Eddie Wen’ Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe: Children’s Book Honors the Legacy of Eddie Aikau and the Hōkūle‘a
Eddie Wen' Go by Marion Lyman-Mersereau
What really happened to Eddie Aikau? In her inspirational new children’s book, Eddie Wen’ Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe, former Hōkūle‘a crewmember Marion Lyman-Mersereau imagines what Hawai‘i’s ocean creatures saw when the voyaging canoe capsized and the heroic Aikau went for help. Illustrated in lavish watercolor by Melissa DeSica, the 64-page hardcover book tells the story of Hōkūle‘a’s disastrous journey—30 years ago—from the canoe’s launch to the crewmembers’ rescue.
Author Marion Lyman-Mersereau (right) with Polynesian Voyaging Society board member Harry Ho and KGMB9's Ramsay Wharton aboard Hokule'a.
Hōkūle‘a had embarked on only its second open-ocean voyage, bound for Tahiti and relying on the skills of a trained Hawaiian navigator using ancient traditional methods of navigation. Just six hours into the voyage, high winds and rough ocean conditions capsized the canoe in the middle of the Kaiwi Channel between O‘ahu and Lāna‘i. Eddie Aikau, a famous big wave surfer and North Shore lifeguard, volunteered to paddle a large surfboard to the island of Lāna‘i, about ten miles away. The crew, including author Lyman-Mersereau, was sighted by an airline pilot and rescued approximately 22 hours after the canoe capsized. No sign of Eddie was ever found.
The book’s companion read-along CD puts voices to Lyman-Mersereau’s colorful cast of characters—including a wise grandmother whale and her curious grandson, a sassy young dolphin, a tough pidgin-speaking shark, and a free-spirited ‘iwa (frigate bird)—who share in the telling of the story, with liberal use of Hawaiian words and phrases.Each of the older animals take their turn in relating their part in the tale, the events they saw, or the family lore handed down about the “upside-down canoe” and the brave human who went for help.
A copy of Eddie Wen' Go, autographed by the author and the vocal cast.
Together, the animals come to a conclusion about what happened to Eddie: “As long as there’s an ocean and creatures in it, that’s where Eddie will be.” Eddie’s example, the animals remind us, challenges us all to live courageously and to use our own gifts to be of service to others.
Lyman-Mersereau helped to build Hōkūle‘a, and was a crewmember on the fateful journey in March 1978, as well as on a subsequent voyage in 1980. In 1995, she wrote an article published in HONOLULU Magazine titled, “Eddie Would Go,” which inspired the book by the same title, authored by Stuart Coleman. Currently a middle school social studies teacher at Punahou School, she has been sharing the story of the Hōkūle‘a and Eddie Aikau for 30 years, but feels “it was always a sad story—Eddie was reported missing at sea.” Writing Eddie Wen’ Go allowed her “to resolve the experience and have it told in a way that would be creative and fun yet meaningful.”
The companion CD also features the musical talents of and original compositions by slack-key artist Danny Carvalho. His song “Hōkū, Hōkūle‘a Slack” takes its title from the lyrics of “A Song of Hōkūle‘a,” written by Eddie Aikau, and represents the famed waterman’s excitement as the voyage begins. Sound engineering and production are by Eugene Carvalho of Lava Rock Music.
Eddie Wen’ Go has been featured by HAWAI‘I Magazine, the Maui Weekly, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Hawaii Tribune Herald (requires subscription), Sunrise on KGMB9, KHNL News8 and blogger Feng Hutchins.
This video features some of the beautiful watercolor illustrations by Melissa DeSica and the character narration from the companion CD.
The cast of the Eddie Wen' Go audio CD. L-R: Danny Lyman (Mr. Mano), Traci Young ('Iwa), Steve Wagenseller (Mr. Honu), Hattie Phillips (Tutuwahine), Paris Priore-Kim (Kaleo), Lauren Medeiros (Lele) and Marion Lyman-Mersereau (narrator).
Eddie Wen’ Go is available for purchase at your local bookstore and at online booksellers, including direct from the publisher at www.bookshawaii.net.
Author: Marion Lyman-Mersereau
Illustrator: Melissa DeSica
Hardcover, 64 pp., with audio CD
Release Date: May 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9790647-5-3
$17.95 retail price
Tags: children's story, Danny Lyman, Eddie Aikau, Eddie Wen' Go, Harry Ho, Hattie Phillips, Hawaiian navigation, Hokulea, Lauren Medeiros, Marion Lyman-Mersereau, Paris Priore-Kim, Polynesian Voyaging Society, Ramsay Wharton, Steve Wagenseller, Traci Young, voyaging canoe
October 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I'm hoping that children of all ages will enjoy this version of the events of March 1978. I hope they will be drawn into the story not only by the beautiful watercolor illustrations by dear Melissa DeSica but also by the intriguing voices of the characters and slack key artistry on the read along CD.