Started in 2014, the voyage of the Hōkūle‘a is an around the word journey using traditional Polynesian navigation techniques. They have a sister-ship sailing with them that has all the latest bells and whistles should en emergency arise but they have not needed to use them for navigation. They just landed in South Africa and celebrated the half-way point of their journey.
From their website:
Hōkūleʻa in Cape Town: A Celebration of Friendship
A Ceremony of Friendship was held today at 2 p.m. South Africa Time (2 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time) at the V&A Marina to officially welcome and celebrate the historic arrival of Hōkūleʻa to Cape Town, South Africa. Themed Crossing Oceans & Connecting People, Hawaii To Cape Town, the Ceremony of Friendship featured greeting chants and a prayer of blessing followed by traditional South African performances and hula by members of the Hawaii delegation. Words of welcome and unity were made Mpho Tutu, executive director of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, US Ambassador Patrick H. Gaspard of the US Embassy in South Africa, pwo navigators Nainoa Thompson and Kālepa Baybayan, a representative of the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, and Hōkūleʻa supporter Pam Omidyar. Global peace leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who sailed on Hōkūleʻa during his 2012 visit to Hawaii, also attended the ceremony to greet and engage with crewmembers and the Hawaii delegation.
Following the Ceremony of Friendship, Hōkūle‘a crew and the Hawai‘i delegation invited families and members of the Cape Town community to come aboard the canoe, meet the voyagers from Hawai‘i, hear about traditional navigation and Hawaiian culture, and learn about ways to care for the ocean.
About the ship:
Waʻa Kaulua – Our Canoes
On March 8, 1975, Hōkūle‘a, a performance-accurate deep sea voyaging canoe built in the tradition of ancient Hawaiian wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled voyaging canoe), was launched from the sacred shores of Hakipu‘u-Kualoa, in Kāne‘ohe Bay on the island of O‘ahu. She was designed by artist and historian Herb Kawainui Kāne, one of the founders of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. The canoe was named Hōkūle‘a (“Star of Gladness”), a zenith star of Hawai‘i, which appeared to him growing ever brighter in a dream. This launching was one of many events that marked a generation of renewal for Hawai‘i’s indigenous people. Along with the renewal of voyaging and navigation traditions came a renewal of Hawaiian language, dance, chant, and many other expressions of Hawaiian culture. The renewal represented a new-found respect and appreciation for Hawaiian culture, by all of Hawai’i’s people.For the Hawaiian people, it has meant that they once again have begun to feel proud of who they are, and where they come from.
During that generation of voyaging (1975-2000), Hōkūle‘a sailed on six major voyages from Hawai‘i, at the apex of the Polynesian triangle, to Aotearoa (New Zealand) at the southwestern corner, and finally to Rapa Nui, at the southeastern corner. Her voyages inspired a revival of canoe building and voyaging throughout Polynesia.
Quite the story - we wish them well!
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