Na ka Moananuiākea e hoʻopili mai iā kākou. It is the vast Pacific Ocean that connects us all. 

This year's Lūʻau theme, Moananuiākea, celebrates the vastness of the Pacific Ocean that unites us all. At the heart of Hawaiian and Pasifika cultures lies our deeply profound connection to the moana (ocean). Serving as a primary source of food and resources, the ocean also serves as a bridge linking us to our extended ʻohana across the vast Pacific. Navigation, a powerful skill passed down through generations, allowed our ancestors to travel these expansive waters, relying solely on the stars, moon, sun and nature around them. There are remarkable similarities in cultures and languages across Polynesia and the wider Pacific region, which serves a testament to the interconnectedness of our people. See more below!

Hōkūpaʻa has members with heritage from all across the Pacific. 

Hōkūleʻa, Star of Gladness

Embedded in the story of Hōkūle‘a and the culture that created her is the story of a 2000-year-old relationship with special islands and the sea. It is a story that was almost lost and was close to extinction. But ultimately it is a story of survival, rediscovery, and the restoration of pride and dignity. It is a story of a society revaluing its relationship to its island home. It is a story that is crucially important as the world’s populations struggle with the ability to live in balance with our island that we call Earth. It is a story that is still being written for our children and all future generations. 


Hōkūle‘a, our Star of Gladness, began as a dream of reviving the legacy of exploration, courage, and ingenuity that brought the first Polynesians to the archipelago of Hawai‘i. The canoes that brought the first Hawaiians to their island home had disappeared from earth. Cultural extinction felt dangerously close to many Hawaiians when artist Herb Kane dreamed of rebuilding a double-hulled sailing canoe similar to the ones that his ancestors sailed. Though more than 600 years had passed since the last of these canoes had been seen, this dream brought together people of diverse backgrounds and professions. Since she was first built and launched in the 1970s, Hōkūle‘a continues to bring people together from all walks of life. She is more than a voyaging canoe—she represents the common desire shared by the people of Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and the World to protect our most cherished values and places from disappearing (Polynesian Voyaging Society). 


Watch the videos below or click here to learn more about Hōkūleʻa and the Polynesian Voyaging Society.