Docked Next to the Hokule'a

Ancient Hawaiian Sailing Traditions

 

  After decades of oppression during which many aspects of Hawaiian traditions and language were outright banned in the Hawaiian Islands, there came a light amongst the darkness. Aptly named the Hokule’a, after the bright star Arcturus, this traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe first set sail in 1975. It set out to prove that the first Hawaiians didn’t just drift here on the currents, and ending up igniting the pride of Hawaiians.

  It has sailed the Polynesian triangle between Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Marqueses Islands several times. And has just returned to the Hawaiian islands after a record setting around-the-world sail during which it continued to share the Aloha spirit and reinvigorate Hawaiian pride. We were lucky enough to share a harbor with the Hokule’a at Molokai this week. I made sure one of our documentaries was about the Hokule’a so the guests knew the importance of the sailing canoe. We checked out Herb Kane’s historic art gallery containing a few paintings of the Hokule’a, which was created with the aid of his drawings and research. And we were lucky enough to have Danny Akaka onboard as a guest presenter. Danny spent time sailing onboard the Hokule’a as their cultural advisor. I thought of him this morning as the ship sailed by the SFX, conch horn blowing loud for all to hear.

  Hawaii is a place filled with traditions like this…if you know where to look.