They were, to be sure, the most curious couple on the ocean yesterday — one the storied re-creation of a traditional Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe, the other a newly christened replica of a 14th-century Fujian-style Chinese junk. Yet, to those aboard, the Hokule'a and the Princess TaiPing are two of a kind in purpose and philosophy.

The TaiPing, a 54-foot, 35-ton Chinese junk crafted according to ship-building specifications culled from texts dating back to the Ming Dynasty, arrived in Hawai'i earlier this week from San Diego, part of a Herculean journey from Taiwan to the U.S. West Coast and back.

Yesterday, TaiPing captain Nelson Liu and his eight-person crew joined the Hokule'a crew for a side-by-side goodwill trip from Ala Wai Boat Harbor to Diamond Head and back, drawing admiring if perplexed glances from beachgoers up and down the Waikiki coastline.

Lifelong sailor Dan Schaffer, 60, of Mililani, thought he was witnessing something from a Clive Cussler novel when he spotted the junk returning to the harbor.

"It was very intriguing," Schaffer said. "I was really impressed because it looked so original. I've always wanted to be on a junk because, to me, they're the epitome of sailing. It reminds me of pure sailing."

TaiPing crew member Angela Chao said the junk was inspired, in part, by the Pacific Voyaging Society's success in promoting traditional Hawaiian culture and responsible stewardship of the natural environment through the Hokule'a.

Liu learned of Hokule'a when he stopped in Kona during an around-the-world sailing journey more than five years ago.

Liu spent three years researching old texts, including an official document titled "Warship Regulations of Fujian Province by Imperial Order," to find specifications for the craft, as well as the traditional methods for its construction.

Builders eschewed bolts, screws or synthetic resin in favor of more traditional materials. The hand-stitched sails were treated with a sap-based dye to make them antibacterial and UV resistant. The cedar hull was shaped with axes and chisels.

"The design was originally for a warship, but we're using this warship to deliver a peaceful message," Chao said.

The TaiPing's journey to North America followed a route some believe was taken by legendary Chinese navigator Zheng He centuries before. The 69-day trip was made arduous by harsh weather and the craft's own limitations (because of the design of the sails, the boat cannot travel upwind).

Liu had originally intended to sail to Vancouver, British Columbia, but those plans were scuttled due to stormy weather. The ship eventually docked in Eureka, Calif., and enjoyed packed exhibitions in San Francisco and San Diego. The vessel will depart Hawai'i next month for the final leg home.

"It's really great to have a boat like this come in to port," said Hokule'a crew member Aaron Kandell. "The Pacific Voyaging Society is committed to spreading wa'a 'ohana, our shared voyaging community, and it's nice to be able to connect the dots and have this sort of cultural exchange. The mission and the message validates this on both ends."