Dennis started volunteering on Hōkūleʻa in the 70’s and 80’s and he first sailed on her in 1985 from Hawai’i to Tahiti. For Dennis, Hōkūleʻa opens up a whole new approach to learning, teaching and discovering. As an educator, Dennis feels the responsibility to engage and perpetuate ‘canoe culture’ within the practice of education and he hopes that this will be accomplished through the Worldwide Voyage.
At sea, Dennis appreciates how the environment dictates life aboard the canoe and how the crewmembers unite to address the challenges posed to ensure everyone’s safety. He believes this unity is often lacking on land, which is why he and his fellow crewmembers miss being at sea.