Apprentice Maui Navigator Takes Helm of Hikianalia in Voyage to Tahiti

Polynesian sailing vessel Hikianalia launched from the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island on Tuesday to meet her sister canoe Hōkūleʻa in Tahiti.

This will be the crew’s final stop to share the Mālama Honua message before sailing back home to complete its Worldwide Voyage.

The journey to Tahiti marks the inaugural voyage as captain for apprentice navigator Kalā Baybayan Tanaka. Tanaka is an educator and apprentice navigator with Maui’s voyaging society, Hui o Waʻa Kaulua, where she teaches about  Polynesian wayfinding techniques to children and other interested learners. Tanaka draws her inspiration and connection to voyaging from her father and pwo navigator, Kalepa Baybayan, who will also be aboard while Kalā captains Hikianalia to Tahiti.

“As a captain for the first time I’m reminded of the amazing teachers like my dad who I’ve learned from over the years,” said Kala Babayan, captain of Hikianalia. “It’s truly an honor to lead this leg on an epic journey that aims to inspire the world and our home here in Hawaiʻi.”

Hikianalia is the Hawaiian name for the star also known as Spica, which rises together with Hōkūleʻa (Arcturus) in Hawaiʻi. They are sister stars because they break the horizon together at the latitude of the Hawaiian Islands.

The 72-foot canoe Hikianalia is a modern Polynesian voyaging canoe and sister canoe to the Hōkūleʻa, uses sustainable solar and wind energy to combine the latest ecological technology with the heritage of the voyaging tradition.

The crews anticipate arrival at Tahiti around mid-April. They will travel throughout Tahiti and Raiatea to engage with the local community in ceremony and education outreach as they celebrate the message of caring for Island Earth at the close of the nearly four-year long voyage.

Together, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will head home to a welcoming ceremony on Magic Island in June 2017.