Hōkūleʻa to arrive back in Hawaiʻi on Dec. 6

After more than six months, the Polynesian sailing canoe Hōkūleʻa is on her way back to Hawaiʻi courtesy of Matson. 

Crew members were in San Diego to prepare the canoe to be shipped home.  On Wednesday they took Hōkūleʻa from San Diego, arriving in Long Beach the following day where she was loaded onto Matson’s Mahimahi container ship, which departed Friday at 4 p.m. 

The Matson ship is expected to arrive in Honolulu on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 6, then the canoe will be towed to her home at the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island the following morning.  The public will have an opportunity to welcome Hawaiʻi’s canoe home on Thursday, Dec. 7, at a ceremony at METC at 4 p.m.  

The Polynesian Voyaging Society announced in September that it was making this major change to the Moananuiākea Voyage sail plan and that Hōkūleʻa would be returning home in December due to the devastating fires on Maui and the desire to bring Hōkūleʻa home at a time when her home is hurting. 

Another contributing factor was the earthʻs unprecedented weather patterns including the current El Nino phenomenon, a period of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean, which has global impact.  PVS has been evaluating climate and weather data over the last nine months.  The intention was to sail Hōkūleʻa home, but recently released data shows El Nino strengthening even further.  

While Hōkūleʻa is in Hawaiʻi, PVS will focus on training, education and planning until the Moananuiākea Voyage’s circumnavigation of the Pacific continues at a time that is yet to be determined. 

According to PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson, there were many great accomplishments made on the legs through Alaska and down the West Coast of the United States.  The canoe and crews engaged with dozens of indigenous and Native Hawaiian communities, and connected with partners to amplify the importance of caring for the earth and its oceans.  

Voyage milestones included crossing the Gulf of Alaska, sailing through straits and narrows, and reaching Hubbard Glacier, the farthest North Hōkūleʻa has ever been, which is two-thirds of the way to the North Pole.  Also during the last six months, several crew members completed the final phase of training and became captains to take deep-sea command during the Moananuiākea Voyage.