After more than two weeks in French Polynesia, Hawaiʻi’s traditional voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are sailing home.
The canoes departed Papeete, Tahiti Tuesday afternoon and are headed to the island of Rangiroa where they will moor offshore for a day or two. From Rangiroa, the sail back to Hilo is expected to take 17 to 21 days.
Eight crew members are sailing Hōkūleʻa home including captain and navigator Nainoa Thompson, senior crew member Max Yarawamai, safety officer Archie Kalepa; navigator Lehua Kamalu; apprentice navigators Tamiko Fernelius, Kana Uchino, and Kai Hoshijo; and documenter Jordan Manley.
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On Hikianalia are 11 crew members including navigator and captain Bruce Blankefeld, navigator Haunani Kane, captain-in-training Rex Lokeni, safety officer Noland Keaulana, medical officer Seren Tokumura, cultural protocol officer Maleko Lorenzo, apprentice navigator Lucy Lee, and crew members Kalani Kahalioumi, Amanda Millen, Kalo Daley, and Kamehana Taylor; and documenter Philamer Batangan.
While in French Polynesia, the crew continued to train, prepare the canoes for the return voyage and participated in events focused on cultural protocol, ocean protection and honoring the strong relationship between Tahiti and Hawaiʻi.
To follow the Kealaikahiki Voyage, visit the voyaging dashboard at waahonua.com.
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