Special to the Star-Bulletin
A replica of Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour,
is scheduled to arrive in Hawaii in the fall.

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This time,
Endeavour
to skip Oahu

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

Although the ship's name is so famous that it is used on vessels of discovery from space shuttles to the future universe of "Star Trek," the original Endeavour was known as the ship that brought Captain Cook to Hawaii for his final voyage.

Now it's coming back.

A replica of the vessel, currently on an around-the-world voyage, will once again drop anchor in Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii this fall. It also has a planned visit to Port Allen, Kauai. But unlike the original ship's voyage, it will skip Oahu this time around.

Although the ship has drawn thousands of visitors on its voyage, Bishop Museum's Hawaii Maritime Center - the logical site to moor the ship - has "bailed out of any obligation to make it happen," said Maritime Center director Bob Moore. "We just couldn't spend the money. Which is unfortunate, because it is an exciting endeavor - and an exciting Endeavour!"

Plagued by vanishing state financial support, Bishop Museum has had to lay off more than 20 employees recently, including Maritime Center's MacKinnon Simpson, the Endeavour's original contact at the museum.

"It's a great opportunity that will pass us by, unless another organization - like the Aloha Tower or the Navy in Pearl Harbor - can host the ship," Moore said.

The ship is scheduled to hove over the horizon Oct. 30 and anchor in Kealakekua Bay and Kailua Bay until Nov. 5, after which it is available to tour Oahu. Part of the problem is timing, Simpson said. This period conflicts with the opening of the state's planned racetrack at Barbers Point.

Credit for bringing the ship to Hawaii belongs to Hawaiian artist and historian Herb Kane, who lives in Captain Cook, Kona. He had been following the ship's progress on the ship's Web page (http://www.barkendeavour.com.au/) and e-mailed Endeavour Foundation head John Longley an invitation to visit Hawaii. The ship is maintained by an Australian and New Zealand nonprofit group.

"It would look stunning in Kealakekua Bay," said Kane. "As long as both sides behave themselves and there's no replay of the unpleasantness of the last time Endeavour was here. It's really a gutsy thing to do, to sail around the world."

Longley flew out to meet Kane in October, and the artist arranged a meeting with harbor masters and civic leaders to answer questions. The Kona Hawaiian Civic Club signed on as primary sponsor, with the Kona Historical Society helping with interpretation.

The ship will be in Kailua Bay for nearly a week for visitors.

Kane said a docent in 18th century garb will explain the ship to visitors, and cabins such as Cook's will look like they did in the late 1700s. Canoe clubs will paddle a protective circle around the ship, keeping modern boats from spoiling the camera angles. James Lightner, new chairman of the Kohala Chamber of Commerce, is also chairing the vessel's visit to the Big Island.

"It's ironic," said Kane. "We have a small community here with good energy that is welcoming this historic ship. And yet the only trouble is coming from Oahu, the island with all the resources. We have maybe 60 in the Navy League here, while Oahu has something like 6,000, and yet we're carrying it off. Chances are, Endeavour will sail right by Honolulu before heading south to New Zealand."