A Surprise Awaits in Tongatapu

After an lovely time in Vava’u, we set sail to Tongatapu via the Ha’apai group of islands on the evening of October 19th.

Outside Mariners Cafe

We arrived in Lifuka, Ha’apai the following morning and headed to town to check in and have a bite to eat at Mariner’s Cafe with our friends Claudia and Matthew of SY Nana Parahi.  While the cafe remained untouched by Ian, a Category 5 Cyclone that hit the Ha’apai group in January, many other buildings in town were flattened and a great deal of rebuilding was underway.

One of Many Buildings Destroyed by Cyclone Ian

Another One Of The Many Buildings Destoryed By Ian

We had originally intended to spend two weeks visiting the Ha’apai before heading to Tongatapu.  Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favor.  We sailed to Ha’afeva Island on the 21st and arrived just before the rains started.  The forecasts indicated that the weather wouldn’t get better anytime soon, so we sadly decided to lift anchor on October 22nd and head to Tongatapu to wait for a weather window for our New Zealand passage.

Royal Palace – Kingdom of Tonga

But all was not lost!  An unexpected treat awaited us.  As we were arriving at Queen Salote Wharf in Tongatapu the morning of Octber 23rd, we heard the Hōkūle‘a hailing a pilot boat on the VHF.

Hōkūle‘a & Hikianalia in Radio Bay, Hawaii Before Departure
Image by Ken Charon

Hōkūle‘a and it’s sister Hikianalia are Polynesian voyaging canoes that are sailing the world’s Oceans in support of a global movement for a more sustainable world.

Hōkūle‘a Outside Queen Salote Wharf
Image Courtesy The Captain

These voyaging canoes left The Big Island in Hawaii for Tahiti in May 2014, a month after Amandla set sail from there.

Hōkūle‘a Entering Queen Salote Wharf

We have been following their voyage ever since hoping to photograph them along the way.  Unfortunately, we have either been ahead of or behind them all the way to Tongatapu

Hōkūle‘a and Amandla In Queen Salote Wharf  And Me Photographing From The Bow – Image Courtesy The Captain

But now, at long last, here they were.  Just what we needed to cheer us up after having to cut short our trip through the Ha’apai.

Hōkūle‘a Tying Up Alongside The Docks in Tongatapu

And we had a ring-side seat for the arrival celebrations with Amandla anchored just across the way.

Prime Minister’s Security Detail

Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō – Prime Minster of Tonga

Performing for the Prime Minster

Performing for the Prime Minster (2)

We are now readying ourselves for our journey to New Zealand and will depart with the next weather window.   The Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia are headed there too!

The Captain with Hōkūle‘a With Amandla In The Background