Help Build This Waʻa

The Project

1. He Wa’a

Still in its early phase — represents the heart of this effort.

It will be designed for interisland sailing, capable of handling the deep ocean winds while carrying crew, students, and teachers across our island chain.
More than a vessel, it’s a platform for cultural education, environmental stewardship, and the rediscovery of ancestral ways of knowing.

2. Where We Are Now

We are organizing a dream.

Our team of builders and community members is preparing the build site, sourcing materials, and outlining the first educational partnerships. With every shovel of dirt and each conversation, we’re laying the groundwork — spiritually and physically — for the canoe to rise.

3. Your Support Helps Us

At this stage, your support helps us establish the foundation:

• Site preparation and materials.

• Tools and supplies for the build.

• Volunteer coordination and youth engagement.

Trevor Cabell

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi and is a proud member of the Hanalei community, Trevor is a devoted father, lifelong waterman, and canoe builder.

He carries on the craft passed down to him by his father. As a business owner in Hanalei for more than 30 years, he remains deeply committed to giving back—dedicating his time and expertise to perpetuating the Hawaiian sailing canoe.

Through his work, he strives to ensure that the traditions and spirit of Hawaiian sailing continue to inspire generations to come.

Kaui Fu

“Kaui” Fu is a cultural practitioner, educator, and community leader from Kauaʻi’s north shore. As Director of Operations at Waipā Foundation, she leads ʻāina-based education, cultural programming, and community initiatives rooted in Hawaiian values.

With a background in sociology, Hawaiian Studies, voyaging, paddling, and hula kahiko, Kaui is dedicated to perpetuating ancestral knowledge through lived practice, leadership, and intergenerational connection.

Kala Sproat-Hoe

Kalā Hoe is a Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner known for creating meaningful, place-based works that draw on Indigenous knowledge and voyaging traditions. His art includes pieces such as Iwikuamoʻo, a carved pōhaku that reflects ancestral connections and the navigation of voyaging canoes across the Pacific.

Kalā’s work is grounded in cultural practice and storytelling, contributing to the perpetuation of Hawaiian art and ʻike through visual, material, and community-centered expression. His creative practice is part of a broader ʻohana commitment to cultural continuity and community well-being.

Kapua Sproat-Hoe

D. Kapuaʻala Sproat-Hoe is a Professor of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law and Director of the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law.

Her work centers on Native Hawaiian rights, environmental and water law, and the protection of ʻāina through public trust and Indigenous legal frameworks. Through teaching, legal clinics, and community advocacy, she supports rural and Neighbor Island communities in advancing cultural, environmental, and self-determination efforts rooted in Native Hawaiian values.