HONOLULU — After departing from its home port at the Marine Education Center on Sand Island on April 16 via Matson container ship, the voyaging canoe Hokulea arrived in Tacoma, Washington on Friday to a welcoming crew from the Polynesian Voyaging Society that included PVS Vice Chair and Pwo navigator Bruce Blankenfeld, according to a news release.
Hokulea was then towed to the Maritime Museum at Foss Waterway Seaport, where she will stay until approximately May 1. In the meantime, the crew will continue to prepare her for the journey to Alaska and the start of the Moananuiakea Voyage.
From Tacoma, Hokulea will be towed to Seattle then transported via Alaska Marine Lines to Juneau, Alaska. From that point, Hokulea will sail to Yakutat, Alaska to begin a “Heritage Sail” along the southeast region of the state to pay homage to Native Alaskan leaders and the places that played a part in the close relationship between Hawaii and Alaska.
On June 10, public engagements will bring Hokulea back to Juneau as Native Alaskan groups gather to welcome her. Crew members will engage in community and educational opportunities throughout the week.
On June 15, weather permitting, Hokulea will set off on the Moananuiakea Voyage’s circumnavigation of the Pacific, a four-year “Voyage for Earth” that will cover nearly 43,000 nautical miles, touching 36 countries and archipelagoes, up to 100 Indigenous territories and over 300 ports.
Hokulea’s sister canoe, Hikianalia, will join the voyage in Seattle in August.
The goal of the Moananuiakea Voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by engaging youths, communities and leaders around the world to navigate the earth toward a healthy and thriving future for the generations to come.
At the April 15 public send-off event, PVS kicked off its Moananuiakea Voyage, #voyage4earth campaign, asking the public how they plan to “voyage for earth.” People of all ages can get involved by coloring and filling out a pledge form and sharing it with #voyage4earth on social media or uploading the form to the PVS website.
Follow Hokulea and stay abreast of the crew by following @hokuleacrew on social media or visiting the PVS website. There is also Waʻa Honua, what PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson has referred to as “the third canoe.” It’s through this virtual portal that Hokulea and her crew will share Indigenous knowledge and the many stories they encounter.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.