Malama Honua: Hokulea, Hikianalia Embark On Worldwide Sailing Voyage
Hokulea, the famous Hawaiian canoe that has navigated the Pacific, and its state-of-the-art sister called the Hikianalia sailed out of the harbor at Sand Island under the midday sun Wednesday.
Together they plan to travel 47,000 miles, stopping at 85 ports in 26 countries over the next four years on a multi-purpose mission.
The vision? Malama honua, the Hawaiian expression that means 鈥渃are for the Earth.鈥
The goals? Raise awareness of the importance of ocean protection; learn about indigenous cultures; establish unity in the Pacific; inspire youth to care for their lands and communities; practice and promote Hawaiian values; and perpetuate traditional navigation.
Prior to setting sail, dignitaries including Sen. Brian Schatz, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi joined students, educators, community leaders and crew members for a discussion on the upcoming voyage at the Marine Education and Training Center.
鈥淐ommunity restored Hokulea, but Hokulea restored community,鈥 lead navigator and teacher Nainoa Thompson told the crowd.
Abercrombie was in his first months in elected office at the Legislature when Hokulea first set sail in 1975. The feeling then was one of anxiety and concern for the crew鈥檚 safety, he said, but the canoe launched based on the same cultural values.
Almost four decades later, the governor said 鈥済uts and faith鈥 will again be a part of the voyage, another legacy in history.
The $30 million trip, which accounts for thousands of volunteer hours and in-kind contributions, starts with a 1,000-mile loop around the main Hawaiian Islands.
Over the next two years the canoes will head south to New Zealand, then west through Indonesia to South Africa. In 2016, the roughly 66-foot-long vessels will continue around the world to Brazil then head up to New York before heading back to Hawaii in 2017.
The Hikianalia is equipped with the latest technology to dispatch photos, videos and stories of the voyage back home. Media outlets and teachers plan to share the content with the public and use it in the classroom.
Visit for the latest information on the journey.
Here鈥檚 a slideshow of Wednesday鈥檚 conference talk and launch from the harbor:
