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23/12/2004: "HU-16 SEAPLANE SUNSET. (Kapingamarangi Atoll July 1969)."

The original crown-of-thorns starfish plagues triggered Project Stellaroid in Micronesia (organised by the Westinghouse Ocean Research Laboratory of San Diego, California).

Sixty six scientists and underwater photographers were assembled at Guam (USA) into teams of four. Each team had one tonne of brand new equipment including an inflateable boat, 20 horsepower outboard, fuel, air compressor, scuba tanks, tents, food, film.

Plus international travel and accomodation to and from Guam, plus a fee for services! Not a bad deal.
National Geographic sent a photographer, the New York Times had a reporter there.

More than ten teams were assembled for an average three-week expedition scattered through the North Pacific.

An unexpected sudden budget cut-back axed the documentary film I was there to make, so I went along anyway and recorded these pictures, just low resolution copies from orginals being shown here.

We 'discovered' two of the most remote islands left in the North Pacific. Close to the equator these were both traditional polynesian cultures similar to sister establishments in more southern locations - all being the western extremities of ancient polynesian open-canoe migration which began thousands of years ago.

A wonderful experience with more than a touch of danger associated with the military aircraft 'training flights' and water landing's. A take-off with JATO was most memorable.

The adventure and associated pictures would justify the pages of a small 'coffee table' book one day. It remains my favourite adventure of all time.

JULY 4 2005. Team member Ken DaVico found this web log and made contact:

I will never forget our adventure to Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro. Those were certainly some memories to be cherished. I watched a TV show, a game show called "Wheel of Fortune" and was surprised when the co-pilot of our airplane was a contestant. He mentioned our crash on the reef at Kapinga Atoll and said it was the most exciting thing in his life. Funny how we get re-connected. We were young back then. Hard to believe that I am 68 now but then, I can do things today I would not have thought of doing then.

I did go back to Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro the following year. Went down by sailboat from Ponape for a follow up expedition sponsored by the Trust Territory. All our local friends were still there and many asked about you. I was told by the chief that you and I were welcome back anytime.

Note: The crash we experienced will be described in detail at a later time, as will other experiences aboard the Grumman Albatross HU-16 seaplanes. Water landings and a JATO take-off.