Hawaiian master artist Sam Ka’ai, who has been an integral part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, is looking forward to working on carvings again after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire destroyed many of his major works. Photo courtesy Ka’ai family

Hawaiian master carver Sam Ka’ai recalled the reason he created the male figurehead for the double-hulled sailing canoe Hōkūle’a that traveled on its historic voyage to Tahiti in 1976 using Pacific native wayfinding techniques.

“Like the canoe, the carving of the Hōkūle’a figurehead reaches back to ancient knowledge and the name of the star Hōkūle’a that led ancient Hawaiians to find their way back to Hawaii,” he said.

Ka’ai, a cultural advocate, has been an integral part of the Hawaiian Renaissance and is still looking forward to working on carvings despite the 2023 Lahaina wildfire destroying some of his major works. He’s living on Oahu with his daughter, Malia Barrett-Ka’ai.

In making the carving for the Hōkūle’a, Ka’ai said he knew the figurehead, or ki’i, had deep cultural and spiritual significance, invoking the gods for protection and guidance on the voyage at a time when voyagers were just beginning to revive their Hawaiian roots.

Ka’ai said the creation of the figurehead along with ceremonies about the Hōkūle’a became a powerful symbol of Hawaiian heritage at the start of the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970s.

During the blessing of the Hōkūle’a by the Rev. Kaupena Wong at Kualoa on Oahu, Ka’ai installed the masthead of Kane on the starboard hull of the sailing canoe.

Two ki’i figureheads that were installed on the Hōkūle’a sailing canoe during its historic voyage to Tahiti in 1976 were destroyed in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. Photo courtesy Ka’ai family

Ka’ai later carved and installed a carving of Kihawahine, the ancient goddess who resided on Maui on the port hull, blessed by Kahu Kealanahele.

In his artistic career, Ka’ai has created notable carvings for Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park on Hawaii Island, Haleakalā National Park on Maui and other sites.

Hōkūle’a voyager Billy Richards said Ka’ai was not only a great carver but also carried with him a knowledge of early Hawaiian history.

“More importantly to me, he was the storyteller when we would go any place,” Richards said.

Ka’ai’s daughter, Malia, recalled how her father opened his home to Hōkūle’a crew members for two weeks prior to their departure from Honolua Bay in 1976.

Master navigator Mau Piailug and his family stayed at Ka’ai’s home for a couple of months.

At age 87, Ka’ai is staying with Malia in Pauoa Valley on Oahu, still recovering from the Aug. 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire, which destroyed many of his works that were on display or in storage at the Nā ʻAikāne o Maui Cultural Center in Lahaina.

Luckily, he moved to Wailuku a couple of months before the wildfire.

The lost pieces included carved images of gods, war clubs, pohaku or special stones and carved images as well as canoe paddles. Also destroyed were the two ki’i used in the 1976 voyage.

Malia said one image Kaʻai wants to remake is the elaborate carving of a Kōnane board, a traditional Hawaiian strategy game that’s similar to checkers, chess or the Japanese game “Go.” The board was lost in the fire two years ago.

Hawaiian master carver Sam Ka’ai hopes to recreate a Kōnane board he made that was destroyed in the 2023 Maui wildfires. Photo courtesy Ka’ai family

Born in 1938 in Hana, Kaʻai graduated from McKinley High school on Oahu and received an art scholarship at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, where he learned painting, design and scripting. He eventually moved back to Maui.

Ka’ai continued to help others after the wildfire, including saying prayers for departed Lahaina friends.

Now in Honolulu, he’s hoping to find a place where he can begin carving again as well as conducting occasional demonstrations and lectures. To contact Ka’ai, email him at mkaaibarrett@gmail.com.