Legendary Hawaiian canoe Hōkūleʻa, revered for reviving the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation, is currently docked in the picturesque coastal city of Monterey, California. The traditional double-hulled canoe has been sailing from Southeast Alaska down the Pacific Coast since June, 2023, when the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) launched the Moananuiākea Voyage and began its four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. Hōkūleʻa is set to make several stops in Southern California as part of this historic journey including Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Newport, Dana Point, and San Diego where the public will have an opportunity to learn about the storied history of this canoe and the environmental and cultural mission of this voyage.

California Port Schedule (subject to change, weather-permitting):

• October 17-24–Ventura, Ventura Yacht Club
• October 24-30–Marina Del Rey, Chace Park
• October 30-November 4–Newport, Newport Scout Sea Base
• November 4-8–Dana Point, Ocean Institute
• November 8-14–San Diego, Maritime Museum of San Diego

A tentative schedule of public events can be found at https://hokulea.com/moananuiakea-voyage-upcoming-california-ports and @hokuleacrew on social media, giving the public several opportunities to join in the celebration of Hōkūleʻa’s awe-inspiring voyage and the movement to care for the earth and its oceans. (Please check back at hokulea.com regularly. Schedule is weather dependent and subject to change).

The last time Hokulea sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago in 1995, https://archive.hokulea.com/holokai/1995/west_coast_alaska.html.

The Moananuiākea Voyage will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports. Led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), the Voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling. The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating earth towards a healthy, thriving future.

Last month, PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson announced a major change to the Moananuiākea Voyage sail plan. In the wake of the devastating fires on Maui, Hōkūleʻa will return home from San Diego, California in late December, before continuing on the circumnavigation of the Pacific. Click here for more details.