Hōkūleʻa arrived in San Diego yesterday afternoon, the final stop on the US leg of the Moananuiākea Voyage.

As Hōkūleʻa entered North San Diego Bay and approached Harbor Island Park, the canoe was greeted by dozens of paddlers from the Coronado Canoe Club and other canoe organizations. The flotilla escorted the voyaging canoe to the dock at the Maritime Museum of San Diego where the Kumeyaay tribal hosts awaited the crew’s arrival and greeted them with song and chants. After an exchange of landing protocols between the Kumeyaay Nation and the Hōkūleʻa crew, they proceeded to Waterfront Park for a welcome ceremony.

In addition to cultural performances, the ceremony included remarks by Paul Jr. Cuero of the Kumeyaay Nation, 79th District California State Assembly Member Akilah Weber M.D., San Diego Port Commissioner Sandy Naranjo, Maritime Museum of San Diego President/CEO Ray Ashley, and Hōkūleʻa Captain Tamiko Fernelius.

Hōkūleʻa will remain docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego until a shipping date is determined for her return to Hawaiʻi. On November 10 and 13 (tomorrow and Monday), the crew is scheduled to conduct dockside canoe tours. This Friday the public is also invited to a crew panel and presentation. On November 11 and 12 (Saturday and Sunday), Hōkūleʻa will sail with the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, for its 160-year Birthday Celebration Sail. This will be the first sail for the historic ship and San Diego icon in five years.

Raymond Ashley, President/CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego states, “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to host Hōkūleʻa’s visit to San Diego. She arrives at a time when we celebrate San Diego’s iconic Star of India and her 160th Birthday as the world’s oldest active sailing ship. We are so excited that our festivities can include the Hawaiian canoe in the commemorative sail activities planned for November 11 and 12.” This will be especially memorable because Star of India is the last ship still sailing that once flew the flag of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (before it became a US territory) during her working life. To honor Hōkūleʻa’s visit, Star of India will fly that flag once again during the sails.

The final San Diego public event will be on November 28 when Pwo Navigator and PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson speaks at University of California San Diego. Visit hokulea.com or @hokuleacrew on Instagram and Facebook for the latest schedule of events and upcoming port visits.

Hōkūleʻa’s last visit to San Diego was in 1995.

Hōkūleʻa has sailed 2,800 miles and visited 35 communities from Yakutat, Alaska to San Diego since PVS held its Alaska Heritage Sail and then the global launch of the Moananuiākea Voyage in Juneau, Alaska on June 15, 2023. From Alaska, the canoe and her crew sailed through British Columbia, to Washington State, and down the West Coast of Oregon and California.

Video: San Diego Arrival

Photo Gallery: San Diego Arrival

Video (courtesy Mark Albertazzi): San Diego Arrival

Photo Gallery (courtesy Mark Albertazzi): San Diego Arrival