Ocean advocates honoured
The International SeaKeepers Society honoured individuals and organisations who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to ocean conservation.
09 November 2022
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The International SeaKeepers Society presented the SeaKeeper of the Year Award 2022 to Nainoa Thompson during its Annual Founders Event at the start of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
Explorer, navigator, cultural revivalist, educator, and storyteller: Nainoa Thompson has led the rediscovery and revival of the ancient Polynesian art of navigation. Through his voyaging, teaching, and engagement, he has opened a global, multi-generational dialogue on the importance of sustaining ocean resources and maritime heritage.
Nainoa Thompson has led the revival of the ancient Polynesian art of navigation, acting as educator and storyteller as well as explorer and navigator.
His lifetime work has initiated a global and multi-generational discussion on why maritime heritage and sustaining ocean resources is so integral to the present and future of the planet and society.
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The NextGen Award is presented to candidates under 45 years of age who are actively involved in protecting the oceans either individually or providing leadership to an organisation.
This year, the SeaKeepers NextGen Award went to Lehua Kamalu, who is a captain and navigator. She is also the Voyaging Director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, a non-profit and educational organisation supporting the ongoing voyages of the double-hulled canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia.
The society is dedicated to perpetuating the practice of traditional Polynesian voyaging and non-instrument navigation, where wayfinders find their way across hundreds of miles of open ocean with thousands of minute observations of stars, moon, waves, clouds, and sea birds, rather than compasses or GPS or any other instruments.
As Lehua says, “The navigator is the instrument.”
During the evening, guests learnt more about the DISCOVERY Yacht Program, its expeditions and educational outreach throughout 2022.
Honourees and the DISCOVERY yachts were recognised for their ongoing support with custom-made awards from 2022 SeaKeeper Artist of the Year Robert DuGrenier, world-renowned sculptor in glass, marble and metal.
The International SeaKeepers Society would like to thank its supporters and guests of the Annual Founders Event 2022 and Master of Ceremonies Louis Aguirre from WPLG 10 local station. SeaKeepers would like to formally thank Tanya Lynn and Andrew Heller for opening their stunning estate to host the event and VIP cocktail aboard Motor Yacht Tanzanite.
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