{"id":138992,"date":"2021-04-09T15:35:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T01:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=138992"},"modified":"2021-04-14T09:23:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T19:23:16","slug":"in-memoriam-chad-kalepa-baybayan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/09\/in-memoriam-chad-kalepa-baybayan\/","title":{"rendered":"In memoriam: Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_81979\"  width=\"676\" height=\"676\"  data-origwidth=\"676\" data-origheight=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jEMsWd6WTAQ?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"In memoriam: Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>The University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> community is mourning the loss of highly respected, deep-sea voyaging canoe <span aria-label=\"Hokulea\">H\u014dk\u016ble&#699;a<\/span> captain <strong>Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan<\/strong>, who served as a navigator-in-residence at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imiloahawaii.org\/\">&#699;Imiloa Astronomy Center of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On April 9, loved ones shared that 64-year-old Baybayan, a <abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">UH<\/abbr> Hilo alumnus, died. They released a brief public statement:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_138965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138965\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-3-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Baybayan wearing lei\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-138965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-3-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-3.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-138965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan (Photo credit: Bob Douglas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Mahalo nui loa to all of our &#699;ohana, immediate and extended, for your comforting thoughts of aloha, pule and support from places near and far. Thank you also for allowing us this time and space to deal with the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend to so many. Me ke aloha nui n\u014d.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Baybayan, a Pwo navigator, was one of the original <span aria-label=\"Hokulea\">H\u014dk\u016ble&#699;a<\/span> crew members. He took part in the three-year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/tag\/malama-honua\/\">M\u0101lama Honua Worldwide Voyage<\/a>, a 42,000 nautical mile journey which consisted of 150 ports in more than 20 countries. The headline-grabbing expedition earned Baybayan and the <span aria-label=\"Hokulea\">H\u014dk\u016ble&#699;a<\/span> crew a <em>National Geographic<\/em> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/adventure\/adventurers-of-the-year\/\">2017 Adventurers of the Year<\/a> nomination.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;K\u0101lepa dedicated his life to perpetuate the voyaging wisdom of his ancestors,&rdquo; said <abbr>UH<\/abbr> President <strong>David Lassner<\/strong> who sailed with Baybayan on <span aria-label=\"Hokulea\">H\u014dk\u016ble&#699;a<\/span>. &ldquo;I feel fortunate and honored to have been part of the crew for some of his journeys in recent years and to have been able to learn from him. K\u0101lepa\u2019s passing leaves a deep hole within the University and is an immense loss for all of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_138966\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138966\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-4.jpg\" alt=\"Baybayan on Hokulea\" width=\"250\" height=\"311\" class=\"size-full wp-image-138966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-4.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-4-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-4-105x130.jpg 105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-138966\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Maui native also served as captain on voyaging canoes <span aria-label=\"Hawaiiloa\">Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span> and <span aria-label=\"HokUalakai\">H&#333;k&#363;alaka&#699;i<\/span>. Baybayan brought his &#699;ike (knowledge) of traditional Polynesian voyaging to &#699;Imiloa and developed wayfinding activities, curriculum and educational criteria, and coordinated outreach programs and projects. A champion of astronomy, the cherished waterman worked to fulfill &#699;Imiloa\u2019s mission to merge science and discovery with Hawaiian culture.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We were honored to know, and work alongside him here at &#699;Imiloa in his education and outreach endeavors as our navigator-in-residence,&rdquo; said &#699;Imiloa Executive Director <strong><span aria-label=\"Kaiu\">Ka&#699;iu<\/span> Kimura<\/strong>. &ldquo;But even more than that, we were blessed to have him as a friend and member of our &#699;ohana &#699;Imiloa. The impact of his life\u2019s work is evidenced in so many ways all throughout the community and while he will be sorely missed, we are committed to continuing his work of educating future generations about the wealth and applicability of our ancestral knowledge of wayfinding to ongoing pursuit of new knowledge to the benefit of our community and our <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In summer 2020, Baybayan co-published a <abbr>UH<\/abbr> study on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/06\/05\/indigenous-voyaging-data-not-documented\/\">severe lack of documentation of Indigenous voyaging data<\/a>. He found publications on non-instrument wayfinding and voyaging of Pacific Islanders were often ignored in widely used indexes such as the Dewey Decimal Classification in libraries, the Library of Congress and the Web of Science citation database. Baybayan advocated for a more complete database system to benefit those conducting research in traditional wayfinding and voyaging arts.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&ldquo;Draw your own map, become the map maker&#8230;the cartographer for your own life,&rdquo;<br \/>&#8212;Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In 2017, after wrapping up <span aria-label=\"Hokulea\">H\u014dk\u016ble&#699;a<\/span>\u2019s historical three-year journey, he was selected to deliver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2017\/12\/19\/chad-kalepa-baybayan-hilo-commencement\/\">the keynote address at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s fall commencement<\/a>. Baybayan urged the graduates not to be observers, to get into the race and paddle and be like the oceanic mariners who sailed into the Pacific and discovered the stars.<\/p>\n<p>During the address he noted, &ldquo;Draw a big circle around where you want to end up and then throw the map away. Draw your own map, become the map maker&#8230;the cartographer for your own life. Don\u2019t let anyone tell you what you should be. Don\u02bbt let others define you. Be responsible for owning your own dream and vision of where you want to arrive at. Be persistent and relentless and working that sail plan so that you arrive at your destination.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo Chancellor <strong>Bonnie Irwin<\/strong> added &ldquo;K\u0101lepa personified the finest attributes of a <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo alumnus and staff member, paying forward his education to inspire generations to seek out knowledge and preserve ancestral ways.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Baybayan\u2019s work through the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hokulea.com\/moananuiakea\/\">Polynesian Voyaging Society<\/a> and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> has helped shape a new generation of navigators, educators, scientists and community stewards.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_138967\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138967\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-1.jpg\" alt=\"Baybayan on sailing vessel\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-138967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-1.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/hilo-baybayan-c-1-130x73.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-138967\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Baybayan served as a navigator-in-residence at the &#699;Imiloa Astronomy Center of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,12],"tags":[33,292,756,1012,14,56],"class_list":["post-138992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","category-video","tag-hawaiian","tag-imiloa-astronomy-center","tag-in-memoriam","tag-malama-honua","tag-uh-hilo","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138992"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138992\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139378,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138992\/revisions\/139378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}