Hōkūleʻa Coming to Honolua, Aug. 19

After a three-year worldwide voyage, Hōkūleʻa returned home to Hawaiʻi on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The voyaging canoe has been in Honolulu since it’s arrival home. Now, alongside the Hikianalia, the two voyaging canoes will begin an eight-month sail to 30 ports throughout the Hawaiian Islands to spread their message, Mālama Honua (take care of the earth), experiences, and mana’o (what they learned throughout their voyaging).

Hōkūleʻa entering Magic Island on Oʻahu in front of Diamond Head after a three year worldwide voyage. It’s is estimated that 50,000 people were in attendance. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

One of the first stops on the Hawaiian journey will be at Honolua Bay on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. Alongside the Hikianalia and Moʻokiha O Piʻilani, the canoes are expected to arrive around 8 a.m. to help engage the community in Mālama Honua action. The crew will depart the vessels and walk with the community for approximately .7 miles to Wao Kele O Honolua to plant 3,000 native trees, one-thousand will be Koa trees.

Honolua Bay was the starting point for the Hōkūleʻa’s first voyage to Tahiti back on May 1, 1976.

The Save Honolua Coalition, in partnership with Puʻu Kukui Watershed’s crew Aha Moku and local canoe clubs are working to help coordinate the special day, as thousands of people are expected to gather at Honolua Bay to welcome the canoes.

There will be a community cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 12, to clear the area near the boat ramp of low hanging trees and to set up two tents and weed eat where needed.

Save Honolua Coalition, along with Hōkūleʻa Captain Archie Kalepa have put in a request to the Board of Land and Natural Resources to use Lipoa Point for event parking as DT Flemings is already being used for an event on the same day.

Save Honolua Coalition’s Facebook page announced that there will be shuttles with Roberts Hawaii that will bring attendees down to the bay but are asking for people to carpool and drop-off as much as possible.

The group is also asking for volunteers for the Aug. 12 cleanup from 8 a.m. until noon. More information can be found here. For the event on Aug. 19, volunteers will meet at 5 a.m. for breakfast and receive instructions from Kalepa.

The group also said there will be canoe tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20. Volunteers are again asked to meet at Puʻu Kukui base yard at 5 a.m. for breakfast and instructions.

The group asks for volunteer requests to be completed by the end of the day, to volunteer e-mail tampaltin@gmail.com.

More details will be posted as they become available.