Hale Pai
Pacific American News Journal
Mei-May 1996 Volume 2 Issue 5
The Voyage Home
Hawai`iloa's Northwest Voyage
On Saturday, April 6 at Kane Hall on the University of
washington campus, the premier of "The Voyage Home",
Hawai`iloa's Northwest Voyage was held. This documentary by
Williams Productions follows the journey of the Hawaiian voyaging
canoe, Hawai`iloa, up the Northwest's Inland Passage. The spruce
logs used to build the two hulls of Hawai`iloa came from the
Northwest Native - owned SeAlaska corporation and were a gift to
the Hawaiians when the search for logs in Hawai`i yielded nothing
large enough. This voyage was to thank the Native peoples, and to
show them how the logs were used. It became a powerful and moving
interaction between two indigenous peoples.
The Voyage Home, Hawai`iloa's Northwest Voyage is a one hour
documentary and will be shown on KCTS-TV Channel 9, Thursday May
30 at 8 PM.
The premier was a benefit to thank the people involved and to
help defray the costs of the production. Dignitaries from the
Hawaiian and Pacific Northwest First Nations were present
including Judson Brown of SeAlaska (who offered the logs), and
Ernie Hillman of SeAlaska Corp. Representatives of the Suquamish,
Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Swinomish, Lummi, Tsimshian, Haida,
Tlingit peoples attended as well as Canadian First Peoples and
Hawaiians. Iwalani Christian and Colin Kippen acted as masters of
ceremony.
The premier began with a prayer and chant by Gene Jones,
spiritual leader of the Suquamish people, and an oli (chant) by
Iwalani Christian and her halau Na Lei O Manuakepa. Iwalani and
Colin recognized and thanked the dignitaries and sponsors
including those listed above and the Bishop Museum, the
Polynesian Voyaging Society, Wayfinders of the Pacific, City of
Seattle Parks Department, and the Makana 'Ohana.
Ellen Ferguson of the Burke Museum was introduced and she
briefly discussed the Hale Naua (House of Hawaiian artists) an
exhibit which will be at the museum this October through
February. The exhibit, which originated in San Diego, showcases
traditional and contemporary Hawaiian art and artists.
Colin introduced Karin Williams of Williams Communications as
the producer and director of "The Voyage Home". Ms
Williams acknowledged the people who helped her on the project.
She then introduced the representative of Pacific Islanders
Communications who showed a 20 minute video synopsis of the work
P.I.C. has recently done in the Puget Sound area.
After the video, Ms. Williams came back and introduced
"The Voyage Home". The documentary was an hour in
length and showed footage of the voyage beginning in the Puget
Sound area and ending in Haines, Alaska. All along the route
Native Americans and Hawaiians met, celebrated, and shared.
Brother Noland and Tony Conjugacion provided the music for the
film. The film was well received with a terrific ovation.
Comments ranged from "It gave me chicken skin" to
"absolutely amazing".
After the showing people had a chance to visit the exhibitors
and attend the reception upstairs where they were able to meet
the principals and enjoy cake and punch.
Pila Laronal commented on the make up of the crowd -- it was
about 60% non-local and 40% local, showing an amazing
community-wide interest in the story of the canoe.
The premier was considered by all principals a tremendous
success and a fitting tribute to an amazing canoe and the bonds
it forged between two native peoples.
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Copyright © 1996 Hale Pai Pacific American-News Journal
Last modified: February 28, 1998
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