JUNEAU, Alaska — Hokule‘a, the voyaging canoe that revived the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation and helped spark a cultural renaissance in Hawaii, is preparing to embark on a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific.
This Moananuiakea Voyage, led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, will make its global launch from Juneau, Alaska, on Thursday, June 15, according to a PVS press release.
The four-year expedition will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles around the Pacific, visiting 36 countries and archipelagos, nearly 100 indigenous territories, and more than 300 ports.
Moananuiakea refers to the vast waters of the Earth’s largest ocean.
“The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million ‘planetary navigators’ by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating Earth towards a healthy, thriving future,” according to the press release.
The voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling shared via a virtual “Third Canoe” called Wa‘a Honua, which translates to “a canoe for the Earth” (www.waahonua.com).
PVS and its educational partners are creating stories and lessons for all ages with the goal of inspiring people to care for and make better choices for the Earth.
“We begin with a 31-year relationship with the native people of southeast Alaska. And I think Alaska is the appropriate place to begin because in the end this is about family — the family of the Earth,” said Nainoa Thompson, pwo navigator and CEO of PVS. “And so we go from one family to another, building relationships grounded in respect and trust — a crucial pathway for peace.”
To pay homage to PVS’ Alaska family, Hokule‘a is on a pre-voyage Alaska Heritage Sail.
On June 10, Hokule‘a is scheduled to return to Juneau and will be greeted with a traditional tribal welcome ceremony at Auke Bay, the traditional lands of the A’akw Kwáan.
The canoe and crew will remain in Juneau for a few days of community and educational engagements. The Alaska Host Committee includes representatives from Sealaska Corp., First Nations Institute and Tlingit &Haida Tribes of Alaska.
On June 15, PVS will hold the Global Launch of Moananuiakea Voyage, a four-hour ceremony to bless and celebrate the start of Hokule‘a’s circumnavigation of the Pacific.
Hokule‘a’s departure will be dependent on weather. Upon departure, she will voyage south with scheduled stops in Angoon, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Saxman, Metlakatla and Hydaburg.
Both the welcome and launch ceremonies will be live-streamed on www.ktoo.org and www.hokulea.com.
The June 10, arrival and tribal welcoming ceremony will be 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Alaska Time). The June 15 Moananuiakea Voyage Global Launch ceremony will be 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Alaska Time).