The weather cleared and voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa departed Statter Harbor in Juneau early this morning at 4:15 am (Alaska Time), officially starting her four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific.  The canoe and voyage received a grand ceremonial blessing and launch hosted by the Alaska Native community on Thursday, however, the crew were not able to depart until three days later due to weather.  After a  12-hour sail, Hōkūleʻa arrived at her next port, Angoon, at 4:30 pm (Alaska Time), where the crew is expected to stay for approximately two days for educational and cultural engagements.

Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa’s crew is planning to visit several more communities in Southeast Alaska:

Tentative Schedule (subject to change due to weather)

• Depart Angoon 6/20 or 6/21

• Arrive Kake same day 6/20 or 6/21

• Depart Kake 6/24 give or take a day

• Arrive Petersburg same day 

• Depart Petersburg 6/26 

• Arrive Wrangell same day

• Depart Wrangell 6/30

• Arrive Ketchikan same day

• Depart Ketchikan (leg 4) 7/4 or 7/5

• Arrive Metlakatla same day 

• Depart Metlakatla 7/8 or 7/9

• Arrive Hydaburg same day

• Depart Hydaburg 7/15 

Hydaburg will be the last stop in Alaska and then the canoe will enter British Columbia. 

Hōkūleʻa has been docked at Statter Harbor in Juneau since the canoe arrived from Haines and received a tribal welcoming at Auke Bay on June 10, 2023.  Prior to arriving in Juneau, the canoe completed the Alaska Heritage Sail, which paid homage to Alaska Natives and the places that played a part in the 31-year history and relationship between Hawaiʻi’s voyaging community and Alaska.