Hawaiʻi s Community of Navigators and Voyagers Mourn the Loss of Chad Kālepa Baybayan
The passing of Hawaiian master navigator Chad Kālepa Baybayan came as a shock to many, including fellow Hōkūleʻa crew member and master navigator Nainoa Thompson.
“Itʻs not that you donʻt believe it. You donʻt want to believe it,” says Thompson, “And the only way I dealt with this was to come down here, next to the canoe. I believe a part of him will always be here.”
Baybayan was born in Lahaina, Maui, and first sailed on Hōkūleʻa in 1975. He was aboard all of Hōkūleʻa’s major voyages, and became mentor to future seafarers. Kaimanaonalani Barcarse was one of them praising Baybayan for his ability to bring out the best in everyone.
Polynesian voyaging canoe captain, navigator dies at 65
April 10, 2021
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HONOLULU (AP) Master navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan, who served as a captain of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea, has died. He was 65.
Baybayan died suddenly while visiting family in Seattle, his family said in a statement on Friday. The cause of death was not immediately known.
The family thanked people for their thoughts, love and support, and for “allowing us this time and space to deal with the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend to so many,” the statement said.
His mother Lillian Suter told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the family was shocked.