THE CATAMARAN MANU KAI (SEA BIRD)

By Tom Reiner

Early this spring Manu Kai was given its first major overhaul at Bob Stu&^n- berg’s Keehi Dry Dock. The completely covered with fiber glass. There are four layers of cloth over the Once again it is a Trans-Pacific keels, two layers above the water line and Race year and we are looking forward one over all. The under area forward to the excitement and color of many vis­ where the boat beaches has a stainless iting ; and yachtsmen in and about steel moulding over the glass. All this was the club. One of the objects that may sanded and smoothed to a degree hard attract their attention is the Catamaran to believe. The color scheme has been Manu Kai. continued with of red and yellow, The Manu Kai is a familiar object at a blue deck, white with a yellow Waikiki to all beach enthusiasts. Its striped water line, and a red bottom. grace, beauty, color and action create The bottom paint is a hard finish rac­ much favorable comment by Kamaainas ing bottom paint and is waxed each and Malihinis. month. The Manu Kai was designed and built The Manu Kai sails from the beach by "Woody” Brown and Alfred Kumalae regularly on a commercial basis. Tickets in 1947. It is owned by “Woody” Brown, may be obtained through the Beach Serv­ Tom Reiner and Wally Young: the latter ices. The boat is insured two are members of the Canoe damage and public Club. Much research in the Library of is the safest of seagoing craft. A and the Bishop Museum helped her is a never to be forgotten delight as in creating the design. Illustrations by she is rightly named the "Sea Bird.” Capt. Cook and other explorers, of an­ I quote from Rudy Choy in his article cient Polynesian designs were used as the in February, 1953 Motorboating. basis of its modern planning. "The all important qualities which It is fitting and proper that Hawaii give Manu Kai her speed are lightness, should be the home of this outstanding shallow , great stability, extremely and most successful modern version of fine water lines and narrow hull taper a type of craft which was directly respon­ ratio—the net effect being: no bow-wave sible for the immigration to and the his­ to fight, minimum of drag, minimum of tory of these islands by early Polynesian skin friction and constant maximum explorers. Double hulled canoes utilization of wind force. She is an un­ made possible the long voyages of our usual first creation having few bugs. Like ancestors. King Kamehameha had a 120- most masterpieces, she is also a rare foot double-hulled sailing canoe. blend of harmony, proportion, line and The Manu Kai has been sailing since grace, gifted with a 'magic’ appeal which 1947 and has been a continuous success. can captivate a sailor’s eye.” [12]