The last leg of a journey to complete a paddle of the Hawaiian archipelago begins today as a group of 16 paddlers leave from Hanalei Bay on Kauai, bound for Laysan Island—where they will embark on a 480 mile paddle from Laysan to Kure Atoll. This voyage will mark the first time in modern history that a group of paddlers will reach the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Half of the crew is made up of Maui members including Kimokeo Kapahulehua who has been a longtime leader with the Kihei Canoe Club. The paddle, organized by the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society, is expected to take four days, wrapping up on July 15th. The effort marks the culmination of a five-year 16-hundred-mile journey to bring awareness to issues facing the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This year's voyage will add the issue of Marine Debris as its educational centerpiece with paddlers assisting a clean up effort of waters within the Northwest Hawaiian Island Marine Monument. CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE VOYAGING SOCIETY’S DAILY BLOG; CLICK HERE TO VIEW MAUI NEWS ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON 7/6/08(Photo Courtesy Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society)

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