Voyage Updates

Crew Reflection: Nā Inoa Kaulana

Crew Reflection: Nā Inoa Kaulana

And so today, I witnessed something rare. Our crew took time to add the names of two individuals who have left us in the physical world but still guide us as we sail these waʻa kaulua. Captains and Pwo Navigators Kālepa Baybayan and Shorty Bertelmann names were added to the navigator’s platform. Kālepa on the starboard hull next to Nainoa and Shorty on the port side next to Mau.

Crew Reflection: Leave It Better Than You Found It

Crew Reflection: Leave It Better Than You Found It

We are coming up on a week in our time here in Aotearoa and it’s amazing to see how well our crew has found our rhythm to accomplish the tasks at hand….

Crew Reflection: First Week of Dry Dock!

Crew Reflection: First Week of Dry Dock!

Aloha kākou, we just wrapped our first day with both canoes on the hard deck. The massive Travel Lift plucked each canoe out of the water with ease. Hōkū came out first and then Hiki. We spent the day getting set up under the cover to work on the Masts, Spars, Booms, and paddles as they are all no longer attached to their respective canoes.

Crew Reflection: Mangahāwea

Crew Reflection: Mangahāwea

We were honored to have had the privilege to be welcomed at Mangahāwea. Even from a mile out, there was an indescribable aura surrounding this sacred place as Motorua grew larger with the closing distance. As we approached, we saw our Māori ʻohana waiting for us along the beach, they called us in…

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia to Receive Official Welcome in Waitangi Tomorrow

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia to Receive Official Welcome in Waitangi Tomorrow

The crews of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will be officially welcomed in Waitangi by the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae and the Te Tai Tokerau communities with a pōwhiri, a formal, sacred Māori ceremony. Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are expected to be...

Crew Reflection: We’ve Felt Sudden and Vibrant Shifts In Our Natural Observances

Crew Reflection: We’ve Felt Sudden and Vibrant Shifts In Our Natural Observances

We’ve felt sudden and vibrant shifts in our natural observances across the beautiful Moananuiākea/Te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa. Over the past week, we’ve experienced mostly overcast skies and have seen little to no sea life... but that has changed drastically. In just the past...

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia Depart Rarotonga for Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia Depart Rarotonga for Aotearoa (New Zealand)

The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s traditional voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia departed Rarotonga on October 21 at approximately 3:45 p.m., beginning their deep-sea voyage to Aotearoa (New Zealand). The open-ocean crossing is expected to take about two weeks,...

PVS Announces Moananuiākea Voyage Sail Plan Change

PVS Announces Moananuiākea Voyage Sail Plan Change

Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) leadership has made the decision to adjust the sail plan for the next leg of the Moananuiākea Voyage due to weather and safety considerations. Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will sail directly from Rarotonga, Cook Islands to Aotearoa (New...