Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, January 7, 2020

KAʻŪ CREW MEMBERS SAILED ON THE GOLDEN RULE from Kauaʻi to Oʻahu in under 18 hours, leaving Nawiliwili on News Years Day and arriving at Ala Wai Boat Harbor on Jan. 2. Fourth generation canoe builder Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa of Honuʻapo, captained the voyage, joined by Pāhala waterman James Akau,
     The 30-foot wooden sail boat is on a short break from its anti-nuclear warfare mission. The vessel and a varied crew sailed throughout the Hawaiian Islands in recent months, spreading the anti-nuclear message of The Golden Rule Project, a mission of national organization Veterans For Peace. See more at vfpgoldenruleproject.org. 

The Golden Rule, in Ala Wai slip 638. Photo from The Golden Rule Project

      In September of 2019, Akau sailed The Golden Rule from Hilo to Maʻalea, Maui, where the crew was greeted by grateful Marshall Islanders whose home islands were desecrated by nuclear weapons testing generations ago.
     Following the passage from Kauaʻi to Honolulu, The Golden Rule rests in Ala Wai Boat Harbor slip 638 for repairs, slated for Friday through Monday, Feb. 7-10. After repairs, The Golden Rule Project plans to sail the boat to the Marshall Islands, Guam, Okinawa, and South Korea, with arrival in Japan by August for the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.
     Johnston-Kitazawa is a well-known canoe builder, sailor, and educator. He shares his perspective on sailing and building iconic Hawaiian canoes. One of his frequently used visual aids is a 28-foot double-hulled canoe, called a waʻa kaulua. The canoe was built in 1993 from two hulls crafted in the 1950's. He added the wooden ʻiako (crossbeams) and planks to form the pola (platform) between the two canoe hulls. He then lashed all these parts together using traditional Hawaiian methods: rope. He also added a mast and sail to the platform. No nails, bolts, or screws were used in its construction, though dacron sail cloth is used for the sail. Ten people can sit comfortably in the two canoe hulls and paddle the sailing canoe, which can reach speeds of up to 21 knots.
     Johnston-Kitazawa details the different styles of canoes and explains when and why each were used throughout Hawaiʻi's history. Polynesians who originally settled the island, possibly first landing in Punaluʻu, arrived by canoe. For island life, canoes were essential for fishing and trading, and for wars and unifying the islands.

Capt. Kiko, showing rowing techniques aboard a Hawaiian canoe.

      Capt. Kiko, as he is known in the community, was born on Oʻahu. His family moved to Hilo when he was about five years old. He raised his two sons in Kaʻū, as a longtime resident and boatbuilder at Punaluʻu, while his wife Margaret Johnston-Kitazawa served as the physician at Kaʻū Hospital.
     Concerning his boatbuilding passion, he told The Kaʻū Calendar that he remembers reading a book at seven years old, in the Hilo Boys Club Library: Kodoku, Sailing Alone Across the Pacific by Kenichi Horie.      
     Johnston-Kitazawa owned his first sailboat at age 14 and his first captain's license at age 18. At 14, he sailed on a 40-foot catamaran from Hawaiʻi to Victoria, British Columbia. He has since sailed from Hawaiʻi to Canada and California three times – a journey not favored by prevailing winds.
       He has built and sailed traditional Hawaiian canoes in Hawaiʻi for more than 30 years. He teaches sailing and navigation on his canoes to many school children, classroom most often in Hilo Bay. He also teaches Hawaiian boat building to those interested in learning. Over the years, many people have stopped by his canoe at many community events for his expert instruction and hands-on experience in building boats and lashing canoes.

Capt. Kiko, working on a canoe.

      For more information on his canoe excursions, open to the public, out of Hilo Bay, go to Captain Kiko's web page, waakaulua.com/index.htm.

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POLICE ARRESTED 23 FOR DUI IN KAʻŪ IN 2019 and the same in 2018, according to statistics issued by Hawaiʻi Police Department today. During 2019, police arrested 1,085 islandwide, for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. In 2018, police arrested 1,095 for DUI.
     The numbers of DUI arrests by district show that in North Hilo police arrested four in 2019 and four in 2018. Was the only place where DUI’s increased, with 178 in 2018, and 219 in 2019.

     Of the 1,085 island wide arrests for DUI in 2019, 233 were in traffic accidents, an increase of 42.9 percent from 2018 when police arrested 163 drivers for DUI after accidents.
     In 2019, major accidents decreased 13.5 percent to 983, from 1,137 in 2018. 

     In 2019, fatal crashes totaled 25 on Hawaiʻi Island, compared with 30 fatal crashes (one with multiple deaths) resulting in 32 fatalities recorded in 2018.

     Impairment was a factor in 12 island traffic fatalities in 2019. Of those, four involved alcohol only, seven involved drugs only, and one involved both alcohol and drugs. Those totals may increase due to pending toxicology reports.

     In 2019, police arrested 65 drivers under the age of 21 for DUI, compared to 54 in 2018, an increase of 20.4 percent.

     HPD warns: DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.

     According to weather.com, winds in Kaʻū will stay above 20 mph through the end of next week. People are also urged to be cautious about roof shingles and danger in driving high-profile vehicles. Expect power outages.