Maui Voyaging Canoe Weighs in at 10.3 Tons

Diversified Crane Inc. lifts and weighs Moʻokiha o Piʻilani Hawaiian voyaging canoe at 20,300 pounds. On the canoe are Captain Timi Gilliom and Puaita Pulotu; in the foreground, Dave Drown and Dr. George Harker, “Dr. Leisure” filming the event. Photo by Katherine Kamaʻemaʻe Smith.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui’s Polynesian voyaging canoe, the Moʻokiha o Piʻilani under construction in West Maui, weighed in at 20,300 pounds or 10.3 tons, according to an announcement made by Hui o Waʻa Kaulua, Maui’s Voyaging Society.

The 62-foot double-hulled traditional sailing canoe was weighed as part of a registration process, as the vessel is readied for launch in mid-May.

The weight will be used to calculate the canoe’s volume, and in turn help to determine the vessel’s draft and speed under sail, the announcement said.

“Each step forward is something new we haven’t done before,” said the vessel’s Captain Timi Gilliom in an organization press release.

“The next big milestone is putting the canoe on her trailer and hauling her to the launch site. This canoe is just too big to launch here at our beach. She wonʻt clear the reef,” he said.

The vessel was weighed on Tuesday with the assistance of Ronald Alexander and Ika Gushiken, the owner of Diversified Crane Services.

Volunteers are invited to the dry dock location next to Kamehameha Iki Park in Lahaina any day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist in finishing touches on the canoe, including final wood finishing.

Atwood Makanani, Captain Timi Gilliom and Puaita Pulotu secure the bow end to a lift bar. Photo by Katherine Kamaʻemaʻe Smith.

Atwood Makanani repositions canoe as Captain Timi Gilliom supervises and Dave Drown looks on. Photo by Katherine Kamaʻemaʻe Smith.

Ika Gushiken, owner of Diversified Crane Inc. with Atwood Makanani, original crew member for Hōkūleʻa. Photo by Katherine Kamaʻemaʻe Smith.

Ronald Alexander, Diversified Crane Operator at the controls, focuses on lifting his first traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe. Photo by Katherine Kamaʻemaʻe Smith.