The skies were clear, the water was calm, the crew was ready, and it was time. The 57-foot, nine-ton traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe Iosepa was put to sea once again, to fulfill its purpose as a floating classroom on May 2, 2011, amongst a crowd of community members, students, faculty and others.
Given as a gift to BYU–Hawaii’s Jonathan Napela Center for Pacific Island Studies in 2001, Iosepa has been used to sail the islands of Hawaii teaching students how to navigate and sail as the ancient Hawaiians did. The canoe is carved from a Fijian hardwood called Dakua. Traditionally, a canoe of this sort would be made of Hawaiian Koa wood, but there was none available. Master carvers Kawika Eskaran and Tuione Pulotu sculpted the canoe out of logs shipped from Fiji, and hundreds more participated in its construction. When Iosepa was put in the water for the first time, more than 3,000 people attended the ceremony. Read more about the launch here.
This year, Iosepa traveled to Molokai. While on the canoe, students learn to navigate using celestial wayfinding. “We use the same textbook our ancestors used,” said Ryan Hanohano, one of the students who traveled on the most recent voyage. “We are following their path, trying to see things the way that they did.” Students felt a connection with ancestors as they replicated their experience, and lived the way that they did, even if only for a short time.
The name of Iosepa is a reminder of a special heritage. In Hawaiian it means Joseph,and one of the reasons for the name is to honor President Joseph F. Smith who served several missions in Hawaii as a young man. Find out more about the name of the canoe.
In order to sail, students must first take two concurrent classes, Malama Kai or care for the sea,and Malama Aina, or care for the land. Learning the relationship that exists between the two helps students to appreciate how life is connected, and to appreciate the affect that changes in one can have on the other.
Time on the canoe is taxing on the mind and the body, but is ultimately rewarding. “Life on the canoe is very simple,” Hanohano reflected. “We are not on a pleasure cruise – we work hard – but there are times when you get to step back and let the wind take you, and you can sit and ponder God’s creations.” Sleeping and working in shifts, crewmembers learn to trust and rely on each other. “One man cannot raise the sail by himself, one man often cannot even steer by himself. We learn to work as crew members, and learn to love one another.”
Iosepa may not log as many miles as other voyaging canoes, but the impact it makes is what sets it apart. Upon arrival at their destinations, crewmembers carry out service projects, helping to better the community wherever they may be. Not only do they render service, but they also seek opportunities to spread the gospel. As representatives of BYU–Hawaii and ultimately of the Church, they are given unique opportunities to share with others what brings them together.
Now, back in its home at the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Iosepa continues to inspire people from around the world as a popular attraction for the thousands of visitors each day who come to the Center.
The floating classroom that is Iosepa teaches students how to sail, but more than that, it is heard said that they are learning how to navigate the waters of life, learning Christ-like attributes and melding together physical, emotional and most importantly, spiritual experiences.