Hōkūleʻa to Spend a Week in Waiʻanae

After a week of engagements with North Shore schools and community, Hōkūleʻa will depart Haleʻiwa before sunrise tomorrow morning and head to Waiʻanae’s Pōkaʻī Bay.

While docked for this past week at Haleʻiwa Boat Harbor, the crew hosted more than 500 school students as well as hundreds of community members on the deck of Hōkūleʻa to share about traditional voyaging and the importance of caring for the earth and ocean.

Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa is expected to arrive at Pōkaʻī Bay tomorrow at approximately 8am and will be greeted with a ceremony led by the Waiʻanae community. The captain on the leg to Waiʻanae will be Mākaha-native Noland Keaulana, a skilled lifeguard and waterman and grandson of 1976 Hōkūleʻa crewmember Buffalo Keaulana.

Several organizations such as E Ala Voyaging Society, Mālama Learning Center and Nā Kama Kai, as well as Waiʻanae Coast Hōkūleʻa crew members including Noland Keaulana, Kaina Holomalia, Isaiah Pule, Kaulana Stanley, Duane and Micah DeSoto and others are organizing Hōkūleʻa’s Pōkaʻī Bay visit. Many have expressed that Hōkūleʻa’s visit is coming at a time when the community needs light and healing.

Pōkaʻī Bay, Waiʻanae will be the fourth stop on the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail. As with other stops, the crew will conduct school and public canoe tours until Hōkūleʻa departs on Friday, September 13 (weather-permitting) for a brief stop at Sand Island before heading to Lahaina to be part of the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s Hoʻākea Maui event, September 18-21, 2024 based at Hanakaoʻo Beach Park. Because of possible weather disruptions, the public is encouraged to check the @hokuleacrew Instagram and Facebook or hokulea.com for the latest port and event updates.

Click here for the current Hōkūleʻa Waiʻanae Public Events Schedule

Click here for the Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail Plan