Hōkūleʻa Arrives in Miami, Completing Journey along East Coast

The traditional voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa made her safe arrival into Miami, Florida over the weekend.  The top is the last on the 25th leg of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines.

Crewmembers moored the vessel at the city’s Shake-A-Leg Marina on Saturday afternoon where the canoe will remain for about three weeks for re-provisioning and preparations for the next leg of the voyage.

While in Miami, the crew will conduct a series of free canoe tours and plans to work with cultural and community leaders for educational opportunities that extend the mission of the Worldwide Voyage.

The crew will also reconnect with several Florida schools and representatives of the Miccosukee and Seminole Nation tribes, who welcomed Hōkūleʻa when she first arrived in Florida at Everglades National Park in March of this year before spending the next nine months sailing up the East Coast.

“With every person our crew engages with, we get one step closer to growing a global movement of people who share a common passion of mālama ʻāina,” said Kalepa Baybayan, pwo navigator and captain for Hōkūleʻa’s sail throughout Florida. “Miami will be a critical break for our team as we create and engage in conversations with people who nurture and inspire stewardship for our Mother Earth.”

A new crew will be arriving for Leg 26, which will sail the canoe to Key West before re-entering the waters of the Caribbean.

Hōkūleʻa will then prepare to cross the 48-mile Panama Canal before returning to the South Pacific Ocean to make her momentous journey home to the Hawaiian Islands.

Bidding aloha to Randy who will be returning to his home in Florida. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Gifting escort pilot Randy Rickard with a photo from the crew. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Leg 25 crew group photo at Miami. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Kawika Crivello pulling in the stern line of Julie’s Cat with Hōkūleʻa behind. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Keala Kai working on the stern line. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Making their way to the city. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Keala Kai, Snake Ah Hee, and Zane Havens at the stern as we pass under a bridge. PC: ʻŌiwi TV/Kaipo Kīʻaha/2016 Polynesian Voyaging Society.