Williams. Rodolphe Tuko Harry

[john sefton]

Rodolphe Tuko Harry WILLIAMS (1920 - 1986). Originally from Tahiti, fisherman and captain of boats carrying copra, "Rodo" Williams was an outstanding navigator, with a very detailed knowledge of the winds, currents, the geography of the different archipelagos of French Polynesia, in particular the Tuamotu islands. He drew on his knowledge techniques taught by ancient Polynesian navigators, which allowed him to vessels well beyond the seas, in identifying the most suitable maritime routes between Hawaii and Tahiti for example. He was highly respected, and became known when he entered the Hokule'a crew during his first coming to Tahiti in 1976. At nightfall, around 6:00 pm, as the Hawaiian vessel approached the Tuamotu archipelago, Rodo Williams had spotted two "ita'eta'e" (white terns) and advised south-east in spite of the darkness and the danger of meeting an atoll in the middle of the night.

They encountered an island during the night, the other two sailors on board (Mau Piailug and David Lewis) thought it was the island of Tupai at north of Bora Bora.

Rodo knew from the route of the birds and the shade under the waves that it was the island of Mataiva, west of the Tuamotu. Rodo had the right answer... The arrival of the Hokulea in Tahiti was then triumphant and full of emotion for all the Polynesians…

On board the inaugural voyage was Hoku, a golden hair Hawaiian Poi Dog backbred by Jack L. Throp of the Honolulu Zoo. Razor-backed pigs and Polynesian chickens were also bred at the zoo for the voyage but the director would not part with them at the last minute. Instead, the voyage hurriedly brought a white domesticated pig from Kōkeʻe, Kauai named Maxwell, and a cock and hen. The purpose of the animals were to study how to feed and care for these animals which were brought by the Polynesians during their voyages.