Since Hōkūleʻa’s return to Hawaiʻi in December, the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) has been developing a new sail plan for the Moananuiākea Voyage. After consulting with science and weather experts, community partners and voyaging leadership, PVS has decided to keep the canoes primarily in Hawaiian waters until next year when severe El Nino weather conditions settle down. The circumnavigation of the Pacific will resume in March 2025 when Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia depart Hawaiʻi and head first to the major island groups of Polynesia.

“In terms of our oceans,” says PVS CEO and Pwo Navigator Nainoa Thompson, “we are, in my opinion and not from a scientific point of view, but from just experience over 49 years of sailing this canoe, we’re in a changing ocean and we need to pay attention.”

While PVS waits for more favorable weather conditions to continue the Pacific circumnavigation, the organization and its crews will focus on training, statewide engagements, educational outreach and a series of initiatives including:

Training Voyages

This year PVS is ramping up crew and captain training, including two deep-sea voyages to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), known also as the doldrums, and back in late spring or early summer.

“We’re adding on the convergence zone as a strategic training ground for future captains and navigators. Hawaiʻi is really this web of all of these special training grounds for different reasons, primarily because of our islands and what they do to the winds and the ocean,” said Thompson. “We’re very, very blessed that we have learned to use these islands as a school.”

Festival of the Pacific Arts

PVS and its crewmembers will also participate in June’s Festival of the Pacific Arts and will be convening with other voyaging societies and leaders from around the Pacific, who are expected to be coming to Hawaiʻi to attend the events.

“The thousands of delegates arriving are from the biggest and greatest nation on earth, the Pacific Islands. Within the 49 years of voyaging we learned so much about who we are, and as the youngest culture, we are but children to the Pacific Islanders. As we were learning how to voyage, they cared for us as family and taught us so much about islands, culture, oceans – teachings needed for our island earth. So for us, whatʻs most important is that when they return home, they know that they were cared for and that there is a voyaging family in Hawaiʻi that is so grateful. We are waiting for their arrival.”

Statewide Sail 2024-2025

When the new 2024-2025 school year begins, PVS will launch a Pae ‘āina (Statewide) sail to connect with schools and communities throughout the Hawaiian Islands. During this sail, which is lifted by the generous support of Hawaiian Airlines and DAWSON, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will visit approximately 30 ports throughout the state. PVS is working in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and other educational and community partners on a plan that includes community outreach, canoe tours, teacher professional development and voyage-inspired curriculum development focused on culture and sustainability. PVS will announce dates and details for each Hawaiʻi port visit once confirmed.

“2024 should be seen as a year of coming home, really paying attention to our children in our communities and training, training hard and getting ready,” said Thompson. “This is also the year of getting younger people more prepared to take the reins of these canoes,” he added.

Relaunch of Moananuiākea Voyage’s Pacific Circumnavigation

In March 2025, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will depart Hawaiʻi and head first to Aotearoa (New Zealand) with stops in the major Polynesian Island groups on the way. See four-year sail plan below:

2024-2028 Moananuiākea Voyage Sail Plan (Subject to change)

2024 – 2025

May to June 2024

• Deep Sea Training Voyages to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

June 6-16, 2024

• Festival of the Pacific Arts

July 2024 to February 2025

• Pae ‘Āina (Statewide) Sail

March 2025

• Depart Hawaiʻi, re-launch circumnavigation of the Pacific

March to December 2025

• Major island groups of Polynesia

2026-2027

• Aotearoa (New Zealand) – December 2025 to May 2026
• Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Palau – May 2026 to March 2027

2027

• Major countries along the coast of Asia
• Ship canoes to Long Beach, CA
• Mexico

2028

• Central/South America
• Re-enter Polynesia at Rapa Nui
• Major island groups of Polynesia
• Tahiti, Taputapuātea
• Return to Hawaiʻi

PVS held its global launch of the four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific in Juneau, Alaska on June 15, 2023. Hōkūleʻa sailed south through British Columbia, to Washington State, and down the West Coast of Oregon and California after engaging with First Nations communities, Native Hawaiian communities and the general public in 45 ports. Hōkūleʻa returned home from San Diego, California in December 2023, in the wake of the devastating fires on Maui and because of the unprecedented El Nino weather patterns in the Pacific causing unpredictable conditions.

For the latest updates on the voyage and Hōkūleʻa’s public events, visit the Polynesian Voyaging Society website, www.hokulea.com and social media: @hokuleacrew on Facebook and Instagram.

The circumnavigation of the Pacific will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports. The Moananuiākea Voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling.