Hikianalia, Hokule‘a’s sister canoe, which was built for the vessels’ worldwide voyage, is distinguished by her solar-powered electric motor and large bank of lithium batteries. While the range of the canoe when under power is somewhat limited, it offers easy maneuverability when getting in and out of moorings and in the unlikely event of a man-overboard situation.
Hikianalia also offers a glimpse at a model for environmental sustainability, part of Malama Honua ("Care for Our Earth"), the mission of the three-year voyage.
Rangi, a second-generation solar electric sailing canoe, just arrived in Rangiroa as an experiment to see whether a smaller version can be economically viable for local commerce. She is designed to transport up to 4 tons of cargo for approximately 120 miles, requires only four crew and can accommodate up to eight passengers. She will work in the Tuamotus and Tahiti for approximately six months and then move on to Samoa to evaluate prospects for viability there. There is also interest in testing this model in Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and additional islands in Micronesia.
Okeanos, the first solar- and wind-powered voyaging canoe built for commerce, is currently working in Palau where these environmentally friendly canoes have the potential to enable commercial fishing boats to stay at sea longer while increasing the reliability of getting their catch to market without spoiling.
Solar-powered traditional Pacific sailing canoes have the potential to transform the way cargo is moved within Pacific island nations, according to Magnus Danbolt, general manager of operations of Pacific Voyagers Charitable Trust, the organization that designed and funded the construction of these canoes.
I had a chance recently to board Rangi, speak with the crew and look around. At approximately 50 feet long, Rangi is shorter than Hikianalia and has one instead of two masts. To accommodate freight she has wider hulls, which are accessed through extra-large hatches amidship and retractable berths. A fringe benefit of the wider hulls is a larger pilothouse on deck and a more spacious galley and restroom.
"They are doing the math right now," says Matahi Tutavae, president of Fa’afaite, the Tahiti Voyaging Society. Data is being collected to determine the optimal trip distance, the most favorable locations, trip frequency, charges for passengers and various types of freight.
Because the new canoe is shorter and has only one mast, she pitches more from side to side and does not track as well as Hikianalia. "Those who are prone to seasickness can have a rough time," says Rangi’s captain, Titaua. Still, it is anticipated that as demand increases for ecotourism, interest will be high for the opportunity to get onboard a solar electric, traditional Pacific sailing canoe, even for a coastal sail.
Rangi will have to compete with large freight carriers that currently offer fairly reasonable rates, but the larger carriers do not travel to smaller islands as often as desired. Solar-powered voyaging canoes can also provide a hedge against the questionable future of government subsidies, especially for fuel. If subsidies taper, fuel costs will skyrocket. If that happens, perhaps Rangi could add a generator on deck that would give the canoe greater range when not under sail. Rather than gas or diesel, perhaps it could run on copra, a sustainable biofuel made from coconuts and processed locally in Tahiti.
Rangi and Hikianalia, like Hokule‘a, are traditional-style Pacific voyaging canoes. The fact that Rangi may offer an environmentally sustainable and economically viable model for commerce while also catalyzing a resurgence of indigenous culture is awesome.
Today is the third day in Rangiroa for Hokule‘a and Hikianalia after the first leg of the international portion of the worldwide voyage. Rangi arrived just in time to meet the two Hawaii canoes at dawn Monday. The next evening, Fa’afaite arrived. She is the Tahitian canoe built from the same mold as Hikianalia. All four canoes are anchored near one another in Te Ava Ni’a, a beautiful green lagoon. We are close enough to hear each crew preparing for the two-day sail to Tahiti.
Perhaps when we return one day, we will see a fleet of these canoes that lower the cost of cargo transport, reduce carbon-based emissions and support the renaissance of indigenous voyaging cultures in the Pacific Ocean.
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Note: At the request of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Dr. Zunin is serving as medical officer for the crews aboard Hokule‘a and Hikianalia during the first leg of the international portion of the worldwide voyage. He will fly home July 5.
Ira Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc. Please submit your questions to info@manakaiomalama.com.
