Weather clears in Juneau for launch of Hōkūleʻa’s 4-year Moananuiākea Voyage circumnavigating Pacific

After a three-day delay due to weather, at 4:15 a.m. Sunday morning, the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa departed Statter Harbor in Juneau, Alaska, to officially start a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. 

The canoe and Moananuiākea Voyage received on Thursday a grand ceremonial blessing and launch hosted by the Alaska Native community.

The voyage began with a 12-hour sail to the port of Angoon, where the crew will stay for a planned two days for educational and cultural engagements.

Weather permitting, Hōkūleʻa’s crew is scheduled to visit several more communities in Southeast Alaska:

Tentative Schedule (subject to weather)

• Depart Angoon June 20 or 21
• Arrive Kake same day June 20 or 21
• Depart Kake June 24 give or take a day
• Arrive Petersburg same day 
• Depart Petersburg June 26
• Arrive Wrangell same day
• Depart Wrangell June 30
• Arrive Ketchikan same day
• Depart Ketchikan (leg 4) July 4 or 5
• Arrive Metlakatla same day 
• Depart Metlakatla July 8 or 9
• Arrive Hydaburg same day
• Depart Hydaburg July 15

Hydaburg will be the last stop in Alaska and then the canoe will enter British Columbia. 

Hōkūleʻa has been docked at Statter Harbor in Juneau since the canoe arrived from Haines and received a tribal welcoming at Auke Bay on June 10, 2023.  Prior to arriving in Juneau, the canoe completed the Alaska Heritage Sail, which paid homage to Alaska Natives and the places that played a part in the 31-year history and relationship between Hawaiʻi’s voyaging community and Alaska.  

For additional information on PVS and the Moananuiākea Voyage, visit www.hokulea.com or follow @hokuleacrew on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.