Greetings from Pago Pago!

The island of Tutuila greeted us with a stiff crosswind as we hit the runway Monday night. This is relevant because the gusty weather may already be affecting our sail plan. Nainoa Thompson and several navigators will discuss the matter Tuesday and should know by midday when the weather might be clear for us to sail for Apia.

If there’s a good byproduct of this wind it’s that the mosquitoes we’re so worried about haven’t been around. That didn’t stop us from dousing ourselves in insect repellant right outside the airport as everyone got organized, circled around a pile of dry bags and canoe gear. The leg 2 folks flew back just as we landed. Ohana passing in the night.

We’re staying at an inn called Sadie’s right on the water. Across the harbor, the purse seiners are lit up like ball parks against the night sky.

On Tuesday, it’s a whole lot of work on the canoes.

Honolululu Star-Advertiser reporter Marcel Honoré joins the traditional voyaging canoe Hokule’a to chronicle the third international leg of its Malama Honua ("Care for the Earth") worldwide voyage. Hokule’a and escort canoe Hikianalia plan to visit several island ports, sailing from Samoa to the Phoenix Islands, part of Kiribati, and back — an approximately 1,800-mile journey that’s expected to take more than a month.