WAIANAE, Hawaii — Hōkūleʻa continued on her Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail, departing Haleiwa and arriving at the voyage’s fourth stop on Sunday morning, Waianae’s Pokai Bay.
Escorted by a pod of dolphins and several turtles, the voyaging canoe and her crew were greeted with a cultural welcome ceremony hosted by the westside community.
Along the way, Hōkūleʻa being captained by Noland Keaulana, Makaha lifeguard and waterman, stopped in Makaha to honor and welcome aboard his grandfather, Buffalo Keaulana, affectionally known as “Uncle Buff.” Uncle Buff, now 90 years old, was one of the original crewmembers who sailed on Hōkūleʻa’s first voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti and back in 1976 to prove that traditional navigation methods, or wayfinding, could be used on a long-distance voyage.
Fellow 1976 crewmember Kimo Hugho and veteran crewmembers Leighton Tseu and Bunky Bakutis also joined Uncle Buff on the sail from Makaha to Pokai Bay.
Organizations and crew members from Waianae who helped to organize the visit expressed their feelings that “Hōkūleʻa’s visit is coming at a time when the community needs light and healing,” according to a news release.
Through Sept. 12, tours of the canoe will be available to the public from 4 to 7 p.m. with morning hours reserved for schools.
Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa will depart Sept. 13 and make a brief stop at Sand Island before sailing to Lahaina to participate in the Hawaii Department of Education’s “Hoʻākea: Mauka to Makai Navigating Our Future” event at Hanakaoo Beach Park, Sept. 18-21.
Over the four days, students from Lahainaluna High, Lahaina Intermediate, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, King Kamehameha II Elementary, Lokelani Intermediate, Kalama Intermediate and King Kekaulike High will take part in hands-on learning experiences that honor the history and tradition of Hawaiian voyaging.
Stay up to date by following @hokuleacrew on Instagram and Facebook or visiting the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s website.
Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.