Hōkūle’a will arrive in Boston in just a few days, and you won’t want to miss their arrival! Part of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, Hōkūle’a will be making a stop in Boston, MA from July 9th to the 14th.
Hokuleʻa is a performance-accurate full-scale replica of a waʻa kaulua, a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe operated by the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
But first, if you don’t know too much about Hōkūle’a, here is some background and information about what they’ve been up to recently.
Reviving the Legacy of Exploration
The canoes that brought the very first Polynesians to the islands of Hawai’i represented the strong tradition of exploration, innovation, and courage. Though these canoes have been lost to time, the culture, stories, and tradition of sea exploration is still alive.
Hōkūle’a, the Star of Gladness, was built and launched in the 1970s, and was first conceptualized by artist Herb Kane. She is a replica of the very canoes that once sailed to Hawai’i over 600 years ago, and continues to sail today, bringing people, stories, and cultures together.
Previous Voyages
1976 - Hōkūle’a’s first voyage was to Tahiti in 1976. Navigated by Mau Piailug, from the small island of Satawal, Micronesia, the voyaging canoe drew almost 17,000 people to the harbor in celebration. Piailug, one of the last traditional navigators, joined to the crew to Tahiti, and would go on to train the next navigators.
1978 - The canoe returns to Tahiti, but in the wake of stormy seas, the canoe capsizes. While the crew is saved, Eddie Aikau remained lost at sea. Hōkūle’a continues to travel in his memory.
1980 - A new navigator, trained by Piailug, replicated the 1976 voyage to Tahiti, and also sails back to Hawai’i — a route that hadn’t been sailed in over 600 years.
1985-1987 - Hōkūle’a completes a two year voyage to Aotearoa, learning more about the ancestry of seafaring and exploration.
1999 - Hōkūle’a voyages to Rapa Nui (also known as Eastern Island), one of the world’s most remote islands.
2003 - Hōkūle’a sails to the Northern Hawaiian Islands, including Nihoa to promote the preservation of the ocean environment. The crew works with the initiative, “Navigating Change” and help to haul away washed up fishing nets endangering monk seals.
2007 - Hōkūle’a voyages to Micronesia and Japan, highlighting the cultural ties and cultures between the Pacific Islands. While in Micronesia, the crew thanked Mau Piailug for his work in helping to revive traditional navigation.
2012 - The canoe, Hikianalia, is launched. The Hawaiian name for the star, Spica, Hikianalia was designed specifically for the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and built in Auckland, Aotearoa and has a zero carbon energy footprint.
2013-2017 - The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage begins. Hōkūle’a and Hikianalia, the two voyaging canoes travel the world, from the island of Hawai’i to South America, to the East Coast of the U.S., to South Africa, and to Australia, among other locations. Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, the voyage hopes to raise awareness about living in a sustainable world.
Hōkūle’a arrives in Boston, MA on July 9th, 2016. Help welcome them to the city and learn more about the crew:
Welcome Ceremony
July 9, 2016 | 3:00-7:00pm
Fan Pier, Boston | 28 Northern Ave
The Hōkūleʻa will be welcomed by representatives of the Massachusett Tribe and the Boston Hōkūleʻa Committee.
https://www.facebook.com/events/789844171115653/
Day of Public Awareness
July 10, 2016 |10:00am-3:00pm
Fan Pier, Boston | 28 Northern Ave
The Hōkūleʻa crew and supporting members will meet with local Native American communities, schools, maritime groups, and the general public offering activities including introductions to star compass navigation and canoe presentations.
Cultural Survival Brown Bag Lunch (open to the public)
Hear more about the voyage from the Hōkūle’a crew!
Harvard University Native American Program
14 Story St, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
July 11, 2016 | 1-3pm
Public Talk at Harvard
July 11, 2016 6:00pm-7:30pm
Piper Auditorium, Gund Hall,
48 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
The Harvard Graduate School of Design will host a talk-story session with senior crewmembers and navigators discussing the Hōkūleʻa’s worldwide voyage, Polynesian wayfinding, and ocean protection.
Learn more about Hōkūle’a and track their status to Boston at: http://www.hokulea.com/track-the-voyage/
Information courtesy of http://www.hokulea.com/voyages/our-story/
