Voyaging canoe Hikianalia departs for San Francisco

More than 100 well-­wishers converged on the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island on Saturday to watch the departure of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hikianalia for San Francisco.

The wind- and solar-­powered canoe, captained and navigated by Lehua Kamalu, is expected to arrive at the coast of Northern California in mid-September, in time for the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. Thirteen crew members are aboard for the 2,800-mile ocean crossing.

The departure was delayed for almost three weeks due to weather conditions.

The voyage extends the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Malama Honua campaign to promote environmental conservation and cultural preservation.

A welcome ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 16 at Aquatic Park in San Francisco. While in California, the crew will participate in numerous commu- nity engagement events.

Polynesian Voyaging Society president and navigator Nainoa Thompson will speak at the summit’s session focused on “Healthy Oceans.”

Highway closed today to repair Kipapa bridge

Kamehameha Highway will be closed from Ka Uka Boulevard to Lanikuhana Avenue today to allow for emergency repairs to Kipapa Stream Bridge.

Lanes in both directions of the highway will be closed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The state Department of Transportation said recent work on the bridge revealed “a situation affecting the structural integrity of the bridge.” Repair work will focus on one of the main supports. Motorists are advised to take the H-2 freeway as an alternate route into Mililani.