa voyagers rediscover identity and the meaning of community at sea
BY MYCO MARCAIDA
Water is more than a place to cross, it is where a community is built through trust and genuine connections, said two BYU-Hawaii students who sailed with Iosepa during their month-long voyage beginning May 22. According to the UNESCO website, water plays an important role across faith-based traditions worldwide. Water symbolizes elements as diverse as life, purity, renewal and reconciliation, but also chaos and destruction, says the site. Iliana Lopez, a junior majoring in
elementary education from California, said the ocean cannot be controlled, and one can only adapt. “On the canoe we had to use what we had to sail. You can only work with what is going on. And it’s the same with life,” she explained.
Trust in the captain
As one of the few women on the Iosepa crew, Lopez said she felt safe voyaging because of the trust she had for her captain and her crew.
Mark Ellis, Iosepa’s captain, was featured on the Aloha State Daily website and said he grew up in the water and on the water. “When he was seven years old, he saw Hōkūleʻa coming home from a voyage to Tahiti and told his parents he wanted to sail on that vessel,” the site says. According to the article “At the helm of the Iosepa” by Karl Aldre Marquez, aside from Ellis’ fascination with Hōkūleʻa, he said he was curious about his ancestors who sailed the world without modern equipment. Ellis said completing graduate school and
Iosepa crew members preparing food bags for families at the Kelawea Makua Community Hub.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
receiving job offers from tech companies and consulting firms, he longed to voyage the ocean. Marquez writes, Ellis was able to transfer jobs and brought himself closer to the voyaging world. Eventually, Ellis became a voyaging educator and taught at Kamehameha School, writes Marquez. Ellis said he was also part of the Moanananuiakea voyage crew and worked as a project manager helping the community for Hawaiian voyages before he became director of voyaging experiences at the Polynesian Cultural Center, writes Marquez. Today, Ellis helps train the next generation of navigators for voyages around the Hawaiian Islands, says the Aloha State Daily website.
A connection to our ancestors
Wade Utai, a sophomore double majoring in intercultural peace building and anthropology from Utah, described overcoming seasickness and fear on the canoe. “Last year, I got seasick and was out for hours. This time around I was sick again but got over it quickly,” he shared. Utai compared the state of a person to a grain of sand when one is out in the ocean. “Out at sea, you see the vastness of the ocean, and you realize how small you are,” he continued. Although not Hawaiian, Utai said he felt more in tune with his ancestors. “Growing up in Utah, far from the ocean, I have been called names saying I wasn’t Polynesian enough. Voyaging made me feel I
was, and no one can take that away from me,” he explained. Utai said other people might think of voyaging as an insignificant activity. “It’s not. It’s [important] to the Hawaiian community and that is enough to change people’s view and bring in more people to the voyaging world,” Utai said.
Utai said the ocean shifted his perspective on what matters in life. He said he realized temporal things like a comfortable bed to sleep on matters less.
Iosepa crew conversing while hard at work on the canoe.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
“On the canoe, nothing else matters but each other.”
Wade Utai
Utai said being part of a crew changed his individualist mindset to a more collectivist mindset. “I trusted my crew and knew that God would take care of us. In sailing, one person cannot do it alone,” he explained. Lopez said the greatest lesson she learned from voyaging is the importance of feeling that she belong. “I am a 5’7 girl among men [who are] stronger than me, but everyone has something they’re good at. Belonging means you’ll always have people to come back to,” she explained. A moment Lopez loved during the voyage was chanting Aue Ua Hiti E whenever the canoe arrived safely, she said. “It reminded me how safe I was with my crew. The ocean makes you feel small, but it shows how big everything is and how much connection matters,” Lopez said.•
Iosepa crew members hoisting the sail under the blue sky.
Photo by Mark Holladay Lee.
Illustrations by Adobe Stock. Page design by Cyrelle Briz.
Steering in sync
BYUH
alumni say sailing the wa‘a taught them unity, trust and shared responsibilities
BY LINDA LAULU
Steering a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe isn’t just about physical strength or skill, said BYU–Hawaii alumni. They said it’s a deeply symbolic and cooperative experience that reveals lessons about unity, gender balance and unspoken trust on the open ocean.
Tehani Tevaga, a hospitality and tourism management graduate from Laie, said serving on the hoe uli, or steering paddles, taught her that success on the waʻa requires coordination and shared purpose. “Steering both hoe can take about six people. That’s why communication and synchronization are essential,” she said. There were moments, she recalled, when her crew operated in near-perfect sync without needing to speak. She said it was impressive how often the crew achieved that harmony instinctively.
Tevaga also said she found deep meaning in the canoe’s steering system, which uses two paddles—one representing wahine (women) and the other kāne (men). For her, this design reflects a deeper cultural truth. “They have to stay in harmony for the canoe to move forward,” she explained, saying it reminds her that men and women are created equal. “Our responsibilities might be different, but both are necessary not just on the waʻa, but in everyday life,” she added.
She said the experience reminded her how essential cooperation is when paddling with others. “If your crewmates can’t collaborate and work well with one another, the waʻa won’t be going anywhere,” she said. “Thankfully, our crew worked really well together. We shared our kuleana and got things done with ease.”
“It was a beautiful thing to witness, especially when we were steering. Everyone was moving as one.”
Tehani Tevaga
Despite their differences in background, age and experience, Tevaga said the crew was united by a shared love for the canoe. “It was a beautiful thing to witness, especially when we were steering. Everyone was moving as one,” she said.
Levi May, a 2017 graduate in international cultural studies from Hauʻula, said he had a similar realization while serving as watch captain aboard the Iosepa, where he helped ensure the safety of the crew and canoe while supporting others in seamanship and leadership. “One of my biggest takeaways was learning to live peacefully with people of different personalities in a tight space—something that required patience, empathy and humility,” he shared. Steering Iosepa, he added, was physically demanding and required precise teamwork. Unlike other
“Eventually, the team could navigate with minimal words. To me, that was magic.”
vessels he had sailed, he said the Iosepa needed multiple crew members working as one on the hoe.
“At first, I tried to talk a lot to guide everyone,” he said. He realized, however, that the ocean and the waʻa will always show him what to do—a sensation he described as a guidance that naturally extends from him, the watch captain, to his crew. “Eventually, the team could navigate with minimal words. To me, that was magic,” he expressed.
May said he felt humbled when his crew, whom he deeply admired for their strength and character, looked to him for guidance. “I was very impressed with the crew—their abilities, strength and humility,” he expressed. He said their trust deepened his sense of kuleana and taught him the power of quiet leadership.
Elijah Ebert, a political science graduate from Virginia, said sailing aboard the Iosepa last year taught him the importance of unity and shared purpose. “On the canoe, everyone looks out for each other like family because safety is top priority,” he said. That sense of community extended beyond safety, he added, as the crew celebrated together. “Whenever we saw a shark, dolphin or something else exciting, our immediate reaction was to tell everybody so they could be excited too.”
One of his most memorable roles, Ebert said, was helping steer the Iosepa using a method that involved three crew members on each sweep. “When we needed to turn to starboard [to the right], we pushed the very large and heavy sweep handles to port [left] and vice versa,” he said. While rounding Kaʻena Point, Ebert recalled strong waves and wind requiring precise communication. “I called out, ‘Slight port,’ ‘Slight starboard,’ and other commands to keep Iosepa going straight,” he said.
One challenge, he shared, was staying aligned with the boat towing them. Predicting the vessel’s movements and the incoming waves was difficult but rewarding, Ebert said. “It’s amazing what I was able to learn in such a short time, and it reminded me those who did it all the time in centuries past must have been incredibly skilled.” •
Iosepa voyaging crew returns with life-changing testimonies after month-long spiritual voyage
BY SAMANTHA FAITH SATORRE
“Iosepa was birthed in the same spirit—as a vessel of faith, a missionary and a reminder that our ancestors moved forward with purpose, guided by their belief in God.”
Jerusha Magalei
In celebration of Polynesian heritage and ancient wayfaring, Iosepa, a traditional double-hulled canoe, departed from its home at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and once again ventured into the open sea on May 24. The completion of this monthlong voyage was honored on June 22 during a devotional where crew members reflected on the transformation they experienced throughout the journey. Mark Ellis, captain of the vessel and director of voyaging experiences at PCC, said what sets Iosepa apart from all other canoes is that it carries the gospel of Jesus Christ—a sentiment echoed by the rest of the crew.
Pressing forward in faith
“The name ‘Iosepa’ was chosen not simply to honor a place, but to honor a people—those who, like voyagers, left
behind everything familiar to follow the Lord in faith,” shared Jerusha Magalei, an assistant professor in BYU–Hawaii’s Faculty of Education & Social Work. The canoe, she explained, was named after Iosepa, a settlement in Utah established in the 1880s by Latter-day Saints from the Pacific. “Iosepa was birthed in the same spirit—as a vessel of faith, a missionary and a reminder that our ancestors moved forward with purpose, guided by their belief in God,” she said.
Iosepa, Magalei shared, has been guided by the Hawaiian proverb, “Kihe ka ihu i ka ale,” since its creation. She said these words capture the spirit of faith and fearlessness. “It describes a wa’a going forward into the unknown, undeterred by the spray of the waves,” she explained. The magnificent Iosepa, she continued, represents this kind
of journey—one where they are invited to trust, learn and grow.
“Even though I know the voyage can be really hard and challenging, I still go anyway because I understand the blessings of the journey and what lies ahead,” Magalei expressed. She has served Iosepa as a crew member, and although she has done service mostly on land, she said she understood the faith and courage it takes to voyage out into the sea. “In different roles, I’ve come to know the Lord better. I’ve come to know people better and I’ve especially come to know myself better,” she shared.
Whether in the embrace of ocean waves, safety of the shores, or quiet of preparation, she said being part of Iosepa’s voyages is an incomparable experience that teaches lessons of love, patience, humility, service and sacrifice. “It is a classroom without walls. It
truly is,” she said. She described Iosepa as a living embodiment of ancestral wisdom and a space that fosters faith through action.
Iliana Lopez, a junior from California majoring in elementary education and the outreach coordinator for the 2025 voyage, expressed similar feelings towards the vessel’s power as she reflected on the mark they left on the islands they visited throughout the voyage. She said although she often felt like she hadn’t done much beyond simply being present, the gratitude from locals proved otherwise.
“The simple act of voyaging to these places brought light and hope to people. Imagine what more we could do,” she expressed. Quoting Ether 12:4, she shared, “Hope is an anchor to our souls. We need anchors in our lives, so we need the light and hope found in Jesus Christ.”
A calling and a choice
“Here, you could be all of you,” expressed Kahiamaikalani Walker, a BYUH applied mathematics and Hawaiian studies senior born and raised in Laie and Hauula. He described the wa‘a kaulua Iosepa as a place where individuals could serve without having to cast aside other parts of themselves. “Iosepa is a light. He is a very, very powerful missionary tool that brings people from all over the world onto Christ, onto their fathers and onto themselves,” he emphasized.
Walker said although he has found himself in different places throughout his life, his connection to voyaging remained strong and undeniable. He was a third grader, he shared, when he touched Iosepa’s hull for the first time. “I remember thinking to myself: I want
to be a voyager someday,” he recalled. Despite initially doubting his ability to fulfill that dream, he said his path eventually led him to that very calling—starting with helping the Polynesian Voyaging Society dust off the vessel’s hulls and, ultimately, sailing across the open sea to distant destinations.
“It’s a little uncertain at first. You don’t know for sure what’s going on,” Walker said. But Iosepa’s grandeur, he continued, is best realized at sea, where their connection with their ancestors and each other is stronger than the waves. “This voyage was incredible—being able to go to the different islands and seeing Iosepa’s light spread within the crew members and also within all the people we’ve been able to visit and see,” he shared.
“Iosepa is a light. He is a very, very powerful missionary tool that brings people from all over the world onto Christ, onto their fathers and onto themselves.”
Kahiamaikalani Walker
“I chose this life to work hard. I chose this life to show up. I chose this life to be a disciple of Jesus Christ everyday,” expressed Mark Lee, watch captain and photographer for the crew. He shared the thrills and challenges of sailing with Iosepa—surrounded by islands on either side, with swells and wind coming from multiple directions. There were moments, he said, when he felt fear and doubt. But believing in his purpose and in his crewmates gave him peace. These people, Lee said, radiate boundless kindness and love. “Iosepa’s mission is the gathering of Israel. I’m so grateful for that. I’m so grateful for this crew,” he expressed. He said they testify of the vessel’s power not simply through words, but through action—through showing up and choosing this life. •
Photos by Hiroki Konno.
Layout Design by Cho Yong Fei.
How the synergy of voyagers integrates into Iosepa himself
BY GENE CYMMER RAMIREZ
The Wa‘a Crew Handbook, Iosepa’s official crew training manual, emphasizes the importance of Iosepa’s success through his crew’s unity with one of the handbook’s 28 principles of crew behavior stating, “Teamwork is essential to success; never let your team down.” Another one of its principles establishes, “Care for the canoe as it will care for you.” Indeed, the only way Iosepa succeeds in “spreading aloha around the world” is by the collective effort of each voyager and their willingness to be a part of Iosepa himself, as clearly written in the handbook.
Iosepa, our kūpuna
In the training manual’s “Code of conduct”, it states, “The canoe is our universe. Care for Iosepa as you would your kūpuna.” All of Iosepa’s crewmembers must treat each other as family including Iosepa himself as the manual says.
As described by Hawaii Public Health Institute’s official website, kūpuna are “among the most valued members of society.” The website says the word itself signifies wisdom, reverence and intellect. Kūpuna are living treasures of the community, as emphasized in the website.
Voyagers of Iosepa treat him as their kūpuna through the many duties focused not only in maintenance, but also in respect. For example, as part of the crew’s code of conduct, the manual states illicit drugs, smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited. The training states voyagers must at all times show respect, humility and a desire to seek wisdom while on the canoe. “You are representing much more than yourself,” the manual says, as it reminds voyagers that their actions reflect their community, family and ancestors.
The admiration and respect for Iosepa can be heard in the chant “Hiki Mai E Nā Pua”, composed by Kumu Hula and Cy Bridges, in one of the verses, saying, “A cherished adornment of the ancestors/Come forward, proceed forward.”
Extensions of Iosepa
“See, feel, smell and hear everything on and around the vessel,” the manual states as it teaches how crewmembers must be aware of everything aboard and around Iosepa. Throughout the handbook, one principle is continually highlighted: a voyager’s dedication of all their time and energy to the canoe.
In particular, crewmembers assigned to watch Iosepa are trained not to sleep, use earphones and sometimes turn off their communication devices during their assignment, as listed in the handbook.
The handbook states that voyagers must constantly be ready for anything that Iosepa needs. For example, the manual teaches that the crew must already be ready 10 minutes before their assigned watch. “Always be on surveillance for safety, alert to dangerous conditions, situations, actions or behaviors,” says the manual. The handbook emphasizes that a voyager must know the canoe as if it is a part of their own body, because it states that a crewmember’s awareness includes knowing everything about Iosepa down to the potential leak points and location of the other voyagers themselves.
All hands on deck
“Understand that you are judged as a group; individual actions reflect all of us as a group,” the manual establishes in the section entitled “Crew behavior.” It states that the crew must treat each other as family, caring as brothers and sisters.
The handbook trains voyagers with the “Buddy System,” a protocol that requires each crewmember to have a “buddy” or partner to help with tasks, relaying information and emergencies. The system even goes as far as knowing each other’s overall health including sleep, hydration and similar conditions. It states that each partnership must support leadership in maintaining a safe and healthy crew.
The camaraderie of the crew is seen in the handbook’s chant, “Auē Ua Hiti ē,” with the lyrics, “E lauhoe mai ka waʻa i ke kā,” which means “Everybody paddle the canoes together.”
“The canoe is our universe. Care for Iosepa as you would your kūpuna.”
Wa‘a Crew Handbook
Photos provided by Mark Holladay Lee..
Assignments on the Iosepa
CAPTAIN
According to the handbook, the captain is “responsible for the overall planning and execution of the mission, the safety and preservation of lives and property and the maintenance of vessels and equipment.
“The captain is responsible for the training and management of the crew and everything the crew does or fails to do,” the handbook states.
Prior to departure, the handbook says the captain must designate a chain of succession if they become incapacitated on board.
WATCH CAPTAIN
The watch captain carries out the commands of the captain, according to the handbook. They are directly in charge of operations, crew safety and delegation of duties.
HELMSMAN
The helmsman is in charge of steering the vessel, as written in the handbook. The handbook says the helmsman requires constant and intense concentration, and may not leave their station even during an emergency.
WATCHES
According to the handbook, a watch is a group of crew members that are assigned to carry out voyaging tasks. These crew members are responsible for steering, lookout, maneuvering and sail handling, the handbook states. The handbook says other duties include cleaning, maintaining the vessel and preparing food for the crew.
COURSE SPOTTER
The coursespotter is in charge of directing the helmsman which direction to steer in order to maintain Iosepa’s course, the handbook says. Like the helmsman, the handbook says a course spotter requires great concentration and may not leave their station during emergencies. •
Photos provided by Mark Holladay Lee.
Illustration by Guen Ramirez-Platon. Page Design by Cyrelle Briz.
