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Makali’i delegation visits school
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Posted on Apr 29 1999
Mau Piailug struggled to explain the non-instrumental navigation among six graders of Garapan Elementary School. At his age, in between slur, he tried his best to make himself clear. But the skills he acquired took his young audience in full attention, all ears to him.
Two grade six classes were convened yesterday to listen to the team from the Makali’i.
According to one of the teachers, the forum with the navigators is for their social studies and bilingual classes.
Leading the discussion is the younger captain Shorty Bertelmann. After discussing his turf, students took turns to ask questions.
“What do you eat guys,” asked one, and Bertelmann replied fresh food, rice and canned goods. But considered as their most important food is their easy prey, fish from the ocean.
“How did you master the use of compass?” another inquired.
“What is the weight of the canoe?” It weighs two and half tons, one member replied. Students promptly produced their calculators and started computing.
During the forum, one younger crew member presented his cooler. Instead of cans of beer, it contains his jacket, flashlight, shampoo and other basic garments. Every crew member can only bring one cooler for the entire voyage.
In an interview, Bertelmann said there are hundreds of teachers and older students aspiring to join the voyage every year. They undergo years of training to master the skills of swimming, survival, first aid, navigation, canoe operation and the usage of compass.
For this voyage, about 15 people were on board, some were teachers and students. Back in Hawaii, hundreds of “wanna bees” are hoping to catch the next sail.
