The Hokulea, the Hawaiian voyaging canoe first launched in 1975, arrived in Tahiti, at Point Venus in Mahina, on April 14th, (the same place that Cook first weighed anchor, as well as the first missionaries). On its way back home to Hawaii after an almost three year long circumnavigation of the globe, along with its sister canoe Hikianalia. Just recently they have been visiting the marae Taputapuatea in Raiatea, an exceptional sacred complex, which is currently under consideration as a UNESCO heritage site, and is considered to be an epicenter for Polynesian colonisations and traditional voyaging.
Along with the Fa'afaite, these modern day voyaging canoes represent a new and exciting era of cultural renewal in Polynesia, it is a truly emotional experience to see them under sail.
I'm sorry not to have been in Mahina to greet them, but the images we have seen are quite beautiful. The Hokulea's website is great with pictures and stories from Mahina and across the globe
here.
The reason behind this world tour, beyond an impressive feat of traditional navigation, is to share a message of ocean stewardship, protect the oceans for future generations. Large marine reserves, such as the Papahānaumokuākea reserve in northwestern Hawaii (one of the largest marine reserves in the world) or our Rahui Nui no Tuhaa Pae, here in the Australs have an important role to play.
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