After three years in dry dock in Port Townsend for restoration work, the gaff-rigged topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain was launched April 9. 

The weather, a typical foe in the northwest, delivered an overcast day, breezy and chilly, but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of those in attendance. They waited patiently even when they were told of a shift in the schedule from noon to 2 p.m. to move the vessel from dry dock to the boat launch.

When the time came and the lift arrived the skies cleared and the sun brightened the ship even more, as if in approval of the launch. A slow parade, including owner Aubrey Wilson and her mother, followed behind. Once in a position to be lowered, Wilson christened the Hawaiian Chieftain. Then it was slowly lowered to touch the water, just as a bald eagle flew overhead on its own journey.

Since her maiden voyage in 1990, the Chieftain has worked off and on, taking out passengers and operating an educational program with school children.

Built in 1988 by the Lahaina Welding Co. on the island of Maui, the ship was named Hawaiian Chieftain by Drake Thomas, the company’s owner, after he had read an article about Maui’s King Kahekili. The ship was designed by naval architect Raymond H. Richards. It replicates the 19th century’s shallow-draft trade industry ships, which sailed among the islands. With drafts of 5’5” — the Chieftain is 6’ — they were able to enter smaller ports of call.

That maiden voyage in 1990 was to Tahiti. From there it sailed to San Francisco under a new owner, who based the Hawaiian Chieftain in Sausalito, California. After being bought and sold several times, the Hawaiian Chieftain was purchased in 1998 by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport (GHHS) in Aberdeen, Washington.  The not-for-profit public development paired it with its brig, the Lady Washington. Both sailed the West Coast educating school children and taking the public sailing as the two performed mock battles, firing their small cannons at each other. In 1993, GHHS sold the Hawaiian Chieftain to a purchaser in New England. When the new owner suddenly died, the ship was returned to GHHS, and alongside the Lady Washington, resumed their coastal educational programs.

The Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington continued sailing together until 2019, when a U.S. Coast Guard inspection turned up problems for the Chieftain. Issues with its steel hull were serious enough to prevent it from carrying passengers. GHHS decided to retire the vessel. The ship was transferred from Port Townsend to Astoria where it was moored behind Pier 39 awaiting for a new owner.

In the summer of 2021 Aubrey and Matt Wilson arrived on the scene. Their vision, from the start, was to take the boat back to its home in Lahaina, Hawaii. First, it had to be restored. Arren Day of the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co–Op had worked on the Chieftain and inspected it. He assured the Wilson’s that the best place for it to be restored was Port Townsend. The project began in 2021.

Getting it in back in the water is a huge step forward, but they aren’t done yet.