Kamehameha Maui Students Greet Hōkūle‘a at Honolua
Students from Kamehameha Schools Maui spent the day visiting the Hōkūleʻa at Honolua Bay on Friday. The stop at Honolua, marks a return to where Hōkūleʻa first departed on her maiden voyage to Tahiti in 1976. It’s the first stop on the vessel’s six-month Mahalo, Hawaiʻi Sail after completing a historic three-year worldwide voyage in June.
The Hōkūleʻa arrived at Honolua Bay on Thursday, Aug. 17. During her first day on Maui, crew from the vessel visited Olowalu, where members of the group Olowalu Community Marine Management Area announced the designation of the Olowalu Reef as a “Mission Blue Hope Spot.”
Kamehameha Schools Maui also hosted a lecture at the Pukalani campus as part of the school’s Huliau Film & Lecture Series on Thursday night, and planted koa trees with crew members earlier in the day.
This morning, students from Kamehameha Schools Maui visited the vessel at Honolua for informational activities and a service project.
While on island, the crew is scheduled to mālama Hawaiʻi by participating in the planting of 1,000 koa seedlings as part of a series of community engagement events in West Maui.
The crew will also be visiting communities around Maui to engage the public in discussion about the Mālama Honua voyage and efforts to care for Earth.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m., crew members Max Yarawamai, Archie Kalepa, Lehua Kamalu and Billy Richards will host a talk story session at the Westin Nanea. Then from 6:30 to 8 p.m., crew members Mark Ellis, Kekaimalu Lee, Kaʻiulani Murphy and Pua Lincoln will host a meet and greet session at the Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel.
Additional community events include the following:
*All dates and times schedule to change
Saturday, Aug. 19
8-8:30 a.m.: Cultural welcome at Honolua Bay
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Informational activities
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Planting of koa and native plants with Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve makai conservation area. For information, visit here.
2-5 p.m.: Public canoe tours and informational activities at Honolua Bay Ramp
7 p.m.: Hōkūleʻa Revisted: 1976 Crew Member Talk at Ritz Carlton Kapalua (Participating crew members: Buffalo Keaulana, Snake Ah Hee, Billy Richards, John Kruse, Gordon Piʻianaia, Penny Martin, Kimo Lyman, Marion Lyman-Mersereau, Makaala Yates and Kainoa Lee)
Sunday, Aug. 20
8 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Public canoe tours at Honolua Bay Ramp
TBD: Crew Talk at Sheraton Maui (Puu Kukui Watershed representatives and and Hōkūleʻa crew)
6:30 p.m.: Crew Talk at Montage Kapalua Bay (Participating crew members: Kalepa Baybayan, Kalā Tanaka and Austin Kino
Some of the upcoming stops that the canoe will be making during the six-month voyage throughout the Hawaiian Islands include the following:
*Ports and dates are subject to change
● August and September: Maui (Honolua), Oʻahu (Haleʻiwa), Kauaʻi
● October: Moku O Keawe, Maui (Hāna)
● November: Maui Nui – Maui (Māʻalaea/Wailea), Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi
● Late-November to mid-December: Windward Oʻahu
● January: Leeward, East and South Oʻahu
The Mahalo, Hawaiʻi Sail will give PVS an opportunity to thank Hawaiʻi’s people, bring Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia home to all of Hawaiʻi, share lessons learned from the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and deepen the organization’s connection and understanding of the important work being done on the islands to care for the earth.
PVS will engage with schools and organizations through outreach events, service projects, crew presentations and canoe tours.
For more information about the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail, click here.