HONOLULU — In a presentation on Tuesday, the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association recognized the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s depiction of Hokulea anchored at Kualoa Bay, the site of its inaugural launch in 1975, with the 2022 Best Plate Award, according to a news release.
This is the 58th license plate to be recognized by ALPCA and the first time Hawaii has received the award.
ALPCA President Cyndi McCabe traveled to Hawaii from Ohio to present the award to Gov. Josh Green. Award plaques were also presented to the City and County of Honolulu, PVS and designer Todd Yamashita of Molokai. Members of the Hawaii State Legislature were also in attendance.
“It is my pleasure to present this award on behalf of our 3,000 members around the world,” said McCabe in the release. “The PVS plate, which quickly emerged as a member favorite in the balloting, and was ultimately selected by a landslide, is being honored for its legibility and its stunning, colorful design.”
PVS Chief Executive Nainoa Thompson is currently in Alaska preparing for the June 15 launch of the Moananuiakea Voyage, a four-year “Voyage for Earth” that will cover nearly 43,000 nautical miles.
He delivered his mahalo via videotape, acknowledging the ALPCA, state and city officials, and lawmakers, who supported the creation of the license plate, and the people of Hawaii who supported the fundraising program.
“Each purchase is a support to the Polynesian Voyaging Society and our next voyage, which is our most extensive voyage, the one that will take more time and distance that any other voyage in the last 48 years,” said Thompson. “And we do this because of the belief that living systems on Earth will never be healthy unless the ocean is healthy. This is a campaign to build a movement around the protection of the world’s oceans. Every license plate that someone purchases supports what we call ‘Malama Honua’ — to care for the Earth, the only island we have.”
A pair of license plates initially costs $35.50, plus $25 for renewals. Twenty dollars of the annual renewal fee goes to support the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s mission. The plates went on sale in Feb. 2022. According to PVS, more than half of the 23,632 pairs of plates produced — 12,227 — have been distributed throughout the islands, raising $244,540.
People can obtain a specialty plate by visiting this PVS link.
Currently on its Heritage Sail to reconnect with friends and family in Alaska, Hokulea and her crew will return to Juneau on June 10. There, a traditional tribal ceremony at Auke Bay in the traditional lands of the A’akw Kwaan will greet her arrival.
The global launch of the Moananuiakea Voyage on June 15 will begin with a four-hour ceremony to bless and celebrate Hokulea’s circumnavigation of the Pacific. Departure depends on the weather, but scheduled stops after launch include Angoon, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Saxman, Metlakatla and Hydaburg.
The welcome and launch ceremonies will be live streamed on ktoo.org and hokulea.com. The June 10 arrival and tribal welcoming ceremony will be from 3-7 p.m. (Alaska Time), and the June 15 Moananuiakea Voyage global launch ceremony will be from 2-6 p.m. (Alaska Time).
Hikianalia, Hokulea’s sister canoe, will join the voyage in Seattle, Washington in August.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.