Hōkūle‘a Re-Launch After Dry Dock

By Wendy Osher

After 18 months in dry dock, the Polynesian Voyaging Canoe, Hōkūle‘a, is being re-launched this morning.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society reports that volunteers spent more than 15,000 hours completely rebuilding the wa‘a kaulua for today’s event, which marks the 37th anniversary of the original launch of the vessel on March 8 of 1975.

The launch was set for 6:30 a.m., just before sunrise.

Over the past three decades, the Hōkūle‘a sailed more than 125,000 miles, according to the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Master navigators say the recent work will leave the next generation with a vessel that is capable of another 4 decades of voyaging and exploration.