WAIMEA – Waimea and Ni’ihau say aloha to the Australian replica of HM Bark Endeavour this afternoon from 5 p.m. until sunset. The Garden Island Canoe Racing Association and Waimea’s Kilohana Canoe Club plan to greet the Endeavour with the
WAIMEA – Waimea and Ni’ihau say aloha to the Australian replica of HM Bark Endeavour this afternoon from 5 p.m. until sunset.
The Garden Island Canoe Racing Association and Waimea’s Kilohana Canoe Club plan to greet the Endeavour with the beating of pa’u drums and the sounding of pu trumpets.
The crew of the Endeavour are acknowledging the anchorage of the ships Resolution and Discovery in 1778 and 1779. The Endeavour was the sole vessel on Captain Cook’s first circumavigation of the globe begun in 1768. The Resolution and Discovery were sailed by Cook on his third circumnavigation of exploration, during which he discovered the Hawaiian Islands for the western world when he came upon O`ahu and Kaua`i in January, 1778. His first landing was made at Waimea.
The area from the mouth of the Waimea River to the modern day fishing pier at Waimea marks the general area that Captain James Cook came ashore.
Cook named Kaua`i, Ni`ihau and O`ahu as the Sandwich Islands, after his sponsor, the Earl of Sandwich.
Escorting the Endeavour at Waimea will be the Kaua’i County Water Safety, State of Hawai’i Ocean Recreation Enforcement, and HiTech Fiberglass, as well as canoe clubs. Refreshments for the paddlers provided courtesy of Big Save Waimea, Ishihara Market, Pacific Deli, Kikiaola Construction Co., Seto’s Gas & Repair, Pioneer Hi-Bred Research Dept., Waimea Auto Glass, and Subways in Waimea.
The State Pier Park Extension work provided by community volunteers under the direction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks, the County Ho’olokahi Program, and Rotary Club of West Kaua’i. Participating businesses in the park clearing were Kikiaola Construction Co., Gay & Robinson Inc., Kaua’i Fire Department, Novartis Seed Company, and Pioneer Seed Company.
