FLORENTINO R. DAS' SOLO VOYAGE

HAWAII-PHILIPPINES

May 14, 1955 - April 25, 1956

"Bold Dream, Uncommon Valor"

Crossing the great Pacific Ocean, alone, from Hawaii to the Philippines, in a self-made 24-foot sailboat, powered only by two 25-horsepower outboard motors and a canvas sail, is more than a bold dream.  But that is exactly what Florentino Das did. Without the use of modern communications devices or navigational instruments, and guided only by a simple compass and the stars, he left Kewalo Basin on May 14, 1955 aboard his boat "Lady Timarau" and reached Siargao, Mindanao, Philippines on April 25, 1956.  He encountered several typhoons, faced life-threatening situations, and had to stop and repair his boat along the way. But he refused to heed his sponsors' call to abandon the voyage, demonstrating an unwavering will and spirit to succeed.  For his daring feat and patriotic zeal, he was honored by no less than then Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay who bestowed on him the Legion of Honor and the honorary title of Commodore of the Philippine Navy.

Florentino Das was born in Samar, Philippines in 1918, came to Hawaii in 1934, and died in Manila, Philippines in 1964. He was a fisherman, a prize-fighter, a carpenter, and a former Pearl Harbor shipyard worker. He will always be remembered for his bold dream and uncommon valor.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This marker is a project of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission,

the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) and the Oahu Visayan Council,

with support from the Hawaii Community Development Authority

and the Office of the Governor.

May 14, 2006