About Us

About Us

This project began years ago on Kaua'i, the oldest major island in the Hawaiian Islands. Since then we have travelled across the globe spreading the knowldge and experiences of navigating across vast regions of the world's oceans.

The Story of Hōkūle‘a

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.

This and more information may be found on the website of the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Contact Us

We can be reached via our email address: KeikiWaa@gmail.com