We have arrived in Galápagos!!

Ok, we have arrived in Galápagos and we have been here for three days.  On the first day we were blessed with the arrival of Hōkūleʻa and the privilege to fulfill our Kuleana to mālama Hōkūleʻa by helping to change out parts of the rig immediately upon getting into Puerto Ayora after 40+ hours of travel! 

We spent the next day at the Charles Darwin Research Station where, our Galápagos hosts Alejandra and Paola greeted us gave us an incredible tour of the facility and brought invited us to hear some wonderful lectures by teams of scientists working on restoration and preservation measures,

We have been consistently amazed by the hospitality, generosity, and kindness shown to us by the people of the Galápagos.

There will be much more explanation later, mahalo for you patience.  

Houston to Quito!

After a successful stay in the Houston Airport, students were able to work on their Oli for Hōkūleʻa and to share with folks in the Galápagos.  They were also able to continue thinking about their projects, while having some fun and catching up on some much needed sleep. 

On the flight to Quito, a biologist on her way to the Galápagos, was explaining some of her research on invasive species control, specifically introduced flies whose larva are killing the Darwin Finch chicks, to some of our students.  We were also informed about a scientific conference happening there that we may be able to participate in, how fortunate! 

We have safely arrived in Quito and cleared customs into Ecuador and now trying to get a quick cat-nap at the airport before the next leg of our journey to Puerto Ayora.  Good job gang staying together and pushing through this 38-hour travel day!

Yeah, I think folks are tired!! :)

Sleep is a good thing!

Leaving Hawaii

Here we are ready to start the journey, although we began three weeks ago when we all met at Kamehameha School with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and then a week later at Windward Community College. How fortunate were we to have Dr. Joe Ciotti allow us to use the imagination as a tool so we could study the stars in Hawaii and the Galapagos!

We have arrived safely and very tired in Houston. Off to Quito after a day of practicing our oli and reviewing stars. 

Preparing to get underway

We are preparing to get underway for this incredible opportunity to take a delegation of students, teachers, and scientists to the Galápagos to engage in a cultural and scientific exchange as we greet Hōkūle'a on her first Pacific Island destination in over two years.  We leave tonight at 7:50 and everybody is anxious, excited, giddy, and slightly nervous.  More to follow....