WILL KYSELKA

                                          The Hokule'a


During my vacation to Hawaii, I was fortunate to visit the home of a well-known and respected non-native  Hawaiian.  He is Will Kyselka, 89, a trained geologist and retired associate professor from the University of Hawaii Curriculum Research and Development Group.  Will is also the author of several books on Hawaii and an expert in ocean navigation. He was instrumental in researching the possible non-instrument navigation methods of the ancient Polynesians in traveling from Tahiti to the Hawaiian Islands in large canoes.  


Mr. Kyselka and his wife Lee live in a lovely home in the hills above Honolulu.  Lee Kyselka is the long-time best friend of my sister in law Beverly's mother, Lois.  Will was gracious in gifting and signing a copy of his book, Ocean In Mind to Beverly, my brother Bob, and myself.  I'm anxious to read the book.


Mr. Kyselka's collaboration with Nainoa Thompson led to the round trip voyage of the Hokule'a to Tahiti from Hawaii and back in 1980, of which Will participated with his wife in an escort ship. Will Kyselka has also authored  Maui: How It Came To Be, The  Hawaiian  Sky, and North Star to Southern Cross.  If you would like to learn more, follow this link: http://pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/index/founder_and_teachers/will_kyselka.html

HAWAII 2011

Aloha!  I'm back from Oahu, Hawaii and have pretty much settled in to Colorado winter life again.  It has been a hard transition!  The 80+ degree weather was a welcome respite from the sub-freezing temperatures experienced in Colorado Springs just prior to my departure.  Now that I'm back, well, I guess Spring is is not too far off!

I promised to upload some photos, so here are a few.  Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline are close to the resort where I stayed. I caught some surfers on some beautiful waves but the biggest waves are in November through January. The sudsy creamy turquoise water was wonderful to behold. There were many dreamy sunsets.  I love the reflection they make off the water!  The first photo is from the Turtle Bay Resort; the second  is a surfer at Sunset Beach; and the third is a cropped photo of a couple enjoying Waimea Falls.

PERSONAL UPDATE: HAWAII

Greetings!  I just wanted to provide a personal note here.  I'll  be leaving for a 9-day vacation to Oahu, Hawaii starting this Saturday, the 12th.  This won't be the first time I've been there, but then again, the last time was for only 2 hours when our flight from Vietnam had to detour there from our destination of Tacoma, Washington. The west coast was fogged in and we had a short layover at Honolulu.  This was in 1969. Needless to say, it was great to be heading home after my tour was over.  That was a long time ago.


This time, I'll be joined by my brother Bob and his wife Beverly and we'll stay at the Turtle Bay Resort. I work at a resort in Colorado Springs so the rates are real good for employees. Turtle Bay is on the North Shore of Oahu where the giant waves of the Banzai Pipeline are created and where some of the world's best surfers go.  I'll do the usual tourist thing and see the sights worth seeing and will also try to come back with many photos of the area.  If I get any good ones, I'll post them here.