January:
It was a good and not so good month for us. Not so good because we had a break-in at Heeia State Park and lost many of our tools. However the good thing was when the word got out (big mahalo to Alana for this) it gave us the opportunity to meet many wonderful people from near and afar. The outpouring from everyone was just amazing. American Savings Bank started it off with a $5,000 donation, we canʼt thank all of you enough for your kokua. Also in January we were privileged to be awarded a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). With this we were able to bring the culture of the canoe to more people and to initiate an apprenticeship program. Noe did a wonderful job for us.

February:
The Na Kamalei Nalei OʼKeiki visited us at Heeia State Park. They were from ages 3 to 5 years and were accompanied by their parents. It is always fun to watch the little ones look and feel the canoes. The children love it and the parents had an opportunity to learn about the culture.

March:
Uncle Bobby had his annual paddle workshop (coming again in February 2012!) and we had 4 young men who thoroughly enjoyed learning the use of all the tools. We also had a display at the Kualoa Park annual canoe festival and the Kamehameha School Extension program came to Heeia State Park to learn from him about the work he does on the canoes.

April:
This month brought the beginning of paddling season. Uncle Bobby was there to help out and watch his grandchildren paddle. We also had a visit to our Learning Center at Heeia State Park from Halau Ku Mana Charter School. Ricky, Mark, Gerry, and Uncle Bobby were there to show them how things are done today and yesterday. We also had our first Open House/Canoe Workshop and annual meeting in April. It was a great success with Bill Aila and his wife and many members of the paddling community and other members of the community in attendance.

May:
Uncle Bobby started a new project with the Kahana Valley Community. He is repairing their canoe named Ululani and teaching the young people of Kahana how to repair and care for it. Ricky and Gerry from our foundation are there whenever possible. We had a visit from a gentleman from the Smithsonian Institute (American History Museum) and he and Uncle Bobby had a chance to talk story at our Learning Center located at Heeia State Park. We were able to be at the Battle of the Paddle this year. Dave Chun sponsored Puakea Foundation shirts and the donations from them went to the foundation. And we have a canoe trailer. Yeaaa!

June and July:
We had the opportunity to have a 10 day paddle making program for the Y 2 Y group from Waimanalo. This afforded the youth that came a chance to learn not only about the canoe culture but also how to work with the different types of wood and tools needed to do the job. During the Nanakuli race Honolulu Pearls canoe became damaged and is now at our Learning Center waiting to be repaired.

August and September:
This was a time we were busy preparing for our trip to Kailua-Kona for the Liliuokalani Race. We went there to promote our foundation and to support a group of blind paddlers belonging to Makapo Canoe Club out of Newport Acquatic Center in California. The foundation with Uncle Bobby, Alana, Ricky and Noe put on an introduction to paddle making for them and the youth from NAC one evening at our hotel. It was a wonderful experience watching them listen and feel the different stages of paddle making. They learned about the dryland forest and indigenous plants of Hawaii. Also while in Kailua-Kona Uncle Bobby helped the blind paddlers rig the koa canoe for the races. Kamehameha CC was generous enough to bring the Halani (Uncle Bobbyʼs 1st canoe out of a log) from Hilo for them to use. We had a display in the King Kamehameha Hotel and through this we met and talked with people from all over the world about our canoe culture. It was a weekend we will all cherish. Oh Yes, Uncle Bobby was in the Hana Hou Magazine also. (Pg 20)

October:
This month we attended and put on a display at a fundraiser for the Kamakou Immersion School at Kokokahi YWCA in Kaneohe. Uncle Bobby also started a 5 day class for a Punahou student who had to make a paddle for a class project. Maya did an excellent job and made a beautiful paddle using all the machines required for the job.

November:
Uncle Bobby was put in jail for MDS and thanks to a lot of good friends we were able to bail him out. Mahalo to all of you for your generosity.

December:
We had our annual visit from the Ala Wai Elementary School 5th graders (68 students). It is always a pleasure to have them with us. They get a chance to learn the culture and swing an adze. They also get a tour of the park and learn its history. Itʼs alway a fun day for them as well as a learning experience. We also started a new session with the Y 2 Y this month.

In the meantime Uncle Bobby has been working on Hanalei CC koa canoe and it is coming along nicely. It has been a busy year. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful Board of Directors and great supporters.

We would like to say a big Mahalo to Roxanne Darling of Bare Feet Studios for our wonderful website, to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, the sponsors of the Battle of the Paddle event, Alan Nishimura for our trailer, Sams Club, American Savings and all the wonderful people who supported us this year.

Please come and join us anytime at our site at Heeia State Park. Everyone is welcome and we would like to encourage anyone who wants to learn about building and repairing koa canoes to come and join us. If you are interested in becoming an apprentice please contact us.

Mahalo and Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou from all of us at the Puakea Foundation

Please visit his Official MDA Fund-Raising page here.

UPDATE: We have pictures from Uncle Bobby’s time in jail. We still have time to help him meet his fund-raising goal!

• Learn how paddles are made and repaired.
• Enjoy the hands-on experience of finishing your own paddle to take home.
• Makes a great gift for your family members and friends!
• This program is great for adults and keiki – families have a great time doing this together!

You will learn so much about Hawaiian culture, about wood-working, about outrigger canoeing, and listen to stories about many Hawaiian legends, from on and off the water!

Dates: February 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 2012
Time: 9 am-3 pm
Location:  Uncle Bobby’s home in Kaneohe. Directions will be sent to you after you register.
Cost:  $325.00 for Members, or $350 for non-members – which will include a one year Family membership to the Puakea Foundation (Use PayPal buttons below to pay.)

Please be sure to join our email list in the right column so we can contact you about all of the Foundation events!

Workshop fee includes membership to the Puakea Foundation and your own hand-made paddle. This program is limited to 10 people so act soon!

Check out our photos on Flickr.

Register Here

Member $325.00 Non-member $350.00

This is one of the globe’s most popular long distance canoe races. And one of the most challenging as it is an “iron” race – meaning there are no crew changes and each paddler commits to the entire 18 miles from Kailua Bay to Honaunau near Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The foundation would like to thank Kirsten Williams and Mike Atwood for joining us in making the opportunity available!

During the race weekend, Uncle Bobby also gave a two hour workshop about wood-working and the art of paddling and canoe-building. Many other blind paddlers joined us and were able to feel for the first time the rigging of the canoe and the texture of various woods immersed in water.

The entire weekend gives a whole new meaning to shining a light on this traditional polynesian sport!

Uncle Bobby Puakea, photo by Dana Edmunds

The current issue has a feature on Uncle Bobby in the “Native Intelligence” section. We hope you have a chance to read it – either online or while flying on Hawaiian Air! Mahalo to Hawaiian for sharing Uncle Bobby with your readers.

Follow Hawaiian Air on Twitter @HawaiianAir.

Follow the writer, Adrienne LaFrance, on Twitter: @AdrienneLaF.

Please visit photographer Dana Edmunds’ website.

At this year’s Battle of the Paddle Hawaii stand-up paddle race, Kialoa Paddles, Hinano Life (clothing) and Paddle Surf Hawaii, will be having a fundraiser at their booth.

Special t-shirts have been created. As goods cannot be sold on Duke Kahanamoku Beach, we will be giving the shirts away for free alongside the fundraising. They will have laptops at the beach where participants can donate to the foundation via the website. All money collected will go to the Puakea Foundation.

Please plan to join us and get your special edition t-shirt! Itʻs gorgeous and only available for a short time. Learn more and register for the event here. If you can’t make it, it will be broadcast live on Oceanic SURF Channel 250 and 1250HD. There will be keiki races and vendors and SO much going on!

Please show your support by joining us live and by “liking” the Kialoa Paddles Facebook page.

If you cannot attend, you can still get one of these awesome t-shirts by joining the foundation or renewing your membership!

It’s just $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling. Choose your member type and size, enter your email, and click PayNow to get yours!

T-shirts are now SOLD OUT! Mahalo to everyone who purchased one and thank you for your support of the Puakea Foundation.

Just download and print this special coupon form that is flagged for the Puakea Foundation of Hawaii, Inc. (The coupon says “employee” but is good for all of our ʻohana.)

This offer is good until July 31, 2011.

In the spirit of spreading the Aloha and the Mahalo, Uncle Bobby made a custom paddle for ASB and presented it to them recently at the Annual Meeting of the Foundation.

Everyone at the Puakea Foundation continues to be very grateful for the generous support and recognition bestowed on Uncle Bobby from across the community. Please do stop by Heeʻia Park and see the work of restoring old Hawaiian koa canoes in action and spend some time talk story with UB.

Date: Saturday, April 9, 2011
Location: Puakea Foundation Learning Center Heeia State Park, Kaneohe, HI
Time: 10am – 3:30pm
Annual meeting to follow: 4pm – 6pm

The day begins with a blessing at 10 am followed by hands-on demonstrations throughout the day on canoe building and repair, paddle making, and the art of canoeing. There will be activities for children and adults as well as teaching materials provided for other educators. We’ll have lunch at 12 noon. We hope you will join us and consider becoming a member of the Puakea Foundation to learn about our many exciting upcoming events!

Come and share your knowledge and historical information on the canoes of the past and future with everyone! All ages are welcome.

Mahalo to the Hawaii Tourism Authority for their funding and support! This all day educational event is sponsored in part by the Kukūlu Ola Living Hawaiian Culture program and is administered in part by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

American Savings Bank presenting Uncle Bobby with $5000 to help replace his stolen tools.

We are so incredibly grateful for their support – to give so generously without asking! That is warm aloha and it will bless all of the canoes and paddles that carry the spirt of Polynesian canoe canoe around the world.