Currently docked at San Diego’s Maritime Museum, Hokulea has reached her final stop on the U.S. leg of the Moananuiakea Voyage.
Dozens of paddlers escorted the voyaging canoe to the dock on Nov. 8 where the Kumeyaay Nation exchanged landing protocols with the crew and welcomed them with a ceremony featuring cultural performances and speakers from the Kumeyaay Nation, San Diego officials and Hokulea Captain Tamiko Fernelius, according to a news release.
On the itinerary through Nov. 13 were dockside tours, a crew panel and presentation and a special weekend event.
The special event is the 160-year Birthday Celebration Sail of the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship. On Nov. 11 and 12, Hokulea sailed alongside the Star of India, the first sail in five years for this historic ship and San Diego icon.
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to host Hokulea’s visit to San Diego,” stated Raymond Ashley, president and CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego in the release. “She arrives at a time when we celebrate San Diego’s iconic Star of India and her 160th Birthday as the world’s oldest active sailing ship. We are so excited that our festivities can include the Hawaiian canoe in the commemorative sail activities planned for November 11 and 12.”
The occasion is especially memorable because the Star of India is the last ship still sailing that once flew the flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii before the islands became a U.S. territory. In honor of Hokulea’s visit, Star of India flew the flag once again during the weekend sails.
The final public event in San Diego will be held Nov. 28 when Pwo Navigator and Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO Nainoa Thompson speaks at the University of California San Diego.
Hokulea’s last stop in San Diego was in 1995. The voyaging canoe will remain docked at the museum until a shipping date is determined for her return to Hawaii.
According to the release, PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson announced a major change in plan for Hokulea in August that would bring her home to Hawaii in late December. One of the contributing factors was the devastating wildfires on Maui; the other is the earth’s unprecedented weather patterns that include the current El Niño phenomenon that has caused unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean.
Over the last nine months, PVS has been evaluating climate and weather data. According to PVS, it was the intention to sail Hokulea home, however, recently released data shows El Niño strengthening even further.
“In keeping with the reasons we decided to bring Hokulea home, and after lengthy conversations with several sources of expertise including NOAA’s National Weather Service (Central and Eastern Pacific), National Hurricane Center of the Pacific, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Climate Prediction Center, and while looking at the latest ENSO reports and information, we were able to look at the risk of sailing this time of year in the North Pacific under this El Niño forecast. We had no choice but to pay attention and make a decision to ship Hokulea home based on safety,” Thompson said.
“At the time of the August announcement, I thought it would be sailable, but so much has changed so quickly since then. The signs for adverse weather are there, and we need to pay attention and respect. That’s what we do. We watch what nature is telling us and make choices based on it. We keep voyaging on the edge of exploration, but we keep it safe,” said Thompson.
Once back in the islands, PVS will bring Hokulea to Lahaina “close to the voyaging family.” At the time of announcement, Thompson had said, “Lahaina is a voyaging powerhouse” and “I believe the family is going to need the canoe and the canoe is going to need the family.”
While in Hawaii, PVS will focus on training, education, community outreach and planning until the continuation of Moananuiakea Voyage’s circumnavigation of the Pacific can be determined.
Up to this point, Hokulea has sailed 2,800 miles and visited 35 communities stretching from Yakutat, Alaska to San Diego. The journey began with the Alaska Heritage Sail and began the global launch of the Moananuiakea Voyage in Juneau, Alaska on June 15, 2023. Since Alaska, the canoe and her crew have sailed through British Columbia, to Washington State and down the West Coast of Oregon and California.
When the circumnavigation of the Pacific gets back underway, the voyage will cover 43,000 nautical miles, touching upon 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories, and over 300 ports.
Along the way, Hokulea and her crew will continue to share the importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge with communities through port engagements, education and storytelling with the goal to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators.” It is hoped that these young leaders and communities around the world will take part in navigating earth toward a healthy, thriving future.
These educational outreach events are shared via a virtual “Third Canoe” called Waʻa Honua, “a canoe for the earth.”
Updates are available on the PVS website and via Facebook and Instagram, @hokuleacrew.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.