#Polynesian Voyaging Society

Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are scheduled to depart Mauliola (Sand Island), Oʻahu this Sunday for Hilo where the canoes will make their final stop on the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail before leaving Hawaiʻi for three years for the Moananuiākea Voyage.

As the Eiffel Tower is symbolically illuminated in blue, the two ocean advocates presented French President Macron with the SOS Ocean Manifesto at the lead-up event to UNOC-3

Senate Bill 529 SD1 relating to education seeks to appropriate funds to expand the Hoʻākea Program, an educational initiative that integrates Hawaiian cultural practices with academic subjects to engage students and promote environmental stewardship.

Polynesian Voyaging Society prepares to mark 5 decades of legendary iconic traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe reviving the Hawaiian culture, advocating for the environment and renewing a connection to the Earth and ocean.

After four months and more than 20 community engagements around the Hawaiian Islands for the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail, traditional voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa is back home at the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island for the holidays. 

On the next stop of its seven-month journey around the Hawaiian Islands, Hōkūleʻa expects to arrive in Lāʻie tomorrow morning, where it will begin its series of Oʻahu public engagements on the Statewide Pae ʻĀina Voyage.

Due to forecasted weather conditions, Hōkūleʻa departed Hawaiʻi Island’s Kawaihae a few days earlier than scheduled, according to the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society has received a $10,000 donation from the Elks Lodge in support of its ongoing mission to perpetuate traditional Polynesian wayfinding and to help fund the organization’s outreach to schools in Hawaiʻi.

Maui residents and visitors will have the opportunity today, weather permitting, to see the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa after its crew spent a week on Lānaʻi.

Support for traditional healing practices, training for navigators involved in traditional Polynesian voyaging, business education for entrepreneurs, assistance for vulnerable populations and funding for neighborhood watch initiatives on homestead lands are just some of the projects that will be advanced thanks to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Grants Program.

After a one-day delay due to weather, legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa is now expected to depart Sand Island, Oʻahu today and sail to Hanalei, Kauaʻi, the first stop on the Pae ‘Āina Statewide Sail. 

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has filled two more positions on its executive leadership team. Kēhaulani Puʻu began her new role as chief operating officer on July 1, while Kuʻuleianuhea Awo-Chun began serving as director of education and culture-based learning – a newly created position – on June 17.

The trip is part of continual preparations for the Moananuiākea circumnavigation of the Pacific and will take about one week.

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has announced Nainoa Thompson as this year’s Honorary Geographer. This annual award recognizes excellence in research, teaching, or writing on geographic topics by non-geographers. Thompson was recognized and gave a presentation at the AAG annual meeting yesterday afternoon. The AAG annual meeting is being held in Honolulu from April 16-20.

Adverse El Nino weather conditions have led to the Polynesian Voyaging Society to postpone its planned Moananuiākea Voyage, the circumnavigation of the Pacific until March 2025. Instead, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will remain in Hawaiian waters for training, statewide engagements and educational outreach.

A $500,000 federal earmark has been secured to support collaboration between the Polynesian Voyaging Society and indigenous communities to share traditional ecological knowledge and scientific information during Hōkūle‘a’s Moananuiākea Voyage via the digital Wa‘a Honua platform, US Sen. Brian Schatz announced.

Blaine Kahoonei has been named COO; Justyn Ah Chong has joined PVS as Media Content Director; and Jonah Apo has been named Associate Development Coordinator.

After more than six months, the Polynesian sailing canoe Hōkūleʻa is on her way back to Hawaiʻi courtesy of Matson.  The Matson ship is expected to arrive in Honolulu on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Hōkūleʻa completed its journey in San Diego, marking the final US stop on the Moananuiākea Voyage.

The canoe was escorted by a flotilla of outrigger canoe paddlers who spread fresh flowers on the water as Hōkūleʻa sailed into the marina, and two fireboats saluted the crew with a festive water show.