Hikianalia Arrives for 3 Week Maui Visit

Hikianalia. Photo credit: Polynesian Voyaging Society.

The statewide sail of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage continues on Maui with the arrival of Hikianalia, Hōkūle‘a’s high-tech sister canoe.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s traditional voyaging canoe was scheduled to depart her home dock at the University of Hawai‘i’s Marine Education and Training Center at 10 p.m. on Saturday, and arrive at the Lahaina Yacht Club on Maui on Sunday morning, Jan. 3.

Maui-native and 1976 Hōkūle‘a crew member Snake Ah Hee captained the leg to Maui, assisted by captain Bob Perkins.

Hikianalia’s statewide sail began on the North Shore of Oʻahu in the fall of 2015, and today she continues the journey around the Hawaiian Islands with Maui as her next stop. Hikianalia is bringing the values of Mālama Honua—caring for our Island Earth– to each island community while Hōkūle‘a continues from the African continent to South America.

The crew also will be in search of stories of hope here at home in the Hawaiian Islands that are making a positive change for Hawaiʻi’s future, inspired by Hōkūle‘a’s legacy.

During her time on Maui, the Hikianalia crew will offer canoe tours to the community and will also be conducting educational opportunities for students and teachers, as well as training for future crew members on the Worldwide Voyage.  The Maui community events scheduled to date, but subject to change, are:

Waʻa Talk on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

5-7 p.m. at Hui O Waʻa Kaulua in Lahaina

Featuring an overview and update on the Worldwide Voyage, real-life educational examples of Mālama Honua curriculum from the classroom, and Moʻokiha O Piʻilani and Hui O Waʻa Kaulua education outreach updates.

Community Outreach Day on Saturday, Jan. 9 

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hui O Waʻa Kaulua

Featuring Worldwide Voyage education outreach stations, as well community and conservation groups such as Puʻu Kukui Watershed and Polanui Hiu.

Designed specifically for the Worldwide Voyage, Hikianalia combines the latest ecological technology with the heritage of the voyaging tradition. Each of her hulls contains an electric motor powered by onboard photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight to electric propulsive energy. With a zero carbon footprint, her design supports the Mālama Honua mission of the Worldwide Voyage.

Following three weeks on Maui, Hikianalia will continue on to Molokaʻi.

Because schedule and events are subject to change due to weather, please visit http://www.hokulea.com/hikianalia/  for the most up-to-date information on Hikianalia’s statewide sail.

Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage covers over 60,000 nautical miles, 100 ports, and 27 nations, including 12 of UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage sites. Voyaging from Hawaiʻi in 2013 with an estimated sail conclusion date of June 2017, the Worldwide Voyage is taking the iconic sailing vessel Hōkūleʻa around Island Earth, and her sister canoe Hikianalia around the Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands to grow a global movement toward a more sustainable world.

The voyage seeks to engage all of Island Earth – practicing how to live sustainably while sharing Polynesian culture, learning from the past and from each other, creating global relationships, and discovering the wonders of the precious place we call home.