First launched on March 8, 1975, voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa celebrates her 50th year in 2025 with events highlighting her history in March.
But prior to that, the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail will resume on Wednesday as Hōkūleʻa departs Mauli Ola (Sand Island), where she has been resting during the holidays, to arrive at Ko Olina Marina for an approximate 2 p.m. welcome ceremony.
Until her departure from Ko Olina on Feb. 5, the crew will host daily school tours throughout the week and welcome the public for dockside tours, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 31 and 8 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 1.
After February 5, Hōkūleʻa will stop at the following ports, weather permitting:
- Feb. 5 to 6: Pokai
- Feb. 9 to 14: Maunalua (Hawaii Kai and Koko Marina)
- TBD: Hilo
March 8, 2025, will mark a 50-year milestone for Hōkūleʻa, standing as a symbol of cultural revival, environmental advocacy and a renewed connection to the Earth and the ocean.
“Hōkūleʻa is more than a canoe,” stated Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO and Navigator Nainoa Thompson in a news release. “She represents a dream to revive one of humanity’s greatest achievements — the wayfinding and exploration that united the Pacific peoples. As we celebrate 50 years of Hōkūleʻa, we thank those who cared for her, honor the leadership that has guided us, and invite Hawaii and the world to look forward to the next 50 years of voyaging for a better future.”
Storytelling and events will highlight Hōkūleʻa’s beginnings and the profound impact she has made inspiring cultural renewal across the Pacific and environmental stewardship in all ages around the world.
March 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Hōkūleʻa’s 50th Birthday Commemoration at the 16th Annual Kualoa/Hakipuʻu Canoe Festival, Kualoa Regional Park
This free, family-friendly event commemorates Hōkūleʻa’s historic launch on March 8, 1975, at the very site where the canoe was first assembled, blessed and launched into the Pacific Ocean. The celebration is hosted in partnership with the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
March 9, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Hōkūleʻa 50th Birthday Gala Fundraiser, Hawaii Convention Center
Some of Hawaii’s favorite artists will perform at this event that will also showcase fine cuisine prepared by renowned local chefs. It’s an evening to celebrate the creation of Hōkūleʻa from a dream, to honor the people who were there from the start and through the years, and to raise funds in support of PVS’s mission to perpetuate voyaging traditions and protect the worlds’ oceans. Table sponsorships are available.
March 10, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Hōkūleʻa Dockside Canoe Tours, Hawaii Convention Center
The public is invited to step aboard Hōkūleʻa and hear from young crew members and navigators who are training to take leadership roles in the next chapters of the Moananuiākea Voyage.
March 14, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Hōkūleʻa’s 50th Birthday: E Ola Mau, Bishop Museum After Hours Event
The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum will host its monthly after-hours event honoring Hōkūleʻa’s 50th birthday with special exhibits and programming dedicated to the history of traditional Polynesian voyaging, keiki activities and lots more.
“Now we are 50 years down the road and we turn our eyes to the next 50 years,” said Thompson. “We should just keep launching canoes. And they may not be voyaging canoes. It may be the ideals, the beliefs, the values of a single individual that wants to make a better world.”
Thompson added, “If you could launch something, even if it's a dream, it's worth it. Even if it's an idea, it's worth it. And the birthday is such an important moment for us to dream again and believe again and have courage to let go of the lines.”
The vision of Hōkūleʻa took shape when Herb Kawainui Kane, Ben Finney and Tommy Holmes formed the nonprofit Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1973 to replicate a traditional voyaging canoe — Hawaii’s first in 600 years. Over five decades, Hōkūleʻa has grown into a worldwide movement, serving as a symbol of resilience, revival, cultural pride, environmental stewardship, peace and hope for all people.
Through Hōkūleʻa’s 50th birthday, PVS will honor her legacy by:
• Thanking the canoe and her caretakers: Recognizing the individuals and communities who have supported Hōkūleʻa’s journey over the past five decades.
• Celebrating leadership: Honoring the visionaries and navigators who steered Hōkūleʻa and the Polynesian Voyaging Society toward a brighter future.
• Reflecting on progress: Acknowledging how far Hawaii and the global community have come in cultural revival and environmental stewardship.
• Launching a vision: Turning toward the next 50 years with a renewed focus on protecting the earth’s oceans, fostering indigenous knowledge and inspiring the next generation to embrace the values of Mālama Honua.
More than a celebration, Hōkūleʻa’s birthday is a call to action. With some of the biggest challenges yet to come — environmental, human and otherwise — the lessons that the voyaging canoe and her crew have expounded over the years are more urgent than ever.
“Our island is not just Hawaii; it’s the planet,” said Thompson. “Science has shown us that the health of our communities depends on the health of our oceans. This celebration is not only for Hōkūleʻa but for the Earth — a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the only home we have.”
Keep up with Hōkūleʻa in her 50th year as she continues the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail with more to come as Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia resume the Moananuiākea Circumnavigation of the Pacific on the website. Stay abreast of ongoing news and events on her social media channels @hokuleacrew on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.