First, too much wind and too much rain delayed the launch of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a for its 1,000-mile training journey south to Palmyra Atoll.

Then after conditions improved on O'ahu, Hokule'a still remained at its berth at the Marine Education and Training Center on Sand Island yesterday because of too little wind.

"It was really windy for several days," said Pauline Sato, who will be sailing with the 12-member crew. "Now they're seeing a weather pattern that includes a big trough, meaning no wind for 800 miles."

That would mean no wind for 800 miles of a 1,000-mile trip in a canoe sailing by ancient navigational techniques.

The eight- to 10-day trip to Palmyra is designed as one of a dozen sea trials to test Hokule'a and train new crews for a possible 37-month voyage around the planet.

Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, told the crew yesterday that "this voyage is about training," Sato said. "Waiting for the right wind is part of the training. With the ancient people, if the right wind or weather wasn't there, they didn't go for months."

But the delay gave friends of Hokule'a a chance to celebrate its 34th birthday yesterday with lei, which they draped on its bow and on other parts of the ship, including its wooden male and female ki'i figurines.

Hokule'a is not expected to launch today, either, Sato said.

But tomorrow, she said, could bring "the right wind and the right situation."