Our Moʻokuauhau

Nā Kālai Waʻa means “canoe builders,” and began with a dream—Clay Bertelmann’s vision to build a waʻa for his brother, Shorty, so he could continue voyaging from Moku O Hawaiʻi. Shorty, one of Papa Mau’s first haumāna, sailed on Hōkūleʻa’s first voyage to Tahiti in 1976. That legacy lives on through our waʻa, carrying the ʻike, aloha, and spirit of our ancestors into the future.

Clay Bertelmann’s journey with wayfinding began in 1975, when Hōkūleʻa sailed to retrace the paths of our kūpuna. As a crew member, he learned that voyaging was more than travel—it was a way of life. Clay dreamed of building a waʻa to teach anyone with a sincere heart and good mind. He believed this ʻike wasn’t meant to be kept, but shared—so the spirit of the canoe could live on through every generation.

The kāne of Hawaiʻi asked the kūpuna, “Can we build a voyaging canoe?” The kūpuna answered, “First, we build a traditional canoe, guided by ceremony, ʻike, and ancestral practice.” In 1991, a koa tree was felled by "magic" in Keauhou, Kāʻū. At Keoneele, Hōnaunau, through the ceremonial practice of kālai waʻa and Mauloa was born. I Keauhou ka lāʻau, i Keoneele ka moku. On May 15, 1993, Mauloa entered the bay—named in honor of Mau and the knowledge he passed down. Before Makaliʻi, came Mauloa, our hiapo waʻa. Her mana and moʻolelo center and guide us. I ka wā ma mua, i ka wā ma hope.

After the birth of Mauloa, Clay and Shorty Bertelmann received the blessing of the kūpuna of Hawaiʻi moku—and the guidance of Papa Mau—to build Makaliʻi. In just nine months, within a humble Quonset hut in Waimea, Makaliʻi was born. She was made with aloha and the spirit of laulima from communities across Hawaiʻi moku and our pae ʻāina. On February 4, 1995, Makaliʻi was birthed in Kawaihae where she still lives today. In 2025, "Makaliʻi Makes 30" years ʻohana, aloha and malama for our moku and waʻa.