Voyage Updates
Ōkahu Bay Arrival, A Welcome from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei | Nā Moʻolelo Moananuiākea
What began with a powerful pōwhiri grew into days of sharing stories, knowledge, culture, and a shared vision for Moananuiākea.
In this new episode of Nā Moʻolelo Moananuiākea, experience the pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony), connections, and relationships that unfolded between Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and our Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia crews.
Crew Reflection: I Woke To My First Birthday in Aotearoa.
Kaleohano Farrant, Hikianalia Crew Member Leg 16 - Aotearoa to Fiji - Most of our Leg 16 crew for Hikianalia and Hōkūle’a arrived in Auckland on Monday night, and the next morning I woke to my first birthday in Aotearoa. After breakfast, we checked on the wa’a,...
Crew Reflection: Nā Inoa Kaulana
And so today, I witnessed something rare. Our crew took time to add the names of two individuals who have left us in the physical world but still guide us as we sail these waʻa kaulua. Captains and Pwo Navigators Kālepa Baybayan and Shorty Bertelmann names were added to the navigator’s platform. Kālepa on the starboard hull next to Nainoa and Shorty on the port side next to Mau.
Crew Reflection: Leave It Better Than You Found It
We are coming up on a week in our time here in Aotearoa and it’s amazing to see how well our crew has found our rhythm to accomplish the tasks at hand….
Crew Reflection: First Week of Dry Dock!
Aloha kākou, we just wrapped our first day with both canoes on the hard deck. The massive Travel Lift plucked each canoe out of the water with ease. Hōkū came out first and then Hiki. We spent the day getting set up under the cover to work on the Masts, Spars, Booms, and paddles as they are all no longer attached to their respective canoes.
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia Welcomed into Ōkahu Bay, Auckland by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s double-hulled canoes Hōkūleʻa and her sister vessel Hikianalia received a powerful and deeply moving welcome into Ōkahu Bay, Auckland from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei yesterday morning. The canoes were joined by Haunui, a waka hourua...
Crew Reflection: Mangahāwea
We were honored to have had the privilege to be welcomed at Mangahāwea. Even from a mile out, there was an indescribable aura surrounding this sacred place as Motorua grew larger with the closing distance. As we approached, we saw our Māori ʻohana waiting for us along the beach, they called us in…
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia Officially Welcomed to Waitangi in Ceremonies Honoring Māori–Hawaiian Kinship and 40 Years of Voyaging Unity
The crews of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia were officially welcomed back to Waitangi last week by Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae and the Te Tai Tokerau communities in a pōwhiri, a formal and sacred Māori welcoming ceremony that continues a 40-year relationship between Māori and...
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia to Receive Official Welcome in Waitangi Tomorrow
The crews of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will be officially welcomed in Waitangi by the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae and the Te Tai Tokerau communities with a pōwhiri, a formal, sacred Māori ceremony. Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are expected to be...
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia on Final Stretch of Voyage from Cook Islands to Aotearoa
After two weeks at sea, voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are now on the final stretch of their sail from Rarotonga, Cook Islands to Aotearoa (New Zealand), which is the 15th leg of the Moananuiākea Voyage. November 4th marks Day 15 of the deep-sea journey,...
Crew Reflection: We’ve Felt Sudden and Vibrant Shifts In Our Natural Observances
We’ve felt sudden and vibrant shifts in our natural observances across the beautiful Moananuiākea/Te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa. Over the past week, we’ve experienced mostly overcast skies and have seen little to no sea life... but that has changed drastically. In just the past...
Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia Depart Rarotonga for Aotearoa (New Zealand)
The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s traditional voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia departed Rarotonga on October 21 at approximately 3:45 p.m., beginning their deep-sea voyage to Aotearoa (New Zealand). The open-ocean crossing is expected to take about two weeks,...