Eugene: These are not exactly Hōkūleʻa vessels. Traditionally, Hōkūleʻa sailors slept in the two hulls. We sleep in tents on the deck. 

Eugene: Let me describe the manufacture of these beautiful sailboats on the open ocean. In areas where excessive amounts of plastic ended up, they recycled degrading plastic to form molds. The molds expanded and became a hull. They made space for casings, to insert poles connecting the hulls. Long strips of plastic were melted and twisted into thick cords. They spun the entire hull, and wove plastic cords around the boat. They melted the exterior face of the hull and zipped it into a sleeve to be more smooth. Carbon fiber was then duct-taped around the construction for stiffness. They coated it with fiberglass epoxy. After inserting the poles and connecting the masts, they laid down a polypropylene mesh deck. They added a bunch of sailing hardware, and a lot of sailing rope to keep the masts vertical. They also used carbon fiber duct tape to reinforce the plastic sails, and to repair the ship, along with the epoxy.

Keith: Quite a lot of plastic, but that was the idea, to gather the plastic and keep it from degrading into the oceans.

Ann: I am so impressed with Maxine and Hyung, two terrific skippers.

Maxine: I’m really loving this voyage.