LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Tropical storm Daniel forced the Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokule'a to cancel a voyage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Island of Nihoa this week, but the vessel still completed a training mission for a crew of 11 students ages 16 to 19.

Navigator Nainoa Thompson altered the mission to ensure that the students would be ashore and the canoe in harbor before passage of the remnants of the storm — which was still a hurricane when the canoe left on its voyage Monday.

Kathy Thompson, the navigator's wife, said the canoe left Hanalei Bay on Kaua'i at 5:45 p.m. Monday and sailed to a point beyond the horizon, well out of sight of land. The students were then placed in charge of the canoe's navigation, and were instructed to guide the vessel to Ka'ula, a small crescent island about 20 miles west of Ni'ihau.

"They found Ka'ula at 5:40 a.m." yesterday, she said.

The canoe was to spend the night last night anchored at Kamalino, on the western side of south Ni'ihau. The vessel was to travel to Port Allen on Kaua'i to allow the students to disembark, and the remaining crew was to take Hokule'a to Nawiliwili Harbor, she said.