Aloha e nā hoa waʻa, dear friends and partners,
Nā Kālai Waʻa (NKW) has cared for the voyaging canoe Makaliʻi for over three decades, carrying forward the tradition of wayfinding and connecting our community to the ocean, to each other, and to the wisdom of our kūpuna. Makaliʻi has sailed thousands of miles, served as a floating classroom for thousands of students, and stood as a living symbol of Hawaiian resilience and identity.

Like any vessel that carries this much responsibility, Makaliʻi needs regular, careful maintenance to remain safe and seaworthy. We are writing today to ask for your kōkua as we bring the canoe into drydock for essential hull, rigging, and safety-systems work.

THE KULEANA BEFORE US
Project: Drydock haul-out and maintenance of Makaliʻi
Timeline: Now through February 2027
Total need: $500,000

This is significant work: a full haul-out, hull inspection and repair, protective coatings, canvas/sail and safety-equipment replacement, and the skilled labor to do it right. Every dollar and every hour of kōkua brings Makaliʻi closer to returning to the water ready for her next voyage.

Financial gifts of any size go directly toward drydock fees, materials, and skilled labor.