Waikane, Oʻahu

Pua is among our newest crew members as Moananuiākea is the first opportunity she has had to sail on a waʻa kaulua, and itʻs Hōkūleʻa. And yet Hōkūleʻa has long been an inspiration. “Hōkūleʻa to me means so many things … She is the star, the beacon of hope for the Hawaiian people, a physical manifestation and connection to our ancestors and who we are as Native Hawaiians. Through her voyages around the world, she has inspired so many people.”

Pua got involved with PVS and Moananuiākea through her capacity as NOAAʻs Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator, providing PVS with valuable support and connections along Hōkūleʻa’s journey that are related to weather and earth’s systems. So it’s no surprise that when we asked what she would like to see accomplished by voyaging, Pua replied that her hope would be to see voyaging “inspire our youth to ask questions, and see themselves in roles (government, state, tribal, private, academia) where they can make a difference and help to manage the natural resources where they come from.” As for herself, she says “It is an honor to be a part of this voyage and to partner through PVS as an employee representing a federal agency. To be in a position to keep Hōkūleʻa and her crew safe, inspire our indigenous youth, and make connections throughout the Pacific is what inspires me about this voyage.”

Pua looks forward to “being on the water, being one with nature and allowing myself space to step away from the complexities of life on land.” And she looks forward to the “camaraderie that surrounds Hōkūleʻa everywhere she goes. The connections to people and places.”