Over the last five days in Prince Rupert, the Leg 5 crew of the Moananuiākea Voyage have been engaging with the community and preparing the canoe for the continuing journey through British Columbia. Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa is expected to depart Prince Rupert tomorrow morning for a 12-hour sail to Hartley Bay.

This past Sunday, Leg 5 crew members took over the kuleana (responsibility) of caring for Hōkūleʻa as she prepares to sail south through the waters of British Columbia.

“Within just a few short hours of my arrival in Prince Rupert, I had a glimpse of just how plentiful these waters can be in this area of the Pacific Northwest. We were offered a bag full of fresh fish from one of the community members. The abundance of fish around here reminds me of stories of old Hawai’i when its surrounding oceans had the capacity to provide a regular source of food for thousands of people,” said Ka’ohinani Kamalu, crewmember and quartermaster for this upcoming leg of the voyage.

Hundreds of Prince Rupert community members have been visiting Hōkūleʻa at the dock where crew members have been conducting canoe tours, sharing stories and giving visitors an opportunity to feel the weight of her steering sweep.

On Monday evening, the crew were hosted to a large dinner feast and a community Q&A followed by traditional dancing and drumming.

Crew also reported that the weather in Prince Rupert has been rainy in the mornings and sunny in the afternoons.

Leg 5 will make several stops over the next 2.5 weeks, ending in Vancouver, B.C..