Hōkūle‘a Sights Haleakalā, Remains Under Kapu

June 9, 2017, 11:04 AM HST
* Updated June 9, 1:44 PM

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The crew of legendary Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa is close enough to Hawaiʻi to see Maui’s Haleakalā. The landmark was spotted at around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, signifying that the canoe is officially back home after more than three years.

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Since departing Hawaiian waters in May 2014, Hōkūleʻa has sailed 40,000 nautical miles and made stops in 19 countries to spread the Mālama Honua message to grow a global movement toward a more sustainable world. The vessel is now on her 31st and final leg of the journey, which has included participation from some 200 volunteer crew members.

“We want thank this crew of Hōkūleʻa for sailing with such a high level of excellence and commitment to honoring the tradition of voyaging and ancestral navigation,” said Nainoa Thompson president the Polynesian Voyaging Society. “All of us in the voyaging community are extremely proud of them.”

“I also want to express our gratitude to the crews of the 30 other legs and the thousands of people in Hawaii, the Pacific and around the world for allowing this voyage to happen. We are grateful for all that they have given to the success of the voyage,” Thompson added.

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Although Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are in home waters, the canoes are still under kapu until the arrival ceremony at Magic Island on June 17.

“We will be spending the next week slowly making our way towards Oahu,” said Thompson. “We appreciate the aloha and support of friends and families eager to greet our canoes and crew, and we ask for your patience and understanding as we direct all those interested in greeting Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia and our crew to our June 17 arrival at Kalia (Magic Island), Oahu,” he added.

After returning to Oahu, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will begin the most important leg of the voyage, which will be an eight-month sail to 30 ports throughout the Hawaiian islands.

“When we sail throughout the Hawaiian Islands, we will go to as many as 70 communities and 100 schools to thank Hawaii’s people and share what we have learned with their children. We are also looking forward to hearing Hawaii stories of Mālama Honua,” said Thompson. “Kalia (Magic Island) is the first stop of a year-long homecoming,” he added.

Homecoming Ceremony and Celebration

Saturday, June 17

Magic Island, 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Hawaii’s iconic voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa will conclude its epic three-year sail around the globe and return home to the Hawaiian Islands. The mission of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines was to weave a lei of hope around the world through sharing indigenous wisdom, groundbreaking conservation and preservation initiatives while learning from the past and from each other, creating global relationships, and discovering the wonders of the Island Earth.

Program Details (subject to change): 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

7:00 – 8:00 a.m., Four local voyaging canoes arrive at Magic Island
8:30 a.m., Two canoes, Okeanos Marshall Island and Faafaite, from the Pacific arrive at Magic Island
9:00 a.m., Hikianalia and Hōkūleʻa sail into Ala Wai Boat Harbor Channel with several escort canoes
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Welcome Ceremony
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hōkūleʻa Homecoming Hoʻolauleʻa featuring entertainment, food booths, voyage video highlights, etc.

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June 17 Parking Information:

McKinley High School, 1039 South King St

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Shuttle departs frequently from Pensacola Street
Parking attendants present
Enter parking from Pensacola Street

Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave

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$10 per day, 7:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Shuttle departs frequently from the ground floor.
Enter the parking from Kalakaua Avenue, Makai bound

Mālama Honua Fair and Summit

Sunday, June 18 – Tuesday, June 20

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave

The summit will highlight the voyaging, cultural, environmental, educational and health and well-being missions of the Worldwide Voyage. The public will be able to step on board Hōkūleʻa during canoe tours at the Ala Wai Promenade. The event will also feature voyage-inspired merchandise including books, DVDs and clothing.

Summit sessions will inspire attendees with breathtaking stories from the round-the-world voyage. Leaders will call for commitments from attendees and their communities to carry the values of Mālama Honua – caring for our Island Earth – into the future.

Inspirational Speaker Series

Monday, June 19

Hawaii Convention Center, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets: $125 per person

The Mālama Honua inspirational speaker series will feature standout local and global speakers who have touched the canoes and their crews during the worldwide voyage. Due to expected volume of demand, reservations are highly encouraged at www.hokulea.com/summit. Featured speakers include:

Megan Smith, 3rd Chief Technology Officer, United States

Former Vice President of Google [x], a Google facility that develops the company’s “moonshots,” or high-achieving technological advancements. Smith was also Vice President of Business Development at Google for nine years and served as general manager of Google.org, the company’s social impact arm.

Dieter Paulmann, Founder and Chairman, Okeanos Foundation for the Sea

Since 2007, The Okeanos Foundation has been working with voyaging societies across the Pacific to develop and build a fleet of seven traditionally designed, fossil fuel-free double masted Vaka Moanas representing 10 island nations for a 2-year voyage across the Pacific inspiring a renaissance in traditional vaka culture, ocean stewardship and engagement. Today, Okeanos’ new vaka technology connects the past with the future including solar panels and coconut oil-fueled engines for fossil-fuel free transport of people, food, medicine, and supplies between South Pacific Islands.

Byron Mallott, Lt. Governor, State of Alaska

As the former CEO of Alaska Native corporation Sealaska, Mallott supported the gifting of two 200-foot-long Sitka spruce logs for the building of deep sea Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hawaiiloa. Mallott, now Alaska’s lieutenant governor is a major advocate for climate change action and is currently working to advance environmentally-conscious policies.

Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue and SEAlliance, Ocean Elder

National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, called Her Deepness by the New Yorker and the New York Times, Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine. Earle an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer. Formerly Chief Scientist of NOAA, Earle is the Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc., Founder of Mission Blue and SEAlliance, Chair of the Advisory Councils of the Harte Research Institute, and the Ocean in Google Earth.

Jean-Michel Cousteau

The son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel has investigated the world’s oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone for much of his life. Cousteau is the founder of Ocean Futures Society and has produced over 80 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the Sept d’Or, and the Cable Ace Award, and is a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Captain Don Walsh

Oceanographer, explorer, and former submarine captain. With a long and storied career in undersea systems, Walsh was the first submersible pilot in the U.S. and has made 25 expeditions to the Arctic.

Nainoa Thompson, President, Polynesian Voyaging Society

Pwo navigator and mentor to an entire generation of young voyagers, Thompson has played a central role in the resurgence of Polynesian wayfinding. Through the Worldwide Voyage, Thompson has helped draw awareness to the importance of using traditional wisdom and indigenous science to solve the world’s most pressing environmental concerns, sharing the values of Mālama Honua – caring for our Island Earth.