Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia on Final Leg of Worldwide Voyage

May 26, 2017, 12:01 PM HST
* Updated May 26, 12:03 PM

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Legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa is nearing completion of her Worldwide Voyage after departing Tahiti on May 17 alongside her sister canoe Hikianalia.

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On May 17, 2017, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia were joined by two more deep-sea voyaging canoes for their historic sail home: Faafaite from Tahiti and Okeanos — a new addition the Pacific voyaging ʻohana recently constructed in New Zealand. Okeanos will be based in the Marshall Islands after this voyage is concluded.

Together, the four canoes and escort vessel Gershon II have experienced a range of weather conditions including extended periods of rain, winds, and strong ocean swells.

Just after sunset on Wednesday, a pod of dolphins joined the canoes as a playful escort for the second evening in a row. Wednesday’s report from the crew indicated that navigators steered by the setting stars in the western sky early in the evening; later, the eastern horizon opened and manaiakalani and pimoe were used to set their course for home.

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This last, historic stretch of Hōkūleʻa’s international sail plan is expected to take 3-4 weeks (pending weather).

The canoes will make a celebratory return to Honolulu on Saturday, June 17 at Magic Island for a cultural welcoming ceremony followed by a grand celebration open to the entire community. The week-long celebration will continue with the Mālama Honua Fair and Summit, a three-day event at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, which will highlight the voyaging, cultural, environmental, educational, and health and well-being missions of the Worldwide Voyage by sharing mālama honua “stories of hope” and voyage-inspired initiatives and activities with the public.

The event’s inspirational speaker series will feature local and global speakers who have engaged with the Voyage including: Megan Smith, 3rd chief technology officer of the United States; Dieter Paulmann, founder of Okeanos Foundation for the Sea; and Ocean Elders Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Don Walsh. Registration for these events is now open at www.hokulea.com/summit.