Hoonah, Alaska's Icy Strait Point - A taste of the REAL Alaaqsaq (Alaska)

[JohnQ]

Chookenshaa,

Thank you for the info and nice to see you back on the board. We miss all the local input, and you need to sit Koo Hook down for a rest. He is taking all this way too seriously. He needs to reflect and prepare for school.

[Hoonah_Tlingit_Boy]

It's a beautiful day today in Hoonahlulu! I think it's nearly 80 degrees out right now. We've had an especially warm summer, and people are out in the flocks. I've just returned from a nice trip to Sitka, and things couldn't be much better.

 

JohnQ - Point Adolphus is roughly 15 miles from Hoonah and Icy Strait Point. The traveling time to the prime whale watching waters is around 40 minutes. We idle amongst the whales for more than an hour. Now the transient time itself is prime opportunity to spot one of many marine mammals that make Southeast Alaska, and Icy Strait in particular, home. You could see humpback whales, killer whales, minke whales, gray whales, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, several species of porpoise and much much more. The opportunities also abound to scan the shorelines for the Alaska Coastal Brown Bears and Sitka Black-Tailed deer that populate Chichagof Island. The decision again is up to you, and hopefully you have the adequate time to see and do all that you are wishing. You do know that I am born and raised here in Hoonah right? I guess I just got a quizzical expression when I read your most recent post when you said you'd been longing for the local input...that was my initial mission in joining cruisecritic.com, so I hope that is what I am achieving. I'm also a little unsure as to what you mean by too seriously...I've enjoyed and reeped many benefits from the experience this venture has been affording both our guests and our people alike. I sure hope that I'm not portraying myself as somebody who's "too serious". There are a few things I do take seriously however, such as the integrity and cultural continuity of my people and the mission to never compromise that for anything, as well as my mission to keep Hoonah and it's people continually intertwined with it's surroundings and aware of why we as Hoonah people are here to begin with. I am a prideful person, and again, I sure hope that hasn't been misconstrued as "too serious". I hope nothing but the best upon your adventures here in Alaska JohnQ.

 

PHdiva - Gunalcheesh for sharing that article with the rest of us. Those quotes and interpretations are 100% accurate in the portrayal of the local peoples' original conceptions/misconceptions of the ensuing development. It's been a great part of history, and there has been much for us to learn, and grow from. Again, thank you so much for sharing.

 

Karen - Fluster no more! I have been on many tours throughout Southeast Alaska in the pursuit of the elusive whales. Every tour will offer something different, and the whalewatch here is both abundant in wildlife and accurate portrayals of the aboriginal people of Southeast Alaska, the Tlingit. I whole-heartedly believe in the benefits of education and the pursuit of accurate knowledge, and through that belief, I am afforded the unparalleled opportunity of immersing 300 people per day into a culture they would otherwise never know, all while viewing the powerful creatures that thrive here. It's fairly typical for our boat to be surrounded by whales, giving everyone aboard the boat opportunities to see the yei (humpback whale). We kindly assist anybody who may have any needs, and we accomodate to make it the most comfortable and pleasant experience for all that seek the adventure with us. JohnQ was correct when he said there are 2 departures per day, however whenever the ship is only at Icy Strait Point until 2pm, we only have one sailing. I sure hope I was able to help you decide, and if not, I'm positive you'll forget the fluster when you get here. LOOKING FORWARD to having you Karen, we've been corresponding for some time now...

 

Again, a splendid day in Hoonahlulu, and fewer days of elongated anticipation of your arrival....

[JohnQ]

Koo Hook,

I was only commenting on how hard you and your community were working to make our visit a memorable one. It was your love of your heritage and Hoonah that convinced us to choose this cruise. Sorry if I mislead you. And if I understand then, if the Celebrity is in Hoonah from 6:30am--2:30pm, there will be only one whalewatching tour and it will not start until the 9:00pm time rather than being moved up earlier as our port time was? Your descriptions of the whalewatching and the bear viewing tour make the choice difficult. Thank you again.

[boten]

...and Boten and his wife. I didn't get to talk very much with Boten as I had a medical emergency to take care of.

Hi Lisa, we saw you were very busy when that evacuation took place and didn't want to disturb your work. It was cool meeting you earlier that day, wish we could have talked some more, but maybe we will in the future :)

[Chookenshaa]

You bet, you know where to find me if you are ever this way again...I sure won't be going anywhere...

[alpal1993]

Hi Chookenshaa and Koo Hook >Miss you guys wish I had had more time to spend in Hoonah.Your pictures came out great and I will cherish them always.Just wish we could make the trip again.If the Infinity ever makes a stop at Icy Straits we will be sure to be on her.Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer.As for me I am back at school already,plannining and tieing up loose ends getting everything ready for all the kids. Ann

[officebar2]

IT'S ME KOO HOOK!!! I've accidentally logged in under my Aunt Mary's screen name (I'm sure many of you will get to know "The Office Bar" if you haven't already), so no worries, it's still me......

 

Hello everyone! I FINALLY got to meet magicmom and it was quite the delight. We gave each other a huge hug, and strangely enough it felt as if I was hugging an aunt. What a special and memorable experience this has been, and the great value in meeting wonderful new people has mustered an incredible feeling. GUNALCHEESH to you ALL for making this such a great time in my life.

 

JohnQ - Gunalcheesh for your reply. I wasn't completely mislead, and I think the curious George inside of me just wondered...as any of our curious George's would. You are correct, the whalewatch time will not be moved up with the earlier arrival of the ship. Again, the tour is 3 hours and very possibly an extroardinary 3 hours. Today you would not believe what happened out in the waters of Icy Strait...we actually had a humpback calf come right up to the fantail of the boat and I stared it in the EYE! It was the most remarkable, earth-binding feeling I have ever experienced with these majestic giants. It's not common for these whales to meander so closely to the boats, and I think it's safe to say that EVERYONE, including our local crew, were brought to their knees with amazement. I think our guests were able to grasp the scope and magnitude of such an encounter when the crew began to clamor to the railings as well...WOW! Ahhh.....what a great day. We also spotted a mother brown bear and her 3 cubs wandering along the shores of Chichagof Island. It was truly an amazing trip...and it just goes to show that you NEVER know what just might happen on a cruise to Pt. Adolphus....Gunalcheesh for all your compliments JohnQ, the day is coming soon....

 

Ann - And we will cherish our memories with you as well...the experience has brought many of us together, and will continue to bind Hoonah to many people throughout the globe. Whoever would've thought.....lil' ol Hoonah becoming a familiar name in this world....it's just AWESOME! I'm almost positive that we will see you once again, for I can sense the magic you felt here, and I know you will pursue it another day......GUNALCHEESH!

 

Life brings unexpected turns, in the health of a community, in the pride of a people, and in the perpetuation of a culture...and our turn has headed straight for the stars......how do I know????? Because I can see those stars in the eyes of our children everyday now.....

[officebar2]

Hello John Q.

 

September Is An Excellent Time For Bear Activitey Here In Hoonah, They Well Be Feeding Off The Streams And You Will Have A Great Time Watching They Are Fun To Watch. Look Forward To Your Visit I Know You Will Enjoy This Stop And Please Do Come Up And Check Out Our Village We Are Very Proud And Very Happy To Have The Opportunity To Share Our Secert With Others, We Don't Have Any Fancy Shops Just Local Lady's That Do Their Seal Skin Work And Beads To Sell, Beautiful,beautiful Work, You Will Have To Check It Out, And Please Make It A Point To Stop At The Office Bar And Have A Cold Beer With Us And Visit. Mary E. Sha'wat' Ga

[Hoonah_Tlingit_Boy]

Will someone please send us a little rain up here? We are having an extremely rare summer with bouts of sun and heat that have us scrambling for the shade. The berries were minimal this summer, the salmon are pooling at the mouth of streams but are unable to move because of the lack of water and temperatures in the streams, and it's truly affecting our time for harvest. I know many people consider themselves blessed when they return home from Alaska with a tan, but we truly suffer the consequences of an abnormally warm and dry summer with freezers and cupboards going unfilled. Hopefully the populations of fish are able to rebound after what I may assume is a scant year for spawning production. So, if any of you have an excess of rain in your part of the world, PLEASE, by all means send some this way! GUNALCHEESH!

[JohnQ]

Koo Hook,

I'm sure your rains will come, and we have come to accept we will probably get rained on when we leave on 8/26. A few years ago, we went to Maui and they were having a similar drought, not having rained for 3 mos. So i went out to play golf and it rained for an hour, with a beautiful rainbow. So I am sure I can do the same for you. If we are out in the rain on your whalewatch tour, I will expect you to remember who brought them to you! Good luck and will see you soon.

[lrn376]

good afternoon. I have a question for Hoonah-Tlingit-Boy or anyone else who might know the answer. I am planning to be in ISP on Tues. June 28,2005. I will be on the Summit. I am interested in doing a Bear Tour. (2 people) Can i book a tour on my own with the people of Icy Strait or do I have to book thru the cruiseline. We will be in dock from 6:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Very anxious to meet the people of ISP. Thanks for posting so much info about Icy Stait. Have a good day. Lois

[magicmom50]

Well,Hoonah and Icy Strait Point is all Koo Hook described and more! We just got back from our cruise on the Vision of the Seas and loved every minute.We enjoyed visiting Saxman Native Village and the Lumberjack show in Ketchikan,Whale watching and seeing Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and riding the Whitepass RR and gold panning in Skagway. But we LOVED Hoonah! As we approached the pier in the tender the sight of the cannery was exciting since I had seen it many times on the ISP site.From the minute I stepped onto the pier I felt like I was 'home'.Strange,indeed,but all the 'talking' with Koo Hook on this site and reading all the descriptions and history of the area made me feel familiar with it already. I was with many family members and friends who quickly felt the same way.

We were welcomed with such a generous spirit by everyone we came in contact with.The natural beauty was yet to be discovered by us,albeit a little piece. We went on the earliest bear watch expedition and were excited to see bears.But just as awesome was the area in which we found ourselves to do so.It is untouched and serene and beautiful and we could have just sat on a bench and stayed there for hours enjoying the silence and sounds of nature.

We explored as much as we could while there,arriving on the first tender at 8 a.m. and not leaving till the last tender did. at 4:30.We couldn't pull ourselves away.Koo Hook was out on the whale watching boat and I was not leaving without seeing him in person! We went to the salmon bake(yummy),saw the native dancers perform,toured the cannery and museum,in afew shops and helped the economy by making a few purchases(don't forget to sample the wonderful and different jams,jellies,honey....my son bought many to take back to law school).We also just walked along the beach drinking in the wonder of such an unspoiled area.

We met Siobhan,Tim,Gloria and others who all felt like old friends.We chatted with a man who makes canoes and learned much.

Of course one of the highlights was meeting Koo Hook and giving him the hug that I had promised him. I felt like he was/is family and it was very special.

The entire day touched my soul and spirit and will be remembered fondly.I will surely get back there one day.

Anyone who hasn't yet visisted Hoonah,get ready! You will love it!!!

Vicki

[magicmom50]

Irn.... book thru the cruiseline. The tours are run by folks from Hoonah and you will hear wonderful stories about the life there as well as be escorted on the bear expedition. There are no independent bear watching tours.

We loved the excursion and the bit of sightseeing that went with it.It gave the opportunity to see the surrounding areas. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

[lrn376]

Hi magicmom 50. thanks for the input about the bear watching. Looking forward to visiting ISP. Glad u had a nice trip. Lois

[Hoonah_Tlingit_Boy]

WASAA IYATEE EVERYBODY! (how are you doing?) I've been rather malignant when it comes to cruisecritic, so I just wanted to let everyone know how all is going here at Icy Strait Point/Hoonah.

 

I recently found out from reliable sources that we will have 37 ships calling at Icy Strait Point this year, up 5 from our inaugeral year. It's great news to know that we will have the opportunity to educate and share with that many more guests!

 

I am currently working for Hoonah City Schools as the head volleyball coach for the Braves, and we will be heading to Klawock(remember, where my grandmother comes from) on Prince of Wales Island west of Ketchikan for our regional tournament. My team is currently ranked 1st in our region, and we're looking to bring home a state championship this year. It's been the ultimate learning experience for me, and I've grown through the process. This growing up game is getting real and scary at the same time. I still have the angst and energy of a twenty something, yet also have the benefits of knowing how to go about making wise decisions. Traveling with my team has turned me into a mobile shrink - high school kids love the dramatics of life, don't they!

 

Everyone that worked at Icy Strait Point are excited and eager for the spring to come so we can start preparing for the influx of our honored guests once again, and I will have the fortunate task once again to set up the proper training and facilitating. I've learned through the experience we had this past summer, that the rawness of our interpretive guides and our home combined provided our guests with a TRUE glimpse into the lives of modern day Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska, and I will let that remain just the way it is. Sincerity and authenticity have proved to be beneficial to both my people and our guests.

 

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving feast, and will have a great Christmas and New Year. I have included a few links to Hoonah for those of you interested in revisiting Hoonah in one shape of form.

 

http://www.hoonahalaska.com http://www.hunahunny.com http://www.hoonah.net www3.hcs.k12.ak.us

 

GUNALCHEESH!

 

Koo Hook

[JPCruising]

I have added several new pictures to the Hoonah Chapter of my Alaska photo album found on my picture website at: www.jprphotos.com

 

Let me know it you like them and please sign my guest book

 

Here are 2 sample pictures

 

[lrn376]

hi Hoonah Tlingit Boy, I am anxiously awaiting June 28, when I will be coming to ISP. I read your e-mails very carefully. Can you please tell me if there is a bear viewing walking tour that I can take in ISP. Unfortunately, we will only be in ISP from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m which will be cut even shorter since we will be tenered into ISP. I would also like to see the salmon cannery and the native dancers. Hoping to meet you personally when I arrive. Looking forward to hearing from you. Lois

[JohnQ]

The Bear Viewing trip starts by tour bus and goes to the bear viewing platforms outside of town, where you walk to the viewing platforms overlooking river. I think you get a mini tour of area on the way. I was on the Summit in Sep with the same sched. The tours were like every 1/2 hr or hrly, starting at 8 or 8:30 and continued until about 11:30-12noon. Leave time to walk around Hoonah, the nature trail or beach walk. We took the whalewatching tour which was at 9 am and didn't give us time to go to town or do bear viewing, as it lasts at least 3 hrs, with great whale sightings. And Koo Hook was our guide.

I have posted some pictures of ISP here if you wish to check it out:

http://community.webshots.com/user/jq4653

[lrn376]

good morning,John Q, do u book the bear viewing trip ahead of time? Also, did u do whale watching in Juneau ?who did u contact to do the whale watch with in ISP. If so, was one better than the other or would u recommend to do both whale watches.Pix are great. Thanks for the help. Lois

[lrn376]

John Q, another question if u don't mind. In Denali did u do the dinner theatre or eat in the hotels restaurant which I hear there is a beautiful. thanks, lois

[alpal1993]

Irn376.I did the dinner theater in Denali through Celebrity.It was great.We sat with all our 'new' friends we met on the cruisetour.The food is served family style all you can eat.The food was good the entertainment was great.We got picked up out side of our hotel and taken to the sight.We had the 8:30 seating as it fit in with our Denali Tour.We got back to Hotel past 11:30.

[JohnQ]

Lois,

The whalewatching tour was thru Celebrity and we booked it as soon as we got on board for our cruise. They run the only large boat out for touring. Plus you have Koo Hook narrating on the tour. We had a great day. There are not very many private vendors available on Hoonhah like there are at the other ports. Celebrity/RCCL have most of it tied up. We did have cruisecritic friends who rented a 6 or 8 passenger fishing boat for whalewatching for about 3 hrs, that is the boat in some of my pictures. They paid about $400 total for the time, and were right there with us, plus they saw bears on shore somewhere. The bear viewing can also be booked ahead since it is also with Celebrity, about $118 I think but it could be less. I will try to pull out my excursion list and get details. Our dilemma was that we were going bear viewing in Katmai NP before our cruise, and whalewathing with Cap Larry in Juneau the day before ISP, so we did not know which we wanted to do in ISP. We did not book bear viewing because they had several tours available and the whales had only one tour, so that is why we did it that way. As you saw, we got unbelieveable bear pictures and our Cap Larry tour was very wet, so we were fortunate to have nice sunny day with tons of whales in ISP.

 

We did not do denali theater on either of our trips. We drove into park in evening as far as we could, saw moose along way. We stayed at Denali Sourdough cabins in town of denali the first time and at the Perch cabins on the latest trip. Perch was better, but is about 9 miles south of entrance to park. Evenings were spent getting food etc ready for 11 hr bus ride the next day!!!

[Char]

WASAA IYATEE Koo Hook? :D

 

I hope your team stays number 1!

 

I just found this thread and another one that has given me SOOOO much information about ISP and your people! We are going to be there on the Infinity on June 13th and the Celebrity web site still has our time there as 8 am till 4 pm! I hope they don't shorten it like they did the Summit.

 

This will be our 5th Alaska cruise and the port of ISP is going to be the highlight of this trip! I hope we can meet you, Koo Hook. After the first of the year when Celebrity releases the shore excursion itineraries we will be looking to book the excursion that you will be the naturalist on---you ARE going to do that again, aren't you? :)

 

Alaska keeps calling us back, again and again! It's never the same, always changing. I must say though, we have been there in May, June and September (twice) and I have yet to see the Aurora!!! I want to see that wonder before I die-----

[JohnQ]

Char,

I guess they didn't actually shorten our port time for ISP on the Summit. Just moved it up to 6:30am-2:30pm rather than 8-4. But we could not get off to the tender until at least 7:30 and we had to be back on the dock by 1:30 I think to catch the tender back. And there were lots of people lined up to get on tender. They also did not adjust their two whalewatching tours up an hour to allow two rather than one, which was packed to the gills. Good trip though, and you will definitely enjoy Hoonah and Koo Hook.

[Hoonah_Tlingit_Boy]

HI EVERYONE! How are you all doing? I'm hoping that the year is starting off well for you, and that you're families are healthy and happy. I'm doing great! The weather here in Hoonah has dipped below zero (I can't remember the last time it did that) and some people are relishing in the cold and some people are just plain miserable. I for one am enjoying the fact that we actually have snow this winter, and the temperatures are keeping it there. It hasn't rained for quite some while which is fairly commonplace for this area during the winter months. I must say that the weather has been sort of strange this year. I don't think that it dipped below the 40's until late December.

 

I completed my first season as the head coach for the Hoonah High School Volleyball Team. We ended up winning the Regional Championships for the 5th straight year, defeating Skagway 3 games to none. We finished undefeated in conference matches and went into the State Tournament in Anchorage with our spirits high. In Anchorage, we finished 3rd out of 8 teams, many of which came from schools 6 and 7 times the size of ours(Hoonah is a 2A School). We won our first match against Ninilchik from Southcentral Alaska (2A School), then lost to Dillingham from Northwest Alaska(3A School - eventual champion) and then stormed back to beat Barrow from Arctic Alaska (3A School) in three games. I was very proud of the girls, many of which some of you might have met from your experience at Icy Strait Point. Many of them worked as Cannery girls, guides and hosts with me aboard the whale watch (Kristi). I think we also set a precedent by performing Tlingit celebration and traditional songs during our warm-ups. I dressed in full regalia, the girls all wore shirts that said "Tlingit" and they danced loud and proud as I drummed and lead them. We were featured in the Anchorage Daily News - http://www.adn.com sports section - a huge picture of myself and the team splattered across the Sports page. We were also featured in the Juneau Empire several times - http://www.juneauempire.com You can visit those sites and visit the archives and enter "Hoonah Volleyball" if you wish to see the pictures and read the articles of Hoonah's successes. It was truly a milestone in my life. My hope is that other schools will look to their ancestry to unite their children and boost their confidence levels in acknowledging and celebrating their heritage. Ahhhh......enough about me....

 

We've started preparing things for this new season. I am tapping my foot like crazy waiting for the first flotilla of guests arrives at our shores once again. I don't think I'm the only one. The leaps and bounds in which I witnessed my friends and family grow through their experiences with you as our honored guests fills me with great satisfaction and admiration. Just 4 close months until Yeil' (Raven) disguises himself once again in the form of a moving city, bringing countless curious and wonderous minds to our home again. We welcome you again with open arms.

 

Let's get this thread active again..........I'm excited to receive any questions or comments......time to start forming bonds now.

 

AAT TLEIN GUNALCHEESH!

 

Koo Hook