Expedition Amana is a project to investigate the possibility of a new ancient maritime route by hypothesizing that before Polynesians arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, Native Americans may have traveled from California in reed boats, the oldest boats made of bundles of grass.
This project aims not only to unravel the mysteries of ancient navigation and seaborne migration patterns, but also to gain a new understanding of the environmental changes caused by ecological migration carried by reed boats from an environmental and biological perspective.
In addition, the project will utilize the latest technology live-streaming to share ancient voyages with the world and promote a deeper understanding of education, science, and culture.
This project symbolizes ancient wisdom rooted in harmony with nature, and will inform the world about how to interact with the natural environment in a sustainable manner.
-Project leader
Jin Ishikawa
-Video Production
Julian Goodman / Niki Wallin / Kai Smith / Mason Le
Project Overview
2023, April
Create half size of boat and do test voyage in San Francisco bay.
Test Reed boat will be half size of "Amana" (Around 30 feet).
We would like to confirm following things through the test boat.
1. Mast position
2. The size and shape of sail
3. The size and shape of rudder
4. Sailing maneuverability this new design
June 2025,
Start on a voyage from San Francisco to Hawaii islands.
Based on results of test boat, we will make new " Amana" (around 60 feet).
Recreating the life of an ancient voyage on a reed boat with 7 crews, we will ride the winds and currents to sail to Hawaii, 2,500 nautical miles (4,000 km) away, for about 50 days.
December 25, 2019 thanks to your help, it was approved.
Reed Boat made more than 7,000 years ago.
Reed Boat had been used for many purposes such as transportation and delivery.
It was used on lake, river, and sea and appeared in ancient civilization like Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Europe, Asia and all over the American continental.
Profile
Jin Ishikawa
Explorer.
Representative Director of “EXPEDITION AMANA”.
Representative Director of “ONE OCAEN”.
1987-1989: Backpack journey in North America,Europa, India, East Asia, Australia, and East Africa.
1990-1991: Crossed Sahara desert alone with a camel. 1700mi(2700km). 6 months.
1992: Lived in Point Barrow, far north town in Alaska, with the Iñupiat. Participated in the building of umiaq (A boat made of seal skin) .
1994: Journeyed by dugout canoe alone for 2 months, 500mi(800km), through the Orinoco river, in the Colombian jungle.
Worked as a tourist guide in Machu Picchu for 2 years.
1995: Traveled around Lake Titicaca by Reed Boat for 4 months.
Joined UN official project “Expedition Mata Rangi”as a crow.Organized by his master Kitin Muñoz
1996: Built Mata RangiⅠ (first Reed Boat) in Rapanui Island (Easter island).
1998-1999: Built Mata RangiⅡ (second Reed Boat) in Alica, Chile. Voyaged to Marquesas Islands for 88 days, 5000mi(8000 km).
2000-2002: Built Mata Rangi Ⅲ(third Reed Boat) in Barcelona. Voyaged to Cape Verde Islands for 60 days, 2700mi(4300 km).
2002: Founded “Kamuna Project”. Started “Reed Boat school”.
2005: He hosted the first Reed Boat voyage Kamuna project in Japan.Built a Reed Boat “Kamuna”.
Traveled from Kouchi prefecture to the Izu islands in Japan for 13 days, 630mi(1000 km) as a captain of Reed Boat.
2012-2013: Journeyed around Japan by his 30ft yacht "Amana".
2013: Held “Reed Boat school” in Korea. It was the first reed boat school in a foreign country.
2014: Founded an association “ONE OCEAN” as Representative Director
2018: Founded an association “EXPEDITION AMANA”as Representative Director
Jin Ishikawa has built 290 reed boats and experienced more than 9400mi(15000 km) Reed Boat navigation. Currently, he is planning to explore anew, traveling from the west coast of the US to Hawaii by Reed Boat.
Jin Ishikawa's website ⇨ http://www.jinishikawa.com/english
Depart from San Francisco Bay to Hawaiian Islands!
Donation / Volunteer recruitment
EXPEDITION AMANA is looking for donations and volunteer staff.
If you would like to join as a translator, we are looking for translators for English/ Japanese or Spanish/ Japanese.
If you would like to join as a Reed Boat builder, we are looking for who cut Reed(Tule) and who build tule reed boat in West Coast in California US.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
【 翻訳 】
ーConnecting wisdomー
"EXPEDITION AMANA" aims to learn the wisdom of tule reed boat since ancient times.
If you would like to join us, please contact us. It will be a great pleasure for us.
Thank you for your support and cooperation.
EXPEDITION AMANA
Head of Project
Jin Ishikawa
【 DONATION 】
We need 100,000 USD for the test voyage in Feb 2023.
We, all members of EXPEDITION AMANA, would like to ask your cooperation for realization.
Support by bank transfer
◎MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Nagasaki Branch
(Ordinary) 0420939
(Sha) Expedition Amana
Click here to support us by credit card.
【VOLUNTEER】
[ Donations / Volunteers ]
Volunteer for the construction of a around 30 feet test boat which will be built in April 2023
・ Build Reed Boat
Volunteers for building structures such as hull parts, masts, sails, rudder, and so on
Place: Sausalito San Francisco Bay area in US
Term: April, 2023 (Term, Conditions, and details are TBD.)
[ Volunteer for harvesting and build tule reed boat ]