KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Polynesian Voyaging Society and University of Hawaii announced a partnership yesterday. Ramsey Pedersen, left, provost of Honolulu Community College, and Nainoa Thompson, president and crewmember of PVS, were on hand for the announcement at the Marine Education and Training Center on Sand Island. The Hokulea is at right.
UH sets sail A partnership between the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the University of Hawaii will create greater access for students who want to learn about ocean navigation and other maritime issues.
with Polynesian
Voyaging Society
By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comUnder the partnership, announced yesterday, Honolulu Community College's Marine Education and Training Center at Sand Island will become headquarters for the society's classes, lectures, voyage preparation and canoe maintenance.
"We want to open the center to become a community asset," said Ramsey Pedersen, provost of HCC.
The training center, ranked as one of the best facilities in the country, supports HCC's boat maintenance and repair program.
Master navigator Nainoa Thompson said, "For us, it allows us to create educational programs that can be delivered institutionally."
Patrick Duarte, executive director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, said, "The affiliation with the university will help us improve the program that we have and keep the continuity and increase the number of students and people that we can reach."
Officials hope to bring in high school, adult and college-bound students interested in environmental, marine technology and ocean voyaging/sailing studies. Programs will also incorporate Hawaii's history and culture through voyaging. One resource available to students is the recently restored voyaging canoe Hokulea.
"Hokulea is not about small dreams, it's about big dreams," Thompson said.
Officials also plan to build a canoe halau near the training center to store voyaging canoes, Pedersen said.
Meanwhile, an event called Hokulea Lives to celebrate the re-christening of the canoe will be held Sunday at the center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be entertainment, food, storytelling and educational activities. There will also be a special presentation by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.
The event is free and open to the public. For information call the society at 536-8405.
Polynesian Voyaging Society
HCC Marine Education and Training Center
